Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Diesel stain removal?

Recently scored a pair of Mobilfuel Diesel signs. Both are stained with diesel fuel. Does anyone know a good method to remove the stains from the porcelain? Thanks.

Have you tried buffing with a heavy duty compound? If nothing else works you could use a diluted solution of muratic acid,rubber gloves and and a scotch brite pad. of coarse you may have to clear coat afterwards if the shine is gone. mike

Not sure about signs,but I have used Simple Green to clean a lot of items with any type of fuel staining.Sometimes it has to sprayed on and let sit a while.

And Bob..I got the blueprints and will get them back in the mail to you this week..Thanks

Bobby

I have used orange hand cleaner diluted with a little water and a scrub pad like my wife has in the kitchen for pots and pans. Not Brillo,its like rough nylon or something. Works good if I spread the orange cleaner all over it and let it come off almost in layers. Then I dont hurt the finish. Works on site glass bowls even that are really bad.

speaking of sight glass stains, I use easy-off oven cleaner and it wipes gas stain right off. it may work for deisel fuel stains too.It also removes sing painter's one shot enamel paint as well. good luck mike

I had tried Simple Green and Westleys Bleach Brite with little or no improvement. Bar Keeper Friend has shown the most promise but it's lots of scrubbing and will remove the gloss from the signs.

I'll look for some orange cleaner and see how that goes.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I think the oven cleaner ought to work. I used some engine cleaner on a set of sight glasses a few years ago with good results as well.

Scott

Oven cleaner will likely dull the finish - it's basically pure lye (sodium hydroxide). Engine cleaner will likely not dull the finish - it's nonpolar -- a hydrocarbon.

That's all just theoretical. You should probably test either on a useless sign or non-visible place.

Wes

Morgan...there is 1 other product that might work.Its called Micro-Blaze or Micro Blazeout dont remember which.Tank removers use it to neutralize the vapors in tanks before they remove them.We used to use it to take diesel staining off concrete,pumps etc.I think Source in Grand Prairie might have it,if not one of the pump companies around Paris might have it(Amblin or Paris)If I remember right its made with oil eating microbes.

Bobby

Thanks Bobby, I work near Amblin and will give them a call tomorrow.

I would think the oven cleaner would not hurt porcelain, our oven at home is porcelain inside and out. I guess if it were left on too long it could.