UV Dye in Freon - good or bad

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bob - 24 Mar 2006 14:04 GMT

I have always had to add a can or 2 of Freon to my truck every year but the
last time I added, it needed another within 2 weeks or so. I picked up a
can of Genetron 134aUV thinking I could use a screw in black light bulb in a
troublelight to find the leak but in reading the can and website, I
question if that will work and if it is even a good idea to use this stuff.
It sounds like the dye is not compatible with all systems and I need to find
a label saying I have dye in the system. This is a 1996 Chevy K1500. So,
questions are:

1. Is this stuff compatible with my system?

2. Is it a good idea to use this stuff anyway?

3. Will the screw in black light bulb from Walmart (in a trouble light)
work to find the dye? I see they sell special light and amber glasses but
cannot find anything about why the glasses or what wavelenght light is
required).

Many thanks for reading.
Bobby

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Mike Walsh - 24 Mar 2006 18:07 GMT

I believe the dye will glow in a visible color when lit with UV light. A "black light" bulb emits a lot of UV light. It is best to were eye protection to block UV light when working with UV lamps.

> I have always had to add a can or 2 of Freon to my truck every year but the
> last time I added, it needed another within 2 weeks or so. I picked up a
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Many thanks for reading.
> Bobby

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Mike Walsh
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A.

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Daniel J. Stern - 25 Mar 2006 00:11 GMT

> I have always had to add a can or 2 of Freon to my truck every year but the
> last time I added, it needed another within 2 weeks or so. I picked up a
> can of Genetron 134aUV thinking I could use a screw in black light bulb in a
> troublelight to find the leak but in reading the can and website, I
> question if that will work</quote>

No, a so-called "black light" incandescent bulb that you screw into a
trouble light will not emit much UV. Maybe enough to spot an enormous
leak if you pull the truck into a completely darkened garage-not very
practical. Very much better: Get a fluorescent trouble light and put a
"BLB" ("Blacklight Blue") fluorescent tube in it. BLB tubes can be had
from light bulb suppliers like bulbman.com . These emit enough UV for
the UV dye to pop right out at you even in a normally-lit workspace.

Those "black light" incandescent bulbs are OK for kids' parties, but
that's about it.

> This is a 1996 Chevy K1500.

Probably a compressor shaft seal.

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Mike Romain - 25 Mar 2006 01:10 GMT

> > I have always had to add a can or 2 of Freon to my truck every year but the
> > last time I added, it needed another within 2 weeks or so. I picked up a
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> Probably a compressor shaft seal.

Well.... Back when I was a kid, black light posters were in style and
those bulbs work very well for lighting them up on the bedroom walls in
the dark. Not as good as a tube, for sure, but for the cost they worked
very well.

I would think the dye would show up easily under one. It isn't going to
be 6 to 10' away like the posters, it will be in a trouble light up
close.

Just my opinion....

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
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Daniel J. Stern - 25 Mar 2006 03:14 GMT

> Well.... Back when I was a kid, black light posters were in style and
> those bulbs work very well for lighting them up on the bedroom walls in
> the dark.

Yeah, Mike, I'm sure your fluorescent posters lit up just fine for you
when you were a kid. That wasn't the "black light" incandescent bulbs
makin' it happen.

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Hugo Schmeisser - 25 Mar 2006 03:42 GMT

> Those "black light" incandescent bulbs are OK for kids' parties, but
> that's about it.

Not even for that.

I put one up for my 8 year-old daughter last Hallowe'en in the front
hall. We were hoping her white ghost costume would glow, but the result
was crushingly dismal. It was two dollars ill-spent. Sylvania ought to
be ashamed of themselves for peddling such rubbish.

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