What to put on driveway for oil leaks?

[Thump553]

Two of the cars in my family's fleet are oil leakers, and parked outside on the driveway. I've put down weighted baking pans, but would prefer something that actually absorbs the oil.

They are parked outside in southern New England, so near constant exposure to rain, wind, snow, etc. Kitty litter is out as too high maintainence, I'd have to replace it too often.

I'm not going to seal the driveway. I have enough projects on my honey-do list without adding that one.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Why don't you get the leaks fixed?

 

[steppinthrax]

Yeah,

I would just get the leaks fixed. I mean your waisting oil and you gunk up your undercarriage.

 

[Sluggo]

I would put down a couple of pieces of 1/2" cement tile backer board. They sell it in 3'x5' or 4'x8' sheets, so you can probably just buy one and cut it into 2 pieces.

Heavy enough not to blow away, kind of the same color as the drive and it will absorb the oil just like the concrete drive does.

 

[compman25]

Pig Pads

 

[StageLeft]

I asked this a couple of years ago. I recall somebody recommended a cleaner in a purple bottle, which did work to some degree. I was not told to pour gas on it and light it, but I did anyway and that just makes it worse. The other thing that actually worked the best of all is simply a lot of paint thinner and a large, stiff-bristled broom. Put the paint thinner (acetone) on liberally and just broom back and forth over and over. This will remove most of it. You'll still have a few marks but it did a pretty good job on my concrete driveway of cleaning it up, so results were worth the effort.

 

[antyler]

Dont they sell oil pans about two foot by three foot.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Yeah,

I would just get the leaks fixed. I mean your waisting oil and you gunk up your undercarriage.

And polluting.

Sealing a driveway is a basic project, but still fix the oil leaks.

 

[IronWing]

I generally park a car over the oil spots. That way they aren't as noticeable.

 

[HannibalX]

Yes because the oil that came from the car definitely wasn't taken from the ground to begin with.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
Yes because the oil that came from the car definitely wasn't taken from the ground to begin with.

I award you one cookie for the thought process involved in that reply.

 

[dud]

Originally posted by: Thump553
Two of the cars in my family's fleet are oil leakers, and parked outside on the driveway. I've put down weighted baking pans, but would prefer something that actually absorbs the oil.

They are parked outside in southern New England, so near constant exposure to rain, wind, snow, etc. Kitty litter is out as too high maintainence, I'd have to replace it too often.

I'm not going to seal the driveway. I have enough projects on my honey-do list without adding that one.

If you wish to clean the stains use a 50/50 mixture of Simple Green and water. Spray this on 2-3 times and wash in between. Once clean consider fixing the leaks.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
Yes because the oil that came from the car definitely wasn't taken from the ground to begin with.

By your logic we should just dump our used motor oil on the ground...:roll: Please tell me you aren't really THAT stupid?

 

[PandaBear]

I would imagine some cars are hard to fix leaks, like you have to take out the engine or tranny to fix the leak. If I were you I would at least try to see if it is easy to fix.

If it is too hard, try to use some gasket maker around the leaking spot and use a high mileage oil or tranny fluid with stop leak.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

I commend you all for pushing the OP to make the right choice by fixing the oil leaks, however, since he asked what to put on the driveway, what about cat litter?

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
I commend you all for pushing the OP to make the right choice by fixing the oil leaks, however, since he asked what to put on the driveway, what about cat litter?

One car's an old Saab, the other is a 1992 Dodge (classic son's first car). Fixing oil leaks in a Saab is like fixing them in a MG. Besides, neither leak is all that bad-maybe a quart every 2500-300 miles or so. I doubt either car is worth over a grand.

Kitty litter would work until it rained or there was snow on the ground-so maybe a day or so.

BTW, the driveway is asphalt, not concrete.

 

[compman25]

Did you look into pig pads?