Removing diesel stain off block paving

jonsey24 · Post: # 58681Post **jonsey24** Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:37 pm

I filled my car up with diesel yesterday right to the brim as i always do the only problem was that when i lifted the pump out to place back diesel spilt out of the car and down the bodywork onto the floor.
I arrived home parked the car up and noticed this morning that the diesel must have run down the car onto the rear mudflap and dripped onto the block paving.
What i want to know was what is the best product / technique for removing this stain without discolouring the block it has dripped onto?
By the way its a dark charcoal coloured block

Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:51 pm

there are many products/techniques,but the easiest one is to replace the affected block ASAP
LLL

jonsey24 · Post: # 58686Post **jonsey24** Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:31 pm

Any suggestions in relation to products that i can get hold of, dont really want to take the block out as it is in the middle of a 70sqm driveway.
The patch just looks like a dark wet spot on the block none of the rainbow effect patterns you get with a normal fuel leak

Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:41 pm

Jones believe me it is 100 times less agg to replace 1 block
LLL

Post: # 58693Post **seanandruby** Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:20 am

Try an houseold detergent but as LLL says: replacing the offending block will be much easier and faster.

Pablo · Post: # 58695Post **Pablo** Sat Jan 29, 2011 9:38 am

yup replace them would be my advice to.

jonsey24 · Post: # 58696Post **jonsey24** Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:45 pm

Ive heard of a special tool that allows you to do this by grabbing the block at each end and letting you lift it out, any ideas where to get one and how much are they? failing that what else could i use to lever the block out

Pablo · Post: # 58697Post **Pablo** Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:57 pm

those lifters are quite expensive. You could use the edge of a troweland lever each side a bit at a time. If it's not coming out drill a hold in it knock in an expanding bolt fixed to some timber and it'll lever out easily.

jonsey24 · Post: # 58700Post **jonsey24** Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:04 pm

Thanks for the advice chaps, i have tried putting fairy liquid on the stain and gave it a mild rub with a dish type brillo pad, i will wait till the path dries now and inspect the stain, if this doesnt sort it then i will have a go at removing and replacing the block

rab1 · Post: # 58719Post **rab1** Sat Jan 29, 2011 9:04 pm

Fuel tank hose on my old vectra died one night on our drive. I`ll take a picture tomorrow and post, this ones a winner

Post: # 58737Post **seanandruby** Sun Jan 30, 2011 7:56 am

It just goes to show that getting some paper towel off the roll and wiping fuel spillage off a vehicle is worth doing. My wife follows me around our car making sure i do just that :laugh:

mickg · Post: # 58747Post **mickg** Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:45 am

a block paving extractor
block paving tools

i used 2 trowels for years to remove damaged or chipped blocks and have taken the skin off both hands many a time when one of them slips out of the joint

the speed at which the block paving extractor can remove a block is seconds compared to being on your hands and knees scraping out the sand and forcing the edge of the trowel in the joint

Sun Jan 30, 2011 11:34 am

do you use one mick?
LLL

mickg · Post: # 58754Post **mickg** Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:11 pm

i do yes and i wish I had bought one years ago

I had been meaning to buy one for over 15 years but always managed to remove the blocks using 2 trowels, Tony Mc called on a job I was on this time last year and he had one in the back of his pickup so i had a proper look at one for the first time and finally purchased one

to say they are one of the best tools i have ever bought would be an understatement, they are very good and very quick at removing even the most stubborn of blocks what is very tight in place, to remove blocks so tight used to take quite a while so you don't damage the other blocks adjacent to the one your removing

now its set the extractor to the correct width of the block your removing, push the front of the extractor in place with your heal, push the back in place and squeeze the handles together and pull up and out come the block its that simple and that fast

Probst dropped the prices last year from over Â£120 to Â£70 odd plus vat so that made it a must to buy

Belle also make a cheaper copy but not as good as the Probst in my opinion

Post: # 58755Post **msh paving** Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:28 pm

I've had one for a number off years, very usefull tool for chipped block removal or relaying small areas due to settlement,oil stains etc etc.
in fact they are so good ive got two due to lending it out and friend not returning it, forgot he had it bought another one then it came back under cover off darkness....
so one is for sale if anyone is interested...... MSH