How to Get ATF Off Concrete

Automatic transmission fluid is a complex mix of ingredients that includes dye, foam control agents and dispersants. All these ingredients may matter to your transmission but as far as your concrete driveway is concerned transmission fluid is a petroleum oil. The sooner you can get it cleaned up the better because concrete is porous. Transmission fluid can penetrate as deep as 1/4 inch into concrete and when exposed to the air the lighter and more volatile components of the fluid evaporate leaving behind only the thickest oils. After the ATF has soaked in there are at least two cleaning products you can use.

Cat litter
Stiff brush
Dustpan
Broom
Dishwashing detergent
Hose
Oven cleaner
Concrete oil stain remover
Microbial cleaner

Instructions

- 1
  Cover wet ATF spills on concrete with cat litter. Scrub the liter into the concrete with a stiff brush and sweep up the mess with a dustpan and broom.
- 2
  Scrub dishwashing detergent into fresh stains with a stiff brush and hose the detergent away. Repeat as necessary.
- 3
  Spray older stains with oven cleaner. Let the oven cleaner set for 10 minutes; then spray the stain with more oven cleaner and scrub that into the stain with a stiff brush. Wash away the oven cleaner and dissolved oil with a garden hose. Repeat this for stubborn stains.
- 4
  Treat dried stains with a concrete oil stain remover, following the directions on the bottle. Several brands of these oil stain removers are widely available in both hardware and automotive stores.
- 5
  Spray old stains with a microbial cleaner following the directions on the container as an alternative to oven cleaner or oil stain removers. Numerous brands of microbial cleaners are available and they all contain microorganisms that feast on petroleum oils. A microbial cleaner may take days to work but is much more environmentally friendly than solvents like oven cleaner or even detergents.

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