Vauxhall Astra - oil stains

Honest John Back Room » General discussion ( non motoring )
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Wed 7 Jun 2023 13:16
Vauxhall Astra - oil stains - Arduous Astra

What is the best way of removing motor oil from a drive way? My driveway is brindle block paving. About 2 years accumulated staining.

The internet is confused on the queston. The ' coke myth ' is still out there.

Thanks for any help

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 7 Jun 2023 13:34
Vauxhall Astra - oil stains - corax

I've used Gunk Driveway cleaner. It did the job. If the stains have been there for a while, you will probably have to treat it a few times. You might get some marks left but they fade with time and weather.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 7 Jun 2023 13:34
Vauxhall Astra - oil stains - Chris M

When my 90yo neighbour gave up driving last year (relief all round!) I cleaned the oil stain off his block drive with a strong solution of biological washing powder and a stiff broom. Left to soak in for a while and rinsed off with a pressure washer. Worked very well although over the coming weeks some of the staining reappeared which I put down to the old oil/detergent solution coming back up to the surface. Mother nature has taken care of it over the winter and there's no sign of staining now.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 7 Jun 2023 13:53
Vauxhall Astra - oil stains - bathtub tom

I use neat washing up liquid on new stains. I don't wash it off, but leave it to soak and let the next shower rinse it. That works for me. I don't know how effective it would be on old stains, but it's cheap enough to try.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 7 Jun 2023 14:28
Vauxhall Astra - oil stains - Greendean

In the past i have absorbed excess oil by using baking soda. I let it sit overnight. Maybe you could use something like cat litter or sawdust if you don't have that.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 7 Jun 2023 16:25
Vauxhall Astra - oil stains - sammy1

Would it perhaps be easier to turn the blocks over and re-dress with a bit of sand?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 7 Jun 2023 16:52
Vauxhall Astra - oil stains - skidpan

Oil stain on concrete (from knackered Bluebird) was easily removed with engine cleaner.

Cannot see why it would not work on concrete paving blocks (or clay for that matter).

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 7 Jun 2023 17:16
Vauxhall Astra - oil stains - Andrew-T

Would it perhaps be easier to turn the blocks over and re-dress with a bit of sand?

If they are standard paving blocks, the underside is different from the top, so the result would look untidy.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 7 Jun 2023 19:10
Vauxhall Astra - oil stains - bathtub tom

Would it perhaps be easier to turn the blocks over and re-dress with a bit of sand?

If they are standard paving blocks, the underside is different from the top, so the result would look untidy.

I made that mistake when I spilt some paint, the turned blocks were always wet for much longer after rain.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 8 Jun 2023 18:59
Vauxhall Astra - oil stains - Greendean

I was just thinking did you not have some kind of warranty like some Vauxhalls have, where they would replace them for you?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 8 Jun 2023 21:34
Vauxhall Astra - oil stains - alan1302

I was just thinking did you not have some kind of warranty like some Vauxhalls have, where they would replace them for you?

Don't think any car will have a warranty to replace oil stained paving slabs :-) Think you might have been replying to another post.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link