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Dye Test - READ ONLY

11 messages,  Last post on Nov 04, 2003 at 5:54 PM

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#2 of 11 Flourescent by driftracer Oct 27, 2003 (9:05 am)
dye will work on just about any fluid - it glows in the dark and is detected with a black light, so it doesn't matter whether it's oil, trans fluid, gear lube, or power steering fluid.   The shop cleans off the suspected area, installs the dye, you drive for a couple of days, then return for the exam.
#3 of 11 and in fact, oil, ATF, antifreeze all have dyes in them by swschrad Oct 27, 2003 (12:44 pm)
for the purpose of tracking back noticeable leaks that ooze a fair amount of fluid. using a hand-held blacklight, you can see that they generally all glow a different color as well. use a solvent rag or two to wipe down the engine to metal (safer for Joe Shadetree than using a power washer to short out a lot of sensors, zap the alternator's "lifetime lubrication" to wreck it, and remove some grime in the process) and shine on again in a few days. if you don't see trails that you can trace upwind to possible leaks, then maybe additional dye could help.
#4 of 11 by 0patience Oct 27, 2003 (5:22 pm)
The shop cleans off the suspected area, installs the dye, you drive for a couple of days, then return for the exam. Don't really have to even clean the area. We have done several articles on leak dyes. Leak detection lamp review and Lamp and dye review
#5 of 11 Sometimes it's REALLY by driftracer Oct 27, 2003 (6:58 pm)
funky under there - not on my cars, of course, but I've seen cars that need a shovel just to get to the oil pan bolts.
#6 of 11 by 0patience Oct 27, 2003 (7:08 pm)
Yep, have a Jeep Cherokee that we are just finishing up an overhaul on the engine, it was caked underneath. Steam cleaner and degreaser was the only way to clean it up. I always wait to clean it, because I have to pressure wash it and degrease it before the repair anyway.
#7 of 11 Makes sense - by driftracer Oct 27, 2003 (8:17 pm)
while most people don't regularly detail the underside of their vehicle(s), what I see amazes me at times.
#8 of 11 Thanks by yltnelis Oct 30, 2003 (11:20 am)
Thanks to all who responded. Just curious, do all mechanics still think that women are idiots? I took my car to the shop today and described the leak to the guy. He asked me was it green and I told him no and that it didn't smell like antifreeze. He proceeded to tell me that antifreeze doesn't really have a smell. To me, antifreeze has a very distinct smell. I didn't just fall off a turnip truck and I have been known to actually look under the hood of a car or two, not just in the vanity mirror. OK, I'm done venting for now.
#9 of 11 sounds like you need to find another mechanic, and tell 'em why by swschrad Oct 30, 2003 (5:54 pm)
at least he didn't say "toots."   and yeah, glycol has a recognizeable smell to me, too. suppose his dead cigar butt got in the way of that check
#10 of 11 by 0patience Oct 30, 2003 (7:24 pm)
Now swschrad, suppose his dead cigar butt got in the way of that check I fit that stereotype and even with a cigar I can still smell antifreeze.
#11 of 11 well, 0patience, guess the other guy just isn't the sharing type ;) by swschrad Nov 04, 2003 (5:54 pm)
I like sharing types who say what is broken and probably why, myself. I don't like the "gimme $400 and sit down" type of diagnosis and estimate.   sounds like she got the latter.

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