UV dye oil leak

[spidernut]

Has anyone tried using the UV dye to detect oil leaks? I have a fairly serious phantom oil leak that I just cannot find. I am considering a UV dye kit and light that will cost about $55 or so, but don't want to spend the money on a gimmick that doesn't work. Anyone try one of the UV dyes before on a crankcase leak? How did it work? It is worth the $$$$?

[majicwrench]

I've used these in a bunch of diff dealerships. Yes they work. I don't feel they are neccessary, 99.99 % of your leaks can be found without them. I do not have one now, and I do not see the need for one.
Like anything else they can be deceiving. Oil will spray, looking like is coming from elsewhere. Other things will glow just like the dye. Gaskets and seals are, by design, gonna sweat a tad, and will show the dye.

Any serious leak should be straightforward to find without the dye, but if you must, certainly the dye works.
Keith

[TX82FIAT]

I'm pretty sure that you can buy a blacklight that works with the kit sold at autozone on the cheap.

[spidernut]

Yes they work. I don't feel they are neccessary, 99.99 % of your leaks can be found without them.

This is one of those leaks that falls into the .01% of the time. I've looked EVERYWHERE and can't locate this leak. It is a significant leak, so it should be easy to find...but it isn't. Even the Fiat mechanic who did my emissions system repairs couldn't see the source. He suspected the cam box, but I see no leaks from there.

I'll give the dye a try and see if I can figure this out. Thanks much!!!

John