I've got a slow oil leak on my 1996 Olds 88 with 3.8 Liter. My daughter had the car all summer and I just got it back. So it is dripping slowly on my driveway. Along with other maintenance, I thought I would try to fix this oil leak. It is probably just a loose valve cover but before I go digging in there I thought why not just dump some dye in it and check it a few days with a black light. Is the dye sold in your average auto parts or is it a specialty item? Also what aboutr the cost, if it is relatively cheap then I would probably buy it as I am relatively cheap myself otherwise I wouldn't be fixing an oil leak myself!!!!!

NAPA part # 765-2661, costs me about $4 a bottle.
BillL

Good luck, I had an oil leak, (or leaks), on my 1998 Lumina 3.8 recently. I got the oil pan gasket replaced, ($350), the valve cover gaskets and one injector replaced. Total cost was over $600. The leak is still there, but much smaller now. My mechanic put a bottle of the florescent dye in the oil and I took my car in the other day to have him look at it with the black light. He wasn't quite sure were the oil was coming from even with the help of the yellow dye, and suggested I come back after driving it a while longer and he'll check it again.

Replacing the oil pan gasket was not something I wanted to do, it takes a while and requires moving the engine.

Let us know where the leak in coming from.

Can this same dye be used for locating a leak in a power steering system?

Or in my bank account???:D

Can this same dye be used for locating a leak in a power steering system?

Sure, a leak is a leak, I would think however not as much dye would be needed as your Power Steering holds much less volume. Should be quicker and easier to get results also.

Most of the dyes are universal for oil based. There is also coolant dyes and AC leak dyes. There's several manufacturer's. I ran out of our normal supplier's dye today, and called Car Quest for replacement. Part number CCM CQTD1 and is a 1oz bottle. It reatils for about $9.00.
The label reads:
"Professional UV leak detector dye for use with motor oil, hydraulic fluid, gasoline, diesel fuel, power steering, transmission & brake fluids. Use 1/4 oz of dye per quart of fluid."

Heres some more.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189315&highlight=baby+powder