How to remove motor oil and diesel stains
Updated · By the Luniva team
Quick answer
Use Luniva Pro Formula (the blue one). Spray it directly onto the stain, leave it for 1–3 minutes, then wash as normal following the garment care label.
Always wash workwear on its own, and work in a well-ventilated space.
Step by step
- 1
Blot excess oil
Press a paper towel onto fresh oil to lift the surface layer. Do not rub.
- 2
Spray Pro Formula and wait 1–3 min
Saturate the stain and a small border around it. The oil will visibly darken as the solvent action lifts it.
- 3
Wash separately as normal
Run the garment on its own. Air-dry; never tumble-dry until you can see the stain is gone.
Safe handling for Pro Formula
- Use in a well-ventilated area. Open a window or run an extractor fan.
- Keep away from open flames, sparks and hot surfaces while spraying.
- Avoid spraying towards the face or eyes. Wear household gloves for prolonged use.
- Keep out of reach of children. Wash hands after handling.
Motor oil is a refined hydrocarbon designed to cling to metal under heat – which is exactly why it clings to fabric too. A 40°C wash with standard detergent will leave a dark grey shadow that gets worse on the next wear. Luniva Pro Formula is the heavy-duty solvent-action degreaser built for this exact job: dissolve the oil carrier in 1–3 minutes, then wash out the residue. Bleach-free and colour-safe on most workwear.
Why motor oil leaves a grey shadow
Motor oil is engineered to resist heat, water and friction – the exact qualities of a normal wash. Water-based detergents cannot break the hydrocarbon bond. The shadow you see after washing is oil that's been emulsified into the fibre, not lifted out. Pro Formula's solvent chemistry dissolves the oil before the wash starts.
Fabric guide
Recommended
Cotton, polyester, polycotton, denim, canvas, heavy workwear and most colour-fast everyday garments, towels and bedding.
Avoid
Silk, wool, leather, suede, rayon/viscose, acetate, delicate synthetics, waterproof membranes (e.g. Gore-Tex), flame-retardant finishes, and anything whose care label warns against solvents.
Patch-test first
Spray a hidden area such as an inside seam, leave 1–3 minutes, rinse and let it dry. If you see colour loss, stiffness or surface change, don't use it on that garment.
Use it on its own
Ready to use: never add water. Never mix with bleach, ammonia, acidic cleaners or other detergents. Don't let it dry on the fabric.
Motor oil & diesel: questions
Yes. For dried oil, spray Pro Formula, wait 1–3 minutes and wash as normal, following the garment care label. Repeat the treatment once if any shadow remains. Air-dry between passes.
Yes. Pro Formula dissolves the hydrocarbon carrier itself, which is what holds the smell. Spray, wait 1–3 minutes, wash as normal, following the garment care label, and air-dry – the odour lifts with the stain.
Yes on standard hi-vis polycotton. For garments with reflective tape or membrane coatings, spot-test on a hidden seam first and avoid spraying directly onto the tape.
Yes. Red diesel and home heating oil are the same hydrocarbon family – treat exactly as standard diesel: spray, wait 1–3 minutes, wash separately as normal, following the garment care label.
Yes – always. Even after Pro Formula treatment, washing diesel garments on their own protects your other laundry from any trace residue in the drum.
Use Pro Formula. The pink Enzyme bottle is built for protein and everyday food stains (blood, curry, coffee, sweat). Pro Formula is the heavy-duty solvent-action degreaser engineered specifically for oil, grease and diesel.
Based on controlled laboratory testing. Performance may vary by stain type, fabric, age of the stain and wash conditions. Always follow the garment care label and test an inconspicuous area first.