The other day I was watching, I believe it was Inside Grand Prix, and they talked about cleaning up an oil-down. They said they used cement as the clean-up material. Does anybody know if this is correct? The stuff they use does look a light-grey or white but I just was expecting something specially formulated for that specific purpose. I guess that any material which has a high surface area and has good non-polar adsorbent properties would make a decent oil clean-up agent. Does anyone know what they actually use on the tracks?

cygnus2048 - 04 July 2008 01:25 PM

The other day I was watching, I believe it was Inside Grand Prix, and they talked about cleaning up an oil-down. They said they used cement as the clean-up material. Does anybody know if this is correct? The stuff they use does look a light-grey or white but I just was expecting something specially formulated for that specific purpose. I guess that any material which has a high surface area and has good non-polar adsorbent properties would make a decent oil clean-up agent. Does anyone know what they actually use on the tracks?

I can't say for F1 specifically, but materials known in general as Speedy-Dry,(ground, kiln-baked clay, you know, kitty-litter) were always the traditional material of choice. Cheap, effective, and easily available. I see NASCAR has started using a fine, whitish powder this year. Haven't heard what it's called. Could be the same stuff. Cement is basically ground limestone with gypsum and a few other compounds mixed in. Don't know how good an oil absorbent it would be. I doubt they are using plain cement, but a modified cement product is a possibility.

I don't know what F1 is using but a popular 'oil-dry' substance for the auto repair industry is rice hull ash.

wilmywood8455 - 05 July 2008 03:25 AM

I don't know what F1 is using but a popular 'oil-dry' substance for the auto repair industry is rice hull ash.

There are a number of products out there. We tried a substance made of peat moss. It works quite well, but if slag from a torch or welder hits it it will burn much more readily then clay based products.

Cat-Man-Do - 04 July 2008 03:25 PM

I can't say for F1 specifically, but materials known in general as Speedy-Dry,(ground, kiln-baked clay, you know, kitty-litter) were always the traditional material of choice. Cheap, effective, and easily available. I see NASCAR has started using a fine, whitish powder this year. Haven't heard what it's called. Could be the same stuff. Cement is basically ground limestone with gypsum and a few other compounds mixed in. Don't know how good an oil absorbent it would be. I doubt they are using plain cement, but a modified cement product is a possibility.

Diatomaceous earth's the preferred stuff, much better than anything with clay in it.

scrflgr - 05 July 2008 09:14 AM

Cat-Man-Do - 04 July 2008 03:25 PM

I can't say for F1 specifically, but materials known in general as Speedy-Dry,(ground, kiln-baked clay, you know, kitty-litter) were always the traditional material of choice. Cheap, effective, and easily available. I see NASCAR has started using a fine, whitish powder this year. Haven't heard what it's called. Could be the same stuff. Cement is basically ground limestone with gypsum and a few other compounds mixed in. Don't know how good an oil absorbent it would be. I doubt they are using plain cement, but a modified cement product is a possibility.

Diatomaceous earth's the preferred stuff, much better than anything with clay in it.

Same product as used in swimming pool filtration systems, very absorbent and cheap.

Bill

For those - like myself - who don't know what Diatomaceous earth is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth

Diatomaceous earth (pronounced /ˌdaɪətəˈmeɪʃəs ˈɝθ/), also known as DE, TSS, diatomite, diahydro, kieselguhr, kieselgur and celite) is a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. This powder has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and is very light, due to its high porosity. The typical chemical composition of diatomaceous earth is 86% silica, 5% sodium, 3% magnesium and 2% iron.

Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for liquids, as cat litter, as an activator in blood clotting studies, and as a component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator.

Its absorbent qualities make it useful for spill clean-up and the U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends it to clean up toxic liquid spills.

It has been employed as a primary ingredient in a type of cat litter. The type of silica used in cat litter comes from freshwater sources and does not pose a significant health risk to pets or humans.