Dye in oil to find leak, anyone try it?

[mistreta]

Got a oil leak in the rear pan area in my small block. I thought we found it but I still see oil leaking. Did anyone ever use some sort of dye in the oil to find where the oil is coming from?

Thanks

 

[khaley71]

I have used dye before, never had any problems with it.

 

[mistreta]

I have used dye before, never had any problems with it.

I'm not sure how this works, you use a black light to see the dye? or is the dye colored to see easy. Can I get it any auto parts store?

Thanks for the help

 

[RustyRatRod]

I have a kit. It consists of the dye, a black light and a pair of yellow tinted glasses. the glasses are VERY important. They don't make the dye show up. They protect your eyes from the black light. I got my kit from Snap On. It works good.

 

[TXDart]

I mainly use it in automotive a/c systems,but I have used it in oil.Pretty simple just add the right dye for motor oil and then you use a black light and yellow glass to enhance seeing the dye...And yes auto parts sell it as a kit.
http://www.denlorstools.com/autoblog/2009/06/oil-leak-detection-use-of-uv-dye-to-pinpoint-leaks/

http://www.tracerline.com/

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

We use it at our shop and it works great. Just don't get it on your cloths or hands, it's hard to get off.

 

[Mopar to ya]

We use it in the shop all the time. You have to understand that unless you have a huge leak, you will likely have to drive it a couple days to get enough to leak out so you can see it. Degrease the engine first. We call it a D&D at work. Degrease and dye.

 

[mistreta]

We use it in the shop all the time. You have to understand that unless you have a huge leak, you will likely have to drive it a couple days to get enough to leak out so you can see it. Degrease the engine first. We call it a D&D at work. Degrease and dye.

Thanks for all your help

 

[bkbond12]

A simple solution I've used is to clean up the engine real well and park the car over a big ol' piece of cardboard. Wherever it leaks....is where you start. It's not an exact science, but it gives you a pretty good starting area.