| Author |
Message |
Henryk (Henryk)
Member
Username: Henryk
Post Number: 400
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 10:53 pm: | |
Verell: Thanks for the info. I just ordered the dye and light from Eastwood. |
Bruno (Originalsinner)
Member
Username: Originalsinner
Post Number: 891
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 10:28 pm: | |
oh.i see the dye at some auto part stores now.You just need the light.For oil you dont need any gauges,pumps,etc to put it in.I wonder if they rent the light?????????
Dont know as I own several kits.Never thought to ask. |
Bruno (Originalsinner)
Member
Username: Originalsinner
Post Number: 890
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 10:26 pm: | |
I've used the flourescent u.v. system for a/c leaks ,oil,and coolant.Works great.If you own the setups. |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 491
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 9:42 pm: | |
re:" isn't oil easy enough to spot a leak when in un-dyed form"
A: Actually oil isn't very easy to see. A thin film of oil is almost invisible until it finds a place to collect which can be a surprising distance away from where it's leaking.
It doesn't take much dye, just an ounce or two. It 's specificly made to be compatible with engine oil, so you aren't risking your seals, etc. The UV flourescent dyes are usually transparent in regular light, so they don't stain your engine.
Doesn't matter whether your engine oil is dirty or not. Unless you've got a seriously large leak, the leak is often so small it'll actually filter the oil anyway.
It's best to clean the engine 1st, that way there isn't an existing film of oil to encourage the spread of the dyed oil. Also, there's no dirt to absorb the flourescence which can be pretty dim.
(It's best to check for the leak at night, or in a closed up garage.)
You usually don't need to run the engine very long before the dyed oil begins to appear at the leak spot. Often a couple of minuites is enough. The earlier you can spot the dyed oil before it spreads, the easier it is to pinpoint the leak.
I have a full sized shop UV light kit. The light is basicly a flourescent shop light with a special UV bulb.
There are also blue lights out there. The blue also makes the dye flouresce,but not as brightly as the full UV light. With the blue light you wear some yellow lensed glasses to maximize the flourescence's visability.
Most parts stores carry the UV or and/or blue light kits with dyes for fuel/oil, coolant, & A/C leaks. The kits run $80 to $150 at most parts stores depending on what's in the kit & how much mark-up the seller's food chain adds.
You can get better prices online tho. Eastwood has a ultraviolet kit on sale for $49 which is about as low as you'll find.
Go to the following web sites:
www.SummitRacing.com
www.EastwoodCompany.com
www.JCWhitney.com
and search for things like the following:
leak
leak detection
leak detector
ultraviolet test light
flourescent
oil dye
BTW,I've heard good things about the 'Blue Max' flourescent penlight. It's small size lets you get it into tight spaces that a larger light won't fit (like into the front side of the engine where the dipstick tube is). Eastwood sells it for about $40.
The dye runs about $5/ounce for oil/fuel leak dye.
|
William Badurski (Billb)
Junior Member
Username: Billb
Post Number: 122
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 8:23 pm: | |
If you have access to it, check out FCA Prancing Horse # 138 for my article and photos of the oil dye and blacklight inspection process. I located a cracked timing case on the backside using this process. The source of the leak was impossible to find without doing this.
Bill Badurski- Technical Chairman- FCA |
Ken (Allyn)
Member
Username: Allyn
Post Number: 640
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 11:30 am: | |
A clean engine bay is a great start. Then drive just long enough to get the oil leaking and start feeling around when it's cool enough to. Oil can take the seinic route from the source to the pavement so don't assume you've found it without looking carefully. I've been fooled even on my little engine in locating sources. |
Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Member
Username: Lawrence
Post Number: 467
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 10:31 am: | |
Dave, I won't argue with you. Cleaning would be better. The dye is what one would call a 'field expedient'. |
Dave Penhale (Dapper)
Member
Username: Dapper
Post Number: 465
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 9:52 am: | |
In that case, how about cleaning the areas suspsected first, so fresh oil build up/drops could be noticed without resorting to other additives (contaminants?) that could cause other problems (degradation of seal material or bearing surfaces). |
Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Member
Username: Lawrence
Post Number: 466
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 5:53 am: | |
If the engine is a dirty and there is a lot of windage, the oil moves away from where it comes out. Sometimes it is very difficult to find the source. There also can be more than one source of leakage. The dye helps you to find it or them. |
Dave Penhale (Dapper)
Member
Username: Dapper
Post Number: 464
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 2:53 am: | |
Am I missing something here, isn't oil easy enough to spot a leak when in un-dyed form? |
Henryk (Henryk)
Member
Username: Henryk
Post Number: 399
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 10:38 pm: | |
Thanks Tom: I will check with NAPA. |
Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Junior Member
Username: Tbakowsky
Post Number: 156
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 10:37 pm: | |
They die is available from any parts jobber. But you need an ultraviolet light and yellow tinted glasses to see the die oozing from the engine.
It is recommened that you wash the area that is oil covered, and then add the die to the engine oil. Drive the car for about and hour or 2 and then recheck with the light and goggles. The jobber should sell the entire kit. |
Henryk (Henryk)
Member
Username: Henryk
Post Number: 397
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 13, 2003 - 10:23 pm: | |
I have read about how one can find an oil leak by using dye put into the oil......then, I assume, one just watches it come out. Is this so?
Where can one obtain this dye.....name brand, source, and amount put in?
Can the car be driven with the dye, or is it best to do this just before an oil change?
I have a minor oil leak, and would like to find and fix it. This is on a TR, holding 12-14 quarts of oil......how much is used?
Thanks |