How to clean diesel in soil?

[karrlot]

I filled my fuel tank all the way full. When it got hot it expanded and leaked out into my yard. The smell is bothering my neighbor. Any idea how to clean it and get rid of the smell? I think it was just a few gallons.

[jazty]

A big fire directly over the spill? That's what I'd do, but if you live in a town or city that might not work. Otherwise I think you'd have to dig it up.

Maybe you could try pressure washing the dirt with a detergent. That's going to get messy fast

[BlackJohn]

Get a pet skunk and walk it around the neighbour on a leash. I think he'd quickly forgive the diesel smell as to what could be....


Like the fire idea too, scoop what you can up and burn it someplace else.


John

[Johnny Mullet]

Dig it up or lay a bunch of sawdust on the spill, dig/mix with shovel, bag up, lay more sawdust, repeat.

[o1marc]

Do what you can before the next rain. The last thing you need is the neighbor calling EPA who will surely have you dig every bit of it up and hit you with a hefty fine.

[EastCoastCB]

I'd burn it.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I'd burn it.

I'm sure that smoke will piss off the rest of the neighborhood.

[magnakansas]

yea burn, do not try to burn it all at once..... small fire, hot. spinkle one shovel full of dirt at a time,heat the **** out of the dirt/fuel mix, this will sterilize the soil, nothing will grow in it either, so after you burn the fuel you will have to mix some organic material back into it.... horse crap or cow crap works well. if you can burn fall leaves at the same time, will help mask fuel burn. I had to dig a hole with fuel contamination... put the dirt in a truck bed to haul out to a location I could burn. brought in new soil and sod to repair the lawn. took three 18 hour days. passed EPA testing of the site. customer parked a car in a grassy area of the shop, leaked gasoline into the water meter hole, same day water meter reader came..... uggg that sucked. charged the customer for fuel spill clean up. he wasnt happy.

william

[david.dgeorge07]

If you burn in-place make sure to move bus first.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by o1marc

I'm sure that smoke will piss off the rest of the neighborhood.

Not out in the country, where my bus is.
I've burned all sorts of fun stuff.

[karrlot]

Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07

If you burn in-place make sure to move bus first.

Too late....

[Danjo]

I see all these replies saying to burn it. It won’t, so don’t.

Is it dirt or asphalt or what?

If it’s dirt or gravel or hard pack clay, dig it up and put the dirt in the trash. It will stink for months if you don’t and get into the waterways and water table even..

If it’s an impervious surface like asphalt or concrete, start with an absorbant. Sawdust is good, but if you don’t have it, the auto supply store sells absorbant by the bag for this type of thing. Use a broom to rub it in really good. Sweep it up and discard. Then create a paste of detergent and water. Rub that in well and wipe up with old rags. Then wash it down, you should be good to go.

[PNW_Steve]

https://petrobuster.ca/how_to_clean_spills_and_soot/


For remediation where petroleum is in the soil, dilute with 4 parts water, disperse mixture on area affected with approximately the same amount of diluted Petro Buster as the amount of petroleum that was spilled in the ground. ie: 100 L diesel or gas use 20L pail of Petro Buster diluted 4:1 with water and treatment size will be 100 L of Petro Buster Mixture. Get a garden hose if possible and saturate the same area after treatment with water for 30 minutes to help drive the Petro Buster mixture further into the ground where the fuel is and it will break the barrier between the fuel and water allowing it to be diluted by the water and disperse. From there the enzymes & microbes will breakdown and consume the hydrocarbons. Rain afterwards is a good thing and will further this action. This reduces the PPM of hydrocarbons immediately. If testing is needed it is best to wait a few weeks after treatment and after significant rain. This has been very effective and passed lab tests many times.

[Captain Bill]

I have had to clean up many different types of petroleum products and the way Steve is telling you how to do it is the correct way. If the EPA even catches wind of you spilling then burning or using a dispersant like dish soap or laundry detergent they will come down on you harshly. Enzymes are the way to go.The soil is considered hazmat until it test clean.

[EastCoastCB]

It'll burn with just a bit of gasoline to start it.

[kidharris]

Originally Posted by Danjo

I see all these replies saying to burn it. It won’t, so don’t.

Is it dirt or asphalt or what?

If it’s dirt or gravel or hard pack clay, dig it up and put the dirt in the trash. It will stink for months if you don’t and get into the waterways and water table even..

LOL...I assume you are joking, put hazmat in the trash?

[Mekanic]

Count me in as one that says burn it.

After all isn't that what most everyone does with diesel fuel??

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Mekanic

Count me in as one that says burn it.

After all isn't that what most everyone does with diesel fuel??

In your front yard? No

[Tango]

Build a fire pit over it. Bring marshmallows for the Feds. They love marshmallows.

[jazty]

A big hot fire. Sprinkle it in small amounts. It'll burn off. You'll need a reasonable amount of wood to keep the fire going, though. The diesel will burn off the soil, but not without plenty supporting fuel (wood). Afterwards you'll be left with dead sand and ash. Non-toxic, but with no nutrients for plant growth. I don't know how town folk will want to deal with that,. I'd dump it at the back of the property or spread it thin around the yard.