Contact Information:
Phone:
800-274-8888
MODEL # TP-8300
and also the:
OUTSIDE U.S. & CANADA: Phone: 516-333-4840
Tracerline Products Website
e-mail: info@tracerline.com
Universal kit, TP-9742CS
Product review performed by:
Bruce Bonebrake
Managing Editor at BAT AUTO
Automotive fluid leaks are a problem that vehicle repair shops are faced with daily. Some fluid leaks are severe enough that pin-pointing the leak point is a simple task. Others, and more often that not, the EXACT leak point can be difficult to identify. More and more the engine compartments are very congested with an array of components. With the addition of the ABS systems, and Air Suspension systems, among many others, the underhood space, that used to contain only the engine assembly, now shares this limited space with several other "Sub-Systems". If a fluid leak cannot be positively identified, the results, for the vehicle repair shop, can be extremely costly, and a waste of valuable shop time.
So, what can we do, to be certain the repair that we suggest to the customer, is the correct repair needed to correct a fluid leak? SIMPLE, fluid leak detection dyes have been on the market for several years now. When first introduced, the UV detection lights would have a "warm-up" period, and most were not "user friendly" due to the bulky size and basically some times were not much help.
That was then, and this is now folks. I agreed to perform a product review on two products offered by TRACER PRODUCTS. Naturally, as most have, the name was familiar to me. I have used the TRACERLINE dyes in the past, and I know they work well. I purchased an A/C Leak system that uses the 12V UV light last A/C season, and I know the limitations and the advantages of that system, so when offered this review, I jumped on it.
Without further delay,lets see how these TRACERLINE products perform.
So, within 11 months, this vehicle has lost three freon charges, amounting to around 18LBS of R134a.
Need-less-to-say, the customer is upset, and wants the vehicle repaired, once and for all.
Being the "family vehicle", dark in color, and dark interior, the 90+ high humidity days here, the A/C system is not an option, it is a necessity. The owner, John, was referred to my shop by a friend. The vehicle arrived, so let us look at this, and try and find the problem.
As expected, the A/C system was totally discharged. I decided to go ahead and evacuate the system and see if the system was able to hold the vacuum.
The vehicle connected to my Robinair ENVIRO charge unit, I evacuated the A/C system 1 hour, and then let the system stand, in vacuum, 1 hour. On a system with a leak, this is a standard practice at my shop. With this method, I can estimate what type of Freon leak I am searching for.
John's Suburban held the system vacuum, with virtually no vacuum loss, hmmm, interesting. I now know, because of the prior history, that this may be a leak that will be hard to pin-point.
