I am using dye to try and find an oil leak, the bulb I am using is a simple black light bulb stuck in a shop trouble light and the dye barely glows, its hard to determine the source of the leak. Do I need to be using an actual flourcent "blacklight" to make this stuff glow brighter??

You may need more dye. I think it does matter if it is florecent also. My PSD cam with that from the factory, had a valve cover leak and I watched him find it, it was florecent and mine glowed yellow, it was as clear as a bell where the problem was.

There are some pretty good kits that have a penlight type light and a pair of yellow glasses-really makes the dye shine. You could also just get some yellow lense glasses(shooting glasses) and see if they help with the light you're using.

same issue with a power steering leak. used the dye, and the same bulb you
are using. i couldn't determine where the leak was either. will try the yellow glasses
next time.

Good luck, I have found that most of the dye collects in the oil filter.... wonder why?

Roby

Robyw1
Please Post Your Findings, What And Where To Get The Stuff. I Also Have A Leak I Cant Find.
Thanks Racer

You can fine one of many here: http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/TTW436.html

However my suggestion is that you make the effort to locate it w/o. The stuff just doesn't work so great and in my case was all trapped in the oil filter. Depending on the capacity of your engine you may need 2 bottles.

Roby

I used the dye to find a power steering leak last year. I bought a blacklight bulb from Home Depot or Lowes and put it in my trouble light.

I cleaned the bilge as everyone said, I then ran the motor on the water hose for a while and then I backed it in a completely dark barn with no ambient light. I found the leak right away and it showed up bright yellow. I bought my dye from NAPA.

It is important to remember to throughly clean the engine and in the case of a boat the bilge. Now the easiest way to clean the bottom of an engine that I have found is to spray it with Castrol Super Clean, (or whatever you perfer) and run a small garden sprinkler under the engine from a hot water heater. Generaly speaking the leak will appear on the floor or bilge at the point it is leaking from.

Laying a white towel in the bilge under the motor might help isolate the leak too.