Grease, oil, and tough stains can only be removed with the hot water pressure washers in a precise and timely manner. For gas station power washing we recommend a hot water pressure washers with diesel engine or the Trailer Mounted Pressure Washer .

Do gas, diesel and oil stains come out of concrete? The answer is yes. The best and the most common method of concrete cleaning is called pressure washing. There are several elements to consider when power washing hard surfaces (cement cleaning).

Power washing concrete is used in order to remove oil, fuel and grease from the concrete and to do so you will need a hot water power washer. A hot water unit is necessary for cement pavement cleaners since the cleaning solutions emulsify oil and grease stains better and faster as the water temperature increases. Secondly, for a gas station powerwash, the power washer must be capable of producing a pressure of 3000 PSI or more and a water flow of 4 GPM. Keep in mind that among all pressure washing jobs, oil and fuel are the toughest stains to clean. This will require more time, energy and better, more sophisticated gear.

Connect the unit to the water tank or an outside faucet. Pour Heavy-Duty Degreaser cleaning solution into your chemical tank and start the machine. Spray the surface in an orderly and sequential manner. The best results are achieved if you pressure wash one sequence at a time. Make sure you let the cleaning solution sit on the surface for 5 to 10 minutes. When ready to rinse use the highest maximum hot water temperature your burner is capable of producing. Also, you will need to use a heavy-duty turbo tip. Turbo tip is a very powerful tool that attaches to your wand. Use this tool occasionally and with great care. It can act as a raiser, and if used on wood or bricks it can cut the surface and damage it instead of cleaning it. The best idea is to practice with it before doing the actual job. Try spraying at a distance of 4-5 feet and at an angle of 45 degree. As you start feeling comfortable with it, bring the wand closer to the surface but never closer than 3 feet. Caution: Be sure that the turbo tip is completely attached before using the trigger gun. Failure to do so may result in the tip becoming a projectile and may be lost or it may damage property and/or harm persons.

In some instances, gas and diesel stains may need to be removed using Foamer and Flat Surface Cleaner . If you decide to use a foamer, you will connect your wand to the Foamer twist fast adapter. The Foamer will create foam using cleaning detergent or soap. When applied to the surface it will stick to it for a longer period of time allowing the detergent to emulsify the stains systematically and thoroughly. After that, you would disconnect the Foamer and connect the Flat Surface Cleaner . This machine has a flat round cleaning surface, two hand handle and three wheels for easy maneuverability. Use this cleaner to remove the “shadows” still visible on the surface. Clean the tough spots by going over them several times if necessary. Surface cleaner will most of the time clean the area better and faster. Clean gas stations are much safer than those covered in oil!

Sometimes leaf stains seem to be the problem. At times they leave ”ghost” stains that want to linger after the job has been finished. Here is the solution: Mix a gallon of liquid chlorine with 2 gallons of water, and spray it directly on the stains ( DO NOT put any bleach or chlorine in your machine; they will damage the parts and components). The stains are gone in 5-10 minutes. Then rinse the area one last time. In extreme cases you can use citric acid, but be careful with the amounts because acids tend to brighten the concrete, so an even application is critical. Chlorine can also be used for tire marks. Make certain you are power washing the area thoroughly every time you use chlorine. Advise! Make sure you check the local jurisdiction regarding fuel and oil removals. Some states require all spills to be removed by taking them off the premises and being cleaned instead of washing them off into the drainage system.

Pulled this off ultimate Washer.com it has some good info about pressure washing gas stations.

Tags: Gas Station Pressure Washing

This entry was posted on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at 12:15 am and is filed under Pressure Washing Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.