Oil spilt over the years on a dirt floor pole barn, how does one clean that up?

Question

The previous owners must have spilt or maybe never intended to collect the oil they drained out of vehicles over several years. It has soaked into the dirt/crushed gravel floor of my pole barn. If anyone has ever tried digging in that, it's extremely difficult. Anyone have any idea as to how I might clean this mess up?

Answer 1

Unless you dig down to below the spilled oil, I doubt it can be.

You can remove the dirt and replace it with new topsoil, or you can just pack on the new topsoil.

Answer 2

Call a bunch of guys to come out with full body suits and breathing equipment. Pay them a fortune in good money to make a big deal out of it. Have we all gone nuts. Dump some gravel on it if it bothers you and take the money you would have spent and give it to some homeless people. Some things just don't matter as much as we would like them too.

Answer 3

It is best to just leave that in place unless you have a high water table, as the soil containing oil is a toxic waste and should be dealt with as such.

If you are instant it must be removed, smell etc., I would have a professional service do it so they can dispose of that stuff properly.  Also you may have already found it  involves alot of removal and hard physical work.