[Shop-talk] tracing an oil leak

[Eric J Russell]

Real mechanics might add a UV dye, run the engine and use a UV light to try 
to locate the leak.

I'd clean off any suspect areas, dry them and dust some baby powder on the 
areas. That helps reveal small leaks. And of course you have to take gravity 
& air flow into account and work backwards to find the source. I've also 
held a sheet of clean white paper near any suspect areas. That helps reveal 
a fine oil mist that might otherwise be difficult to see.

How significant is the oil leak? You can buy a lot of oil for what it might 
cost to find & fix a small leak. But your daughter would have to check/add 
oil regularly.

Eric Russell
Mebane, NC

----- Original Message ----- 

My youngest daughter has an oil leak in a late model Monte Carlo that it 
beyond my limited skills. She lives in St. Paul which is several hours from 
"home".

How would a mechanic trace an oil leak if they cannot visually see it? I am 
worried that she will get taken advantage of and would like to try to 
educate her enough so she knows how to talk to the mechanic she uses.