[HotRodMan]

I would like to put a 2 part clear coat on my concrete garage floor. There are some oil stains that have been there for years.

1. Is it possible to remove the oil stains?

2. If so what is the best product to accomplish this?

[dinger]

Go to the local 99 cent store and pick up some 'The Works' toilet bowl cleaner. That and Tide or Cheer laundry detergent. If they haven't soaked in too deep the works will do well, laundry soap a few times, scrubbed in, hose off. Same with the works, spray it on the stain (works well with rust also on concrete),let it work, you'll see a vapor, hose it down.

[cobalt327]

Your local parts store carries driveway cleaner that is alkaline-based. It's stronger than "regular" heavy-duty cleaners of that type- think industrial-strength 409 spray cleaner. Follow the directions, costs about $8/gallon last time I looked. This is a also good cleaner to dilute for shop/household use. It's much the same as any household 409/Fantastic- type spray (minus the perfume and dyes), once it's diluted.

The cost of the stuff I use (Black Maxx from NAPA) is <10¢/qt! for use in the house and shop, diluted 32:1. Full strength? Forget about removing mere grease- this will remove paint AND will burn hell out of your skin, so follow the lable directions. MUCH stronger than any of the other so-called "full strength" cleaners of its type. It's viscious stuff!

[cobalt327]

Your local parts store carries driveway cleaner that is alkaline-based. It's stronger than "regular" heavy-duty cleaners of that type- think industrial-strength 409 spray cleaner. Follow the directions, costs about $8/gallon last time I looked. This is a also good cleaner to dilute for shop/household use. It's much the same as any household 409/Fantastic- type spray (minus the perfume and dyes), once it's diluted.

The cost of the stuff I use (Black Maxx from NAPA) is <10¢/qt! for use in the house and shop, diluted 32:1 (and is still about 1-1/2 to 2 times stronger than OTC cleaners). Full strength? Forget about removing mere grease- this will remove paint AND will burn hell out of your skin, so follow the lable directions. MUCH stronger than any of the other so-called "full strength" cleaners of its type. It's viscious stuff!

[sqzbox]

I think you need to get checked for Parkinson's there Cobalt.

[cobalt327]

Post #4 is just an edit of #3 (stressing the safety aspects)- not retyped, or a "reply w/quote", or a cut and paste. Just a straight edit.

I'm blaming this one on the server.

[willowbilly3]

If it's been there several years, you probably won't get it all. You might consider an acid stain, price isn't bad and it's pretty east to apply, prep is important though.

[sqzbox]

Originally Posted by cobalt327

Post #4 is just an edit of #3 (stressing the safety aspects)- not retyped, or a "reply w/quote", or a cut and paste. Just a straight edit.

I'm blaming this one on the server.

Oh yeah, I see the difference in text now. And the emoticons had moved.
Maybe I'm the one that needs the eye's checked.

[cobalt327]

What's weird is it showing up as a completely new post, and not just an edit of the original post- because that's all I did, an edit not a re post. Strange...

Edit- to see if it does it again.

Edit- Nope. I don't know what I, or 'it' did.

[trees]

Use Muratic Acid which you will need to use to clean and etch the concrete any way for the epoxy.

Trees

[Maxwell007]

Don't know about old stains but I've poured coca cola on newer stains and it is amazing how well it works.
Makes you wonder what that stuff does to your stomach.

[adantessr]

This may sound stupid, but don't laugh until you try it. Work some brake fluid into the stain, afterwards, just hose it off with water. Non-synthetic brake fluid is water soluble, and we know what it does to paint. It should cut that oil. It has worked for me.

[cucumber1949]

I used to flood the stain with clear Kerosene (the kind used in heaters), let it sit for a while, use a brush on it, and rinse it off with water.

[cobalt327]

I believe if I was going to paint the floor, I'd want to "spot treat" the worst places, then pressure wash the whole thing first w/some strong cleaner then rinse real well.