Is there a UV dye you can use with a DEF system?

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Adieu, Sep 22, 2019.

  1. Adieu

    Adieu Light Load Member

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    Not a semi truck per se, just a troublesome diesel 4wheeler. Need to trace a leak and do some applied hillbilly engineering on it to get rid of emissions codes and pass CA smog without steep 4-digit repair bills...

    Tried to google, but the dang thing thinks DEF is too short a term (? Or common? Whatever, who knows) and ignores my attempts to search for DEF UV dye.

    Thanks


    PS 2011 diesel BMW, has a bunch of dang sensors, including at least one for DEF level and one for DEF "quality" (not enough in tank or wrong fluid detected = no-start condition countdown, 50-200-999 miles depending on "severity")
     
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  3. speedyk

    speedyk Road Train Member

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    I think they sell the dye by itself.
     
  4. dumptruck89

    dumptruck89 Light Load Member

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    I don't know of a dye. But if the DEF is leaking anywhere you should see it crystalized where ever its leaking.
     
  5. Adieu

    Adieu Light Load Member

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    Problem is it's EVERYWHERE... def consumption was >10x higher than normal

    Car has other issues too (power steering gone - actually what gave me the UV dye idea), no current tags, charging system is buggered --- so drive around a bit then look drive around again look again isn't all that simple... and the dang thing sits too low to look under and has too few jack points making putting it on jackstands a whole long game of multi-jack tetris

    Basically its a pain in the ### lol
     
  6. Adieu

    Adieu Light Load Member

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    Nah i know that, I ordered some for the power steering

    Thing is I'm not sure which if any of the dyes are ok to use with the DEF system. Don't wanna mess that expensive bugger up (...any further) and definitely wanna avoid triggering the WRONG DEF FLUID sensor
     
    speedyk Thanks this.
  7. Intothesunset

    Intothesunset Road Train Member

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    Make some ramps out of wood. Check YTube.
     
  8. Adieu

    Adieu Light Load Member

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    Gonna have to be some long ### ramps.... suuuuper low clearance sport sedan. Can't even squeeze a regular clearance jack under it without first jacking up a different jack point with a low profile jack

    Every time I try to service anything on it, I start to appreciate my simple, low-tech, tall, huge frame, jack anywhere or just crawl underneath without any jacking Ford truck....
     
  9. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    the money you will sink into a BMW to find the leak, and get it running.??

    sell the car for parts, or whole, AS-IS AS SEEN recoup nearly all your money back.
     
    Intothesunset Thanks this.
  10. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    Heck, cross over in NV that doesn't have such draconian emission laws, sell it, buy another vehicle and walk away with a few dollars.
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2019
    buddyd157 and Intothesunset Thank this.
  11. Intothesunset

    Intothesunset Road Train Member

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    If your not in California find someone to special tune that DEF system permanently.
     
    buddyd157 Thanks this.
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