Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

77shovelhead on Fri August 06, 2010 12:40 AM

Year: 95
Make: Buick
Model: 88 Royale
Engine Size: 3.8
Ambient Temp: HOT
Country of Origin: United States

What is a good way to wash dye off under the hood.

This car has had 2 compressors, installed by a local shop, in just 15 months and now the front seal has gone out. Using my new leak testing light there is dye every where under the hood and I want to clean it up before I make any repairs.

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Quality is never an accident it is always the result of intelligent effort.

Edited: Tue August 10, 2010 at 4:55 PM by 77shovelhead

newton5 on Sat August 07, 2010 1:53 AM

I "think" the cleaner supplied with most leak detector kits is alcohol based. It smells to be. Try denatured alcohol.
However, when I was a dealership Tech, I found that Zep brand brake parts cleaner worked really well to flush away UV dye residue. That's what I use now.
Most "house brands" of brake cleaner don't wash off UV dye very well, but I suspect the CRC brand from Auto Zone would work. Never tried it, though.

mk378 on Sat August 07, 2010 8:44 AM

You're actually washing off oil, since the system oil carries the dye. The best cleaner depends on the type of oil in use. If it's been converted, PAG or ester oils are easy to remove with water miscible cleaners like "Engine Brite." Powerful solvents (brake cleaner) will often damage paint.