Oil sits in the pores rather than on the surface, which is why pressure washing spreads a stain outward instead of removing it. Getting it out means lifting it chemically first.
Fresh spills
Anything caught in the first days usually lifts well with an absorbent and a degreaser. The longer the oil has to migrate, the less complete the result.
This guide sits under our Patios & Driveways work, covering 20-mile radius of Plymouth.
Old, soaked-in patches
On porous concrete and unsealed blocks, oil that has been there for years may only lighten. We will tell you the likely outcome before we quote rather than after.
Tyre scuff and hot-tyre pickup
Black arcs where a car turns on the spot are transferred rubber and sealer pickup, not dirt. They respond to a different treatment than oil does.
Questions we get on this
- Will the stain go completely?
- Sometimes. We give you an honest expectation in the quote instead of promising a perfect result.
- Can single blocks be swapped?
- Where spares exist, yes - that is often the better answer for one badly soaked block.
- Does sealing prevent it?
- A sealed driveway resists oil far better because the spill sits on top rather than soaking in.
Related reading
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- White powder on brickwork: efflorescence explained
- Cracked render: what to fix before cleaning