Not a huge week at the shop. I inspected my drums and wheel studs and found them in usable condition, so they will be cleaned and painted. I moved the Dana 60 onto a set of sawhorses for easier movement and spilled a fair amount of pitch-black gear oil. The subject of this week’s short blog is oil spill clean-up. This also applies to a lesser degree to antifreeze. Prevention is your first line of defense. I keep several oil drain pans of different sizes and shapes around. Grab one fast enough, and there is no spill. I have a dry absorber in a shaker can. Oil Dri is the brand I currently use. I shake it liberally and let it sit at least overnight for the best results. For oil and dust cleaning after the Oil Dri, or for small spills or antifreeze, I like Castrol Super Clean straight for a spray-and-wipe. Don’t leave it too long, and be careful with painted surfaces. Both of these products are available at most chain stores. I am not sponsored or paid by either. I have used them with great success and have no trouble recommending them. The hazards of oil spills are obvious, but those of antifreeze are less so. It is poisonous to drink, but is generally neutral in other regards. My city frowns on dumping it out in the storm drains, so collecting it is a priority. For spills, I mop them up. I found it leaves a slippery film that is easily cut with a degreaser. Next week, more pictures, more wrenching. New cars are boring; fix something old.