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Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:10 am
by handyman
Hello,

Can anyone suggest a popular retailer ( halfords don't) who might sell off
the shelf coolant leak detector dye?

I know Haydn does it and Google has dozens of mail order but I want to try and crack (please not the head #-o ) my coolant problem this weekend.

Thanks to those who suggested it.

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:40 am
by rita
Screwfix..

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 1:27 pm
by bigdaddycain
Or if you in future use the same coolant as myself (carplan premium longlife red coolant) it glows a shocking pink under a UV light, very easy to check for leaks! :wink:

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 1:31 pm
by haydn callow
I'm afraid Haydn only does it untill the bottle runs dry......another couple of doses.......it is quite a hassel getting hold of it..
Didn't know Screwfix did a coolant compatible one !!

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 5:37 pm
by handyman
Screwfix don't do it , Halfords dont do it, and 3 motor factors I tried sratched their heads.

Have ordered 2 bottles of 1oz flourescent dye £3.99 each and co's I had to spend 10 quid I ordered 2 bottles of steering fluid dye @ £1.99 each co's me steering rack is leaking as well #-o [-o<

Any way thanks to all on this thread and the blow back header thread.

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 5:44 pm
by haydn callow
So !! go on...tell us....who does do it ???

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 6:45 pm
by missfixit70
handyman wrote:Screwfix don't do it , Halfords dont do it, and 3 motor factors I tried sratched their heads.

Have ordered 2 bottles of 1oz flourescent dye £3.99 each and co's I had to spend 10 quid I ordered 2 bottles of steering fluid dye @ £1.99 each co's me steering rack is leaking as well #-o [-o<

Any way thanks to all on this thread and the blow back header thread.
Steering rack'll probably be the top pinion seal just below the UJ on thr steering column, you shouldn't need the dye for that, you'll see the oil :wink: Sterring fluid stop leak has worked for most people, mine it has slowed right down, but I still have a slight weep.

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:19 pm
by waycar8
Might be a toatlly stupid question but.......

What about food dye for cooking?, it wont harm the coolant as its made for human consumption and will mix with the water in the sytem, It might not glow but if you get a bright coloured one it will show up on a hose or a pipe??

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:27 pm
by missfixit70
I reckon it'd be diluted too much, you'd need a shedload, it's the UV bit that makes it east to see.

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:36 pm
by waycar8
missfixit70 wrote:I reckon it'd be diluted too much, you'd need a shedload, it's the UV bit that makes it east to see.

Hmmn good point, unless your chef and can get it at cost from the wholesalers :lol: , I just bought a litre of the pinky red stuff from morrisons and kept topping up with that as I could find a leak anywhere, eventually found the leak under the front heater matrix where the hose attaches to one of the pipes using a uv torch

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:03 pm
by missfixit70
waycar8 wrote:
missfixit70 wrote:I reckon it'd be diluted too much, you'd need a shedload, it's the UV bit that makes it east to see.

Hmmn good point, unless your chef and can get it at cost from the wholesalers :lol: , I just bought a litre of the pinky red stuff from morrisons and kept topping up with that as I could find a leak anywhere, eventually found the leak under the front heater matrix where the hose attaches to one of the pipes using a uv torch
Hope you checked it's compatible with what's in there [-o<

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:17 pm
by dobby
We used to use something for tracing drains on site, that might work?

http://www.wardsflex.co.uk/acatalog/Dra ... -Dyes.html

But would suggest a good FLUSH AFTERWARDS :lol:


What about BDC's idea?

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 2:13 pm
by waycar8
missfixit70 wrote:
waycar8 wrote:
missfixit70 wrote:I reckon it'd be diluted too much, you'd need a shedload, it's the UV bit that makes it east to see.

Hmmn good point, unless your chef and can get it at cost from the wholesalers :lol: , I just bought a litre of the pinky red stuff from morrisons and kept topping up with that as I could find a leak anywhere, eventually found the leak under the front heater matrix where the hose attaches to one of the pipes using a uv torch
Hope you checked it's compatible with what's in there [-o<

it said it was compatible with all coolants, but I was doing a full flush and coolant change and a put in a mazda stat anyway, I just wanted to find the leak first

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:00 am
by handyman
Haydn the dye I got was from

http://www.carairconditioningsupplies.co.uk

There are lots of other sites that sell it (the brand is Mastercool) but only in bulk. £3.99 a bottle but p&p is £5.99 with a min order of £10.

Perhaps yourself or Ian might be interested in a bulk purchase?

Have noted BDC info for future use....thats if the head isn't cooked of course [-o<


missfixit70 wrote:
handyman wrote:Screwfix don't do it , Halfords dont do it, and 3 motor factors I tried sratched their heads.

Have ordered 2 bottles of 1oz flourescent dye £3.99 each and co's I had to spend 10 quid I ordered 2 bottles of steering fluid dye @ £1.99 each co's me steering rack is leaking as well #-o [-o<

Any way thanks to all on this thread and the blow back header thread.
Steering rack'll probably be the top pinion seal just below the UJ on thr steering column, you shouldn't need the dye for that, you'll see the oil :wink: Sterring fluid stop leak has worked for most people, mine it has slowed right down, but I still have a slight weep.
Have used fluid stop leak already but the rack is blubbing :lol:

Re: Coolant dye

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:13 am
by haydn callow
I thought the A/C dye was not the same as coolant dye......good find if it is compatable.....