MTFCA Forum

I'm posting this at the request of a member who saw a posting asking about getting oil out of concrete, such as a driveway. A useful trick, since the model T tends to "mark its territory". I couldn't find the original post, so here's the info he gave me.....

Get a bag of Portland cement, NOT concrete.
Pour some gasoline on the oil stain.
Cover with a layer of cement, about 1/4" thick and allow time for the dissolved oil to be sucked up into the cement.
Sweep into a dustpan and dispose.
If there is a large quantity of oil simply stir the cement occasionally, then sweep it up.

Note: oil absorbent (kitty litter) won't work as the grains are too coarse. You want a fine powdery substance to promote transfer.

Obviously, you want ventilation and DON'T do this with a source of ignition nearby, like a gas water heater, etc.

Seems like most of the marked T territories are where they are parked. Use a large piece of cardboard under it when you park. Leave it in your garage or behind a hedge and use it when you pull up to park.
Cleaning up oil on a driveway is best done by using gas and in a safe way of course!
If your T is leaking oil slowly when your pulling in and leaves a trail of oil you simply need to fix it. Now that’s to much of a leak.

Muriatic acid.

This will clean it up but won't remove the stain. Take some dry soil from the yard and sprinkle on the oil spot (s) and let it set a while. Take a square nose shovel and scrape around. Then sweep with a broom and dispose of the soil. If you have a gravel road, you can just dispose it on your road. After doing the above if you want it even cleaner, put on some liquid washing detergent and brush it around, then wash down with water.
Norm

Anyone tried enzymes?

https://www.amazon.com/ACT-Concrete-Cle ... B006G0PYFE

I use mineral spirits first, pouring it to loosen, soaking for awhile, then spray heavy with Simple Green. Let set awhile and rinse off with the garden hose.

The wife can’t complain because there is no evidence to incriminate.

All the Best,

Hank

Pour some Coke soda over the stain, watch it bubble and oil is gone.

RajoRacer » Wed May 29, 2019 3:06 pm
Muriatic acid.

I must respectfully but strongly disagree!!

Muriatic Acid dissolves the bond within concrete. That's why it is used to clean off spilled mortar on bricks and driveways. If you use it to clean oil from a driveway, you are destroying the concrete!

Peter hit that one on the head, does as much damage as freezing or a jack hammer. Great for a quick etching prior to painting or applying mortar to that area.

All the Best,

Hank

I've used diluted muriatic acid for years cleaning the concrete garage floor - do it every 5 years or so.

Sorry Steve did not know you where diluting it, but yes will work great!

Again Sorry, Hank

That uses a lot less gas than my method. A couple winters back I accidentally left my T’s fuel valve open and lost the whole tank through the carb, one drip at a time. Floor was spotless that spring, though.

I guess I am weird. I purposely pour oil changes on the floor and let it soak in.
After a few days, I scatter sawdust over the treated area to soak up the excess
and run it through the wood stove. The floor is waterproof, tough as nails, and
has a glass-like surface to roll things around on. I rotate the areas treated, but
the areas where our daily drivers park get it every fall, before the City's de-icer
gets dripped off the cars and onto the floor, soaking in, and causing surface pocking.
This ain't an operating room. This is where work gets done ! I paid a LOT of money
to have these concrete floors made so nice. I am going to make sure they stay
nice for a very long time, and having them heavily oil soaked is a great way to
keep damaging water content from ever getting in there.

BTW, the entire pour area had heavy plastic put down before I set steel to keep
the moisture from coming up from below. A heated area will wick moisture up
from below.