REFLECTOR: leak detection

[Al Gietzen]

Subject: RE: REFLECTOR: leak detection

 

you can use a freon leak detector that you might be able to borrow from
somewhere- not the dye kit from AutoZone- but there is a very sensitive
"sniffer" that can detect trace amounts of the gas- which you would need to
introduce into the fuel system after it is drained out so that the gas can
make it's way into the sump system.

 

There's no doubt that the Freon detection approach is probably the best.  I
did that about 4-5 years ago to find a small leak in one of the strake tanks
(maybe pioneered that approach on a Velocity??). Problem is that both Freon
and the detector are a little hard to come by (especially on Sunday).

 

At that time I learned that very small leaks are very hard to find with soap
bubbles.  I have since heard about thin film surfactants (like Leak-Tec)
that are much more effective.  I'm hoping there is something similar that is
easier to get than ordering from New Jersey.

 

I'll call around tomorrow and see what I can learn. (Besides; I HAVE to
watch football today)

 

Meanwhile, I pressurized the entire system through the main vent, and find
there is some slow loss of pressure.  This doesn't narrow it down at all,
but is easy, and will allow me to check all connection points.

Of course one of the fuel caps leaked, so I taped them off right away.

 

Thanks for help,

 

Al

 

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org]On
Behalf Of Al Gietzen
Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2005 11:51 AM
To: reflector
Subject: REFLECTOR: leak detection

I find that back in the area of the sump tank I can smell fuel fumes.  I
have examined everything closely more than once; there is no trace of any
fuel.  So it is apparently a small enough leak that it evaporates as fast as
it leaks.

 

The fuel system is now empty, and I am going to put a bit of air pressure
into the system and search for a leak.  I know there are leak detection
solutions that are better than soap; just don't know what they are and where
I might find them locally. 

 

Looking for suggestions,

 

Al

 

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