If next mechanic working on car relies on coolant color to figure out compatible coolant to refill he may incorrectly fill in the wrong one (which may or may not be a big problem). As an example - my "BMW blue" coolant became green after using UV dye. One reason why it may be a good idea to flush cooling system after using these UV dyes is because it may confuse next mechanic working on the car. I did not flush the cooling system after using that UV dye.Īfter a year I had to check again condition of coolant and it did not have any rust deposits and was "just as liquid" as a new 50:50 coolant-water mixture. If used in a coolant system to detect leaks, the surface tension component is not important since you will only be looking for the bubbles. Washing-up liquid reduces the surface tension of the water, when washing-up, and so helps to cut through grease. I digress slightly here, but you get the point. The more you use, as a squirt, say when washing-up crockery, the more bubbles you have.and the more you will use.The more you use the more the manufacturers will love you as they can sell you more bottles. If you use too much of it you might need to flush the coolant system a couple of times.Įxperiment with washing-up liquid in a washing up bowl at the kitchen sink and you will see how little of it is necessary to create enough bubbles. You will need to flush it out with cold water afterwards. If you do use washing up liquid you have to remember that it is VERY concentrated in the form in which we usually buy it.so you will need VERY LITTLE of it. Washing up liquid can be used, (remember how we always use it in water to detect a leak in a tyre inner tube, be it bicycle or car). You will not cause any damage to an engine, or its seals or gaskets with a simple coloured trace element in a cooling system to detect a leak. All that is required afterwards, and presumably once the leak has been detected, is to drain and flush, then after any necessary repairs all that is required is to refill the system with coolant. I have previously used a food colourant liquid as a dye and it has worked well. Where fluorescent dyes come into their own is in detecting pin-prick holes in a radiator matrix, (often difficult to spot), or at, say, a radiator cap seal.Īny trace colourant in the water / coolant of an engine coolant system will usually suffice. Leaks are most often found under the bonnet / hood. Sometimes the air-con might leak into the vehicle, as might engine coolant from a heater internal to a vehicles passenger compartment are pretty rare. Most leaking fluids can be easily found if the leak is from a hose which might be split or life expended and due to be changed.leaking fluid is fairly easy to detected, sometimes external to the vehicle, perhaps on the floor. UV dyes are often used for air- con leaks, although as kits or bottles they can be expensive. The UV dyes are not really necessary for coolant leaks, although they might make a leak easier to will need a UV torch to see a leak to best effect. It was usually green stuff, sometimes yellow, and could easily be seen, even in difficult places with an ordinary, yes ordinary, torch, if necessary. Years ago you could just buy a coloured dye and add this to the coolant. There is a distinction between fluorescent coolant dye and UV (Ultra Violet light) flourescent coolant dye.
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