Leak Detection

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
jlw35
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon May 20, 2013 7:18 am
Your car is a: 1975 spider

Leak Detection

Postby jlw35 » Wed Aug 23, 2017 3:55 pm

To verify a leak that I have (and haven't isolated the source yet), what harm is there in draining the transmission oil, running the engine and then seeing if there is a leak? If I find a puddle then that would tell me it is engine oil.
I've tried to identify if this is engine oil or tranny and have done a side by side visual and feel as well as smell test but cannot say for sure.

Thanks
Jeff

User avatar
kilrwail
Posts: 1099
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:49 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Perth, Ontario

Re: Leak Detection

Postby kilrwail » Wed Aug 23, 2017 5:23 pm

Don't do that! If the transmission has no oil and it's in neutral, things are still spinning in there! Find the leak by careful inspection, when it's running and not.
_____________________________________________________________
Peter Brownhill

1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider - original owner
1977 Porsche 911S - track car
2022 Ram 4 x 4 - hauler
PCA National Instructor and Motorsport Safety Foundation Level 2 Instructor

jlw35
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon May 20, 2013 7:18 am
Your car is a: 1975 spider

Re: Leak Detection

Postby jlw35 » Wed Aug 23, 2017 5:42 pm

Thanks Peter, that's what I was looking for.

Jeff

DieselSpider
Posts: 2130
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: Leak Detection

Postby DieselSpider » Thu Aug 24, 2017 1:15 am

+1

The oil in the transmission also lubricates the seals so even if you do not have hard part damage you can then cause a leak where there was none before.

What fluid is requiring replacement even when you are not driving the car?

klweimer
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: Leak Detection

Postby klweimer » Thu Aug 24, 2017 8:10 am

The hot set up for finding tough leaks is using a little UV dye and an UV flashlight. You can get both on Amazon pretty cheap. You put UV dye in the crankcase and it mixes with the oil. Run the engine or take it for a spin and then bring it back and look for glowing tracks in your darkened garage. This let's you visualize where the leak actually starts, not just where it ends.

Some examples:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081 ... UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Interdynamics-37 ... UV+oil+dye

Kirk

jlw35
Posts: 130
Joined: Mon May 20, 2013 7:18 am
Your car is a: 1975 spider

Re: Leak Detection

Postby jlw35 » Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:26 am

Thanks Kirk, I'll try that.
The car is just now ready for the road after 4 years, still a little tuning to do. But after I ran the engine the other day, there was a large puddle under car. I know that a small amount of oil can look like a massive leak, but it's still more than I want.

I cleaned pretty thoroughly and wanted to have a better plan ahead before I run it again.

Jeff

grrrdot
Posts: 224
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:14 pm
Your car is a: 1967 124

Re: Leak Detection

Postby grrrdot » Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:55 pm

I've had good success finding leaks using athlete foot powder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aab-Ss-odtw
Some pics here:
http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=32873&start=30

-G


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