Fluorescent dye gas leak?

[bfg9k]

Hi all,

I am going to get back to troubleshooting my Subaru's poor mileage. I came across this product:
http://www.autobarn.net/fluorleakdet1.html

For $6 it's a fluorescent dye that's added to the gas, then you look with a blacklight for the leaks (if any). What do you think? Worth a shot?

 

[Master ACiD]

i assume you have a fuel leak and that is why you ask. gas is some pungent stuff. why cant you just sniff around the underside of the car and engine bay for the gasoline leak?

if you are leaking enough gas to cause a drop in mileage, the leak would be fairly large, you should have a puddle on the floor when idling.

 

[brianl703]

I used that stuff to find out that the fuel injectors on my 1988 Mustang were leaking externally. I had replaced the o-rings and still smelled fuel.

It was a very small leak, though, certainly not enough to impact mileage (after 40 miles of driving the dye was only visible on the injectors and then only in a very small amount), and I still smelled it.

 

[bfg9k]

That sounds good to me. There's a large number of threads over at the Ultimate Subaru Message Board regarding poor mileage. One cause is apparently hairline cracks in fuel lines and it can be hard to diagnose and find. For $6 I'll try it!