Tire leak testing

[Dieseltech]

I have a nearly new tubeless tire with a very slow leak, which are sometimes very hard to find. Water dunking is the best way, but what would work easily? Then I thought of the compact tractor loader bucket, just load the tire/wheel in and roll the bucket all the way back, then fill with water. Didn't take long to find the leak with the bucket raised and filled with water..

 

[J Hamilton]

I use a spray bottle with soapy water. Just spray the tire and around the bead and valve stem and look for bubbles

 

[Dieseltech]

I tried that first, but the leak was so small I couldn't see it that way.

 

[guido]

Dieseltech,

Bubble soap,

Guido.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Use lots of soap I use dish soap for tires and lots of it. I even on older tires spray the side walls. I've found lots of tires that look pretty good leaking through the side walls. With enough soap you will have shaving cream where the leak is even if it is slow. I leve them overnight for that. Don't even bother with dunking anymore. I'm getting so it is a tough call between tubes or tubeless. The tire go to leaking through the sides in a few years and the tubes are so poor it's a toss up.

 

[kcm.MN]

Another idea is to protect the tires from UV light. Park it indoors or cover the tires when not in use. Can also use a rubber conditioner each year. Check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD8WFiDGx4Q

 

[RESLLS]

Had one I couldn't find with soap. I just rolled it down to the lake and set it in. Didn't have anything I could submerge it in. Turned out to be a pinhole in the sidewall.

 

[ASEguy]

We use a squirt bottle with water, a little dish soap and salt. Works great.

 

[Jeff NWOH]

That works for radiators too.

 

[Mule Meat]

(quoted from post at 18:15:21 04/25/22) I tried that first, but the leak was so small I couldn't see it that way.

Sometimes you need to let the tire sit a few minutes and look for small foaming bubbles to form especially around the valve and rims. If you suspect the tire is leaking around the rim. Lowering the pressure in the tire will help a lot.

I have a 5 gallon Hudson garden sprayer we use at the shop. Mix about a pint of Dawn dish soap to 5 gallons of water works good.

 

[Blackhole49]

I've had very good luck spraying the tire with Windex and looking for bubbles.

 

[rrlund]

I was pouring water on a tube the other day with a cup looking for a slow leak and I put my hand on the leak quite by luck. I heard a little bit of air escape when I lifted my hand up. I poured some water right where my hand had been and got some bubbles.

I had a 12 28 that was going down in about a week to ten days. I took that one apart a few weeks ago and ran a hose on it for a long time before I saw a few occasional bubbles and just the slightest little pit in the tube. I marked it and put a patch on it. The tire's still up, so I guess I got it.

 

[miangus]

Yes, dish soap. Used to be every one had a stock tank.

 

[Ralph, Ohio]

Just wondering what kind of patch you are using? I haven't had much luck with patches on inner tubes holding the last few years.

 

[rrlund]

I'd have to look. It's a kit that I bought from Family Farm and Home.

 

[hd6gtom]

Ralph, Ohio, are you using tube patches or attempting to patch with tire patches? There is a difference. I always carried both on the tire service truck.

 

[hd6gtom]

Guys after spending 20+ years owning a tire shop, I don't use soap for leak detection. The Bowes seak a leak always worked far better than soap..

 

[RobCons]

ASEGuy what does the salt do? I've always used just soap and water.

 

[rlp in Co.]

Patches get old and won't stick anymore. I keep my patches in a glass jar but even then, after about 5 years, they go bad!

 

[ldj]

Can you still get hot patches?

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Salt will thicken detergent , most commercial detergents have salt added already , even Fairy brand . A thicker more viscous solution will foam at the leakage readily .

Enough salt will turn detergent into a paste.

 

[560Dennis]

Kids bubbles works good when done give it to a kid . They will use the rest or spill it either you win

 

[Mule Meat]

(quoted from post at 16:14:57 04/27/22) Can you still get hot patches?

No. They were outlawed in the mid 70's.
---------------------------

Once I buff a tire down to raw rubber and apply the glue, light it let it burn out before applying the patch.

You must use extreme caution when buffing newer tires when patching. A lot of them have a very thin layer of rubber covering the cords. Cooper, Goodyear, Michelin, and Kelly light car and truck tires are the worse.