Honest answer: in most cases, no. Oil and fuel chemically bond with the porous structure of concrete the moment they hit the surface, soaking deep into the substrate. Our industrial degreasing treatment lifts as much of the oil as the chemistry and surface allow — usually producing noticeable lightening, sometimes dramatic, occasionally minimal. We don't know how much will lift until we try. Anyone who promises 100% removal on every job isn't being straight with you.

Oil is absorbed into the concrete itself, not just sitting on the surface. Concrete is a porous material — at a microscopic level, it's full of capillaries and air pockets that draw oil deep inside. Once oil has penetrated millimetres or even centimetres into the substrate, no chemical, pressure washer, or grinding method can extract every molecule. The longer the oil has been there, the deeper it's gone, and the less can be lifted.

We use industrial-grade alkaline degreasers — the same chemistry used in workshops, mechanic shops, and commercial fleet facilities. The specific product and dilution is matched to your surface (sealed concrete, raw concrete, exposed aggregate, pavers, or tile each require different chemistry). Household products like dish soap, laundry detergent, kitty litter, or general degreaser have minimal effect on set-in oil staining — only industrial chemistry combined with mechanical agitation and high-flow pressure washing produces real results.

Our standard treatment includes 2 to 3 full cycles of apply-agitate-dwell-pressure wash in a single visit. Each cycle lifts a little more residual oil from the deeper layers. For very heavy or very old staining, additional treatment cycles in a follow-up visit can sometimes lift a little more — but there's a point of diminishing returns where further treatment produces no further improvement.

Engine oil, motor oil, transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, diesel, petrol, brake fluid, and most automotive lubricants. We also treat cooking oil staining (common around BBQs and outdoor kitchens) and some industrial oils. Each oil type behaves differently in concrete — engine oil is typically the hardest to lift, fresh diesel is usually the easiest.

Coloured, stencilled, exposed aggregate, and decorative concrete surfaces require careful chemistry selection. The wrong degreaser at the wrong dilution can lighten or strip the colour layer. We assess the surface before treatment and use surface-appropriate products. On heavily decorative or sensitive surfaces, we may recommend a less aggressive treatment with managed expectations rather than risk damage.

If our industrial treatment doesn't produce a satisfactory result, no other method will either — we use the most effective chemistry and equipment available for this job. When that happens, the best solution is usually a tinted decorative concrete sealer applied across the whole surface, which blends the staining into a uniform colour rather than trying to remove it. We talk you through this option after treatment if needed.

Yes — and we strongly recommend it. The most effective prevention is sealing the concrete with a penetrating or decorative concrete sealer. A sealed surface causes oil and fluid to bead on the surface rather than soak in, giving you time to clean it up before it stains. Sealed driveways and garage floors are dramatically easier to maintain. We can apply concrete sealing as a follow-up service once treatment is complete.

No. Pressure washing alone — even commercial-grade — cannot remove oil staining, because the oil has chemically bonded with the substrate below the surface. High-pressure water removes surface dirt; it doesn't penetrate the chemistry of an oil-bound stain. Effective oil treatment requires the right chemistry to break the bond first, then pressure washing to flush away the emulsified oil.

Yes. We use biodegradable industrial degreasers, controlled rinse paths, and where required, drain protection or capture mats to prevent oil residue entering stormwater. The same approach we use on commercial sites where environmental compliance is mandatory.

Oil stain treatment starts from $250+ for small spot treatments. Larger driveways, garage floors, and commercial areas are priced based on surface size, stain severity, and number of cycles required. A free on-site assessment is required to confirm pricing and give you an honest expectation of the achievable result.

Yes — but with an important note. Our 30-day workmanship guarantee covers our application quality (correct product, correct dilution, proper agitation, full cycle count). It does not guarantee a specific visual result, because oil stain treatment outcomes are inherently variable based on factors outside our control (oil type, age, depth, surface). This is why we set expectations honestly upfront before work begins.