Finding water leaks with dye

[Member 4808]

Has anyone had experience finding water leaks using dye in the water then using a light to detect the dye where it leaks out? Thanks, Kim

 

[maynard]

Are you sure you have a leak? Did you do a pressure test? If so, and the pressure drops then check for a leak. Do you have any problems other than (I assume water loss)? You may want to check the head gasket. You can rent a tester from Autozone to check for exhaust gases in the coolant. If that is negative, lyou can use the dye. It works, but if the leak is where you can't see it, such as in the heater core, it doesn't do much good.

 

[lesingepsycho]

I pretty much agree. If the leak is somewhere you can see it with dye and a uv light you can normally see it with your eyes. If it is somewhere you can't get to it with the dye/light, then you haven't really gained any ground. I got a light/dye kit and all it has done is confirmed what I already knew in each case. "Yep, that's where I thought it was leakin'!!"

JACK

 

[Member 4808]

The drips are on the floor, very, very slight, difficult to see with old eyes and a dirty engine. So that was the basis for the dye idea. Kim

 

[maynard]

Where are the drips coming from? If not sure, take some nespaper and put it under the just parked car. Tell us the location.

 

[Member 4808]

FYI, the car I will be using the dye on is a '99 VW Cabrio. I suspect the leak is on the backside on the engine. No floor drips overnight, may be dripping on the exhaust and only hitting the floor after the exhaust cools. Thanks for the intrest and I'll update when I am able to test it. Kim

 

[Member 4808]

Leak solved! Combination of heater hose at back of engine and cracked PLASTIC heater hose/radiator fixture on the block. The dye was EZ to use and worked great. No guessing involved.

 

[Steve]

Useful information. My vehicles' water leaks have always been all too obvious, but it's good to know that it works. BTW Kim, I owe you lunch still...........