How to See UV Dye on a Freon Leak

UV dye is one of the most effective ways to trace a freon leak in your vehicle's air conditioning system. The dye is added to the air conditioning system, and then the air conditioner is used, which spreads the dye through the car's hoses. The UV dye will mix with the freon so that when you illuminate the leaking area with a UV light, you will be able to pinpoint the exact location of your leak.

Things You'll Need

• UV dye
• UV light

Instructions

1. Add UV dye to the air conditioning system. To add the dye you will need to disconnect one of the hoses running through the air conditioning system (either the high pressure or low pressure hose). Follow the directions on the bottle for the amount of dye you should add to the system.

2. Allow the dye to spread through the system by using the air conditioner for a few days after you added the dye.

3. Shine a UV light under the hood of your car, focusing on the high and low pressure hoses, which are the most common leak areas. If you see any specks of illuminated material, you have located the source of your leak.

References

• 733HotCold: Freon Leak Detection
• Scotty Kilmer: How to Find Leaks in Your Car with a UV Light and Dye