Petrol Spillage On Tarmac Drive

[angie55]

Has any one any ideas how to get rid of this please? It's only a few areas, probably about 12 square inches. Thx

[gingejbee]

...should have evaporated by now! Detergent and hot water if it hasn't...but I wouldn't do any scrubbing in case it's softened the surface!

[Peter Pedant]

wait
it should just go aaway

[angie55]

Thanks all. It's been there a month now, so obviously hasn't evaporated.

[Clanad]

If, by petrol you mean our American equivalent of gasoline, I'd agree with leaving it to evaporate. With the formulation of such fuels today (at least here) containing a high percentage of corn derived alcohols, gasoline will evaporate quickly off of any surface.

It's entirely possible, however, that when you are seeing is either oil from the underside of the vehicles engine or diesel fuel which does have a higher percentage of oil (and other ingredients coming from being processed farther down the line at the refininery) and won't evaporate, leaving such a described spot.

You can treat that like oil stains as well... hot, soapy water and a scrub brush will tire you out, but probably do as good as anything else...

[chas2008]

petrol should evaporate out, sure its not diesel ?

[corylus]

if it's an oil leak cat litter should soak it up, not sure about petrol though if it is that.

[gingejbee]

If it's been there a month, it's very strange petrol! Is the surface wet, shiny, oily-looking...could it be oil, diesel or something that had either of these in it?