grrrrrrr diesel spill clean up - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

coachgeo · #1 04-27-2003, 03:54 PM

ok.. while I was in here typing an in the tank alge question the diesel tank on the car decided to begin draining far faster than it was when I was staring at it.

soooo now I have diesel fuel covered in quick dry all over a portion of the cement drive way.

How do I best clean this up since I rent this place.?

Disposal of the diesel soaked quick dry where?

What about clean up of staines and disposal of queick dry soaked in engine oil with diesel engine soot added? (from when the oil cooler crack widened) a week or so ago.

leathermang · #2 04-27-2003, 04:06 PM

Put cat litter down and leave it several hours... then use a paste mixture of water and Trisodium Phosphate... Some TSP's DON'T have Trisodium Phosphate ( false advertizing in my opinion ) so look on the carton... this is typically used to clean sheet rock walls before painting...
Much more info is available by doing a search....

coachgeo · #3 04-27-2003, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by leathermang
Put cat litter down and leave it several hours... snip
Much more info is available by doing a search....

Will do the search.. this at least tells me Im in the right direction with the quick dry.

jassz · #4 04-28-2003, 01:01 AM

I used a product called Sop up (like kitty litter, but maybe more absorbant). I swept that up after it seemed to absorb all it would, then I used a product called Simple Green and HOT water through the garden hose. It washed up beautifully. I think the trick with any clean up is to get at it quickly. If it dries, you're a goner. We do have a few dry spots, and I have borrowed a pressure washer and have some special product supposedly designed for that. I'll let you know if it works.

#5 04-28-2003, 05:16 AM

TSP worked rather well dissolving a few quarts of transmission that leaked out of my car on my street. I used a whole box of it, with a scrub brush and lots of water. I don't care anymore, the spot under my car on the street looks like the Exxon valdez was parked there from all the "accidents" and leaks I had there over the years of every fluid my car has.

leathermang · #6 04-28-2003, 02:53 PM

I ran across (actual) TSP about 30 years ago when I asked a guy at one of the companies which rent uniforms and those red rags to shops... what they used for cleaning them... they said a cup of Tide and a cup of the TSP in HOT water,,,, in a thirty gallon barrel aggitated and left overnight.... they are then clean enough to wash in a normal (old ) washing machine.... It will remove gobs of stuff like wheel bearing grease on a rag.....

Thomaspin · #7 04-28-2003, 04:34 PM

I soaked my pavers with diesel and this product took it out.

It uses oil eating microbes and while I had to do 4 applications on one very tough spot, you cannot tell where the spill was. I also had engine oil and tranny oil and diff grease spills - you name it. Took them all out.

Grease and Oil Cleaner.

Mike123 · #8 04-28-2003, 08:19 PM

Tide from 30 years ago had phosphates in it. It worked great on oil stains and the like. We used it at the service station I worked about 36 years ago to clean the garage floor every night. Worked great. Then the phosphates were removed and it never worked quite as well again. But, hopefully the environment is a little safer.

coachgeo · #9 04-28-2003, 10:14 PM

All sound good. and the PM's too. Ill just have to close my eyes and pic one I guess.

kerry · #10 04-28-2003, 10:20 PM

I doubt if you can get TSP in Ohio. The states surrounding the Great Lakes (at least NYS) banned it due to the problems it was causing in the lakes. It is still available on the Canadian side.
By the way, British detergents still have phosphates in them. I was working of my motorhome over there last year and was astonished at how clean my greasy clothes got from a handwashing with that detergent. I guess the Irish and North seas handle phosphates better.

roberth58 · #11 04-30-2003, 12:29 AM

The microbial grease cleaners are amazing, however there are more economical alternatives than Griots. You can find them for $20-40 per gallon and depending on brand and how tough your stains are they can be diluted from 5 to 20 times. Just keep them wet, how they get oxygen, dont freeze them and dont use if temp is over 120. If you do this, its amazing the stains they will remove from concrete. Love them bugs.

Bob H.

kerry · #12 04-30-2003, 09:21 AM

In addition, those microbial grease cleaners do a great job on cat piss. You can buy them at janitorial supply stores. Around here it is called Liquid Alive or Microdyne.