Key takeaways:

• Oil stains left untreated could degrade your asphalt pavement.
• Fresh oil spots can be cleaned by scrubbing with a detergent and water combination, then applying a seal coating layer.
• If the oil stain is still wet, you may soak it with kitten litter or baking soda.
• Oil seeping into the asphalt destroys the binder, causing pieces to fall off. The solution is to remove any oil and then repair the damaged area with the help of professional contractors.
• Extensive damage to asphalt might require removing one or two inches or the whole of asphalt and then laying down brand-new asphalt.

Have you ever noticed a dark spot on the pavement and wondered what it was? Most likely, it was an oil stain. Oil stains are one of the most irritating problems that every parking lot or driveway owner faces. They are unattractive to the eye and can do everything from discoloring the surface of the asphalt to pit craters in the pavement.

Oil stains can be difficult to remove, but with the right knowledge and equipment, it is possible to eliminate that unsightly blemish. Let’s look at how to treat oil spots on your pavement.

Treat Oil Stains and Spots As Soon As Possible!

Oil stains left untreated could degrade your asphalt pavement. Your pavement comprises sand and particles kept together by an asphalt pavement binder. Oil will dissolve the binder, resulting in raveling. When an oil stain is left ignored for an extended period, the surface of your asphalt pavement may become spongy.

Aside from the obvious issue of a hole or crater in your paved surface, the oil-damaged region will allow water to permeate through the foundation layers of your driveway, parking lot, sidewalk, or patio. Water seeping into asphalt surfaces causes it to move and settle, resulting in early fractures, cracking, and costly repairs and replacement. In a nutshell, oil stains deteriorate pavement.

Causes Of Oil Stains:

Oil stains on the pavement are most commonly caused by automobiles that drive or park on the surface. Lawnmowers, snowblowers, and other gas-powered tools also leak oil or gasoline on the pavement. Particularly if you’re filling up the gas tank or maintaining equipment on the road, sidewalk, or paved patio. BBQs (think cooking spray, grease pans, etc.) and leaky rubbish bags or bins holding home oils are other possible sources of oil stains on the pavement. A single drop of any oil substance will discolor the asphalt.

How To Treat Oil Spots and Stains on Asphalt Surfaces?

Method 01: Fresh Oil Spots

These are the simplest to clean when there are new oil stains on your driveway or parking lot. A fresh oil spot on asphalt is merely a stain. The best method is to scrub the stain with a detergent and water combination before thoroughly washing the area. After you’ve cleared the oil stain, apply a seal coating layer to preserve the asphalt.

• If the oil stain is still wet, you may soak it with kitten litter. You may cover the stain with a full bag of kitten litter. To assist the kitty litter absorb the oil, stomp on it. Allow the kitten litter to sit on the stain overnight, then scoop it up and dispose of it.
• If it doesn’t work, try baking soda, which is excellent for absorbing oil. Scrub the oil with a vigorous brush after sprinkling it with baking soda. Rinse the baking soda with a hose after it has set for 30 minutes.
• You can also use a steam pressure washer to dissolve the oil and sweep it away.

Method 02: Oil Seeping into The Asphalt

When an oil stain settles on asphalt, it penetrates the surface. When this happens, the asphalt substance begins to crumble. It requires more thorough treatment than detergent and water. Oil seeping into the asphalt destroys the binder, causing pieces to fall off.

At this point, the solution is to remove any oil and then repair the damaged area with the help of professional contractors. To burn away any extra oil swiftly, contractors frequently use a torch or heat lance. After that, the severity of the damage determines the repair solution. Surface erosion in relatively minor regions is frequently restored using a chip seal.

The chip seal repair procedure is virtually identical to the sealcoat application process, except once the sealcoat is placed, a layer of crushed gravel is distributed across the asphalt and compacted into the surface. This efficiently fills in any little gaps. On the other hand, more severe raveling may need more significant asphalt repairing solutions.

Method 03: Extensive Damage to Asphalt

The damage caused by oil stains on asphalt might be so severe that the pavement begins to degrade, necessitating a new asphalt installation. Depending on the extent and severity of the damage, a contractor has two alternatives.

Less serious damage may sometimes be repaired by removing one or two inches of asphalt from the surface with a planer grinder, also known as a milling machine. After removing the damaged section, the contractor cleans the exposed asphalt, applies a tack coat to promote adhesion, and resurfaces the area with a new hot mix.

The second, the more labor-intensive procedure is saw-cutting the damaged area and then laying down brand new asphalt. The whole portion of asphalt is removed this way, ensuring that any remnants of the oil stain are gone. Of course, this process is more time-consuming and costly than merely grinding the surface.

How To Avoid Oil Stains on Your Pavement?

The best way to prevent oil stains is to avoid them in the first place. Be careful to wipe up any oil spills as quickly as possible and get any leaks repaired as soon as feasible. Also, ensure that used motor oil is disposed of properly at a recycling center rather than poured down the drain or left in the garage, where it can leak out onto your pavement surface over time. These simple precautions allow you to avoid those unsightly blemishes on your otherwise perfect pavement surface!

If you have oil spots and stains on your asphalt pavement and are worried about your driveway, parking lot, walkway, or patio, contact the professionals at Surface Solutions, serving Ocean City, MD. We’d be pleased to take a look and discuss your alternatives. Our major goal is to keep your pavement in good condition for as long as feasible.

Schedule a free estimate today!

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