Oily Water Turned Soil Gray!!!

 

Hi everyone,


A few months ago, my car had a major oil leak ( Rear Main Seal ), and
when I started it up, oil basically POURED right out in A STREAM, and my
car went through one quart of oil in like 5 minutes. There was a HUGE
puddle of oil all over the driveway. I used kitty litter to try to soak
it all up. and then tried to wash it away with some "Dawn Dish Soap".


Anyway, now everytime it rains, the driveway gets puddles of that
"rainbow colored" oily water. When I try to wash it with the "Dawn Dish
Soap", the white foamy bubbles from the Dish Soap turn all Black. So the
bubbles all turn this foamy Black color, and the water underneath is all
rainbow colored.


So the other day, what I noticed after the snow melted on the grassy
area next to the driveway, was that there was an area about 3-4 feet
long, and about 1 foot wide, where the grass has turned all Black, and
the soil is now a GRAY color. The reason for this, is because the
asphalt driveway is very old, and not perfectly flat, and so the water
and melting snow runs down onto the grass and soil.


So does this mean that the soil is now contaminated with oil? Do I have
to dig out all the grey-colored soil, and reseed the whole area? If so,
how far down do I need to dig?


Instead of digging all the soil out, can I fix the soil, by just
topdressing the gray soil with some compost or organic topsoil, and then
reseed?


Because its not like the motor oil was dumped or spilled directly on the
grass, but the oily residue in the driveway mixed in with rainwater and
melting snow, and turned the grass Black, and the soil a greasy/oily
grey color.


Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated!!!


P.S.
Is there anyway to DRY OUT the oily residue in the driveway, so that
when it rains, the puddles won't have that oily, rainbow color? Will
scattering "rock salt" down on the area where the oil spill was, help to
dry it out? Because doesn't rock salt dry stuff out?

 

Can one of you with experience in this type of situation help the OP?


MICHELLE H. wrote:

 



Best solution would be to dig the soil out and replace it.  That, or just live
with it.

 

I'd top soil it and let nature do her thing. She'll break down the chemicals
if given time. Remember oil is organic and comes from rotted trees. Soil is
good at breaking most chemicals down into something else, if given some
time.
On the blacktop, I'd take some soil  and put it on there too, sweep it
around, let it dry, wet it down and sweep it around a bit. I usually use dry
soil to pick up fresh oil spills on my asphalt. Leave it on there for awhile
if you can and move it around once in awhile.
--
Bob Noble
http://www.sonic.net/bnoble

 

Hey Bob,


Thanks for the info. about putting some soil on the oil spot to help dry
it out!! Will "Play Sand" work as well?? Because if so, I have a small
bag of "Play Sand" leftover, that I could use on the oil spot.


Please let me know?


Thanks!