Finding coolant leak

A

ArthurRitus

Guest
What is the best method you guys have found (or recomend) for finding a slow leak in coolant, if it is even a leak. I have to add coolant about every 3 weeks, (pain in the ass if i dont remember untill the temp goes up). I dont have head gasket problems.( before anyone says it )
 
M

MA70Snowman

New Member
Oct 17, 2006
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San Diego
starscream5000 said:
Put a special dye made just for coolant into your system, clean up all the old leaky spots, drive it around, then check with the blacklight ;).
Click to expand...

damn good idea i think i'll try that myself. never seen such a product for coolant though, as we used to use the same process for tracking down freon leaks in the AC system. i'll have to go through the local performance shopes one more time (autozone, pepboys) where else would be a good place to find said product.
 
jetjock

jetjock

creepy-ass cracka
Jul 11, 2005
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Many places. Ebay for one. Search on coolant dye. The Tracer Products stuff is good. See their website for more info:

http://tinyurl.com/lnppz

The Interdynamics brand dyes Kragen and it's namesakes (Checker, etc) sell are junk.

I use the stuff from AutoZone made by ED Enterprises or some such name. About $5. Even though it's UV traceable it's fluorescent green under normal light. Important when using a coolant like G-05, which is a very pale color, almost clear as it ages. Since G-05 is what I use in all my cars I always keep dye in them. I also use the same firm's oil dye. With this stuff leaks are easy to find even without UV. Course, a pressure tester is helpful when doing cooling system work but you can get by without one. That said I'd sure miss mine if I didn't have it.
 
jetjock

jetjock

creepy-ass cracka
Jul 11, 2005
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Redacted per Title 18 USC Section 798
Is that the all-in-one stuff? Truth is I haven't used Tracer Products dyes in several years. I own one of their AC leak check kits but don't often use it. I can't vouch for how well their universal dye works but since they're pretty much the leader in the biz it should be fine. I've stuck to the AutoZone dyes for oil and coolant because they work so well and are easy to come by.
 
jetjock

jetjock

creepy-ass cracka
Jul 11, 2005
9,439
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Redacted per Title 18 USC Section 798
That'll work. I believe TP Dye-Lite is the stuff sold on ebay. Use the universal dye for engine oil, PS, tranny, ect. Don't let anyone talk you into fancy UV lights either. Any cheap LED UV light will do as long as the wavelength is close. AC suppliers sell such lights. Even my Fenix L2D-CE (a great flashlight btw) lights the stuff up and it's not UV.

Again though if you have an AZ nearby get their dye. The same firm has different products for oil and coolant but AZ stocks both. Wish I could remember the damn manufacturer as they have a website. It's on the product package. Stuff is great. Potent too. Add to the typical 7M and you'll have a day-glo lime green engine in no time and that's without UV.
 
SupraMario

SupraMario

I think it was the google
Mar 30, 2005
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The Farm
If you don't wanna go the dye route you can always put down a piece of clean cardboard and just look in the area where a damp area on the cardboard is.
I guess its the cheaper route but it does work.
 
A

ArthurRitus

Guest
TOMA70E.....i wouldnt think about putting that in there... lol
 
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