I completely changed my methods of detecting leaks. I’ve used the CRC foam spray that Ernest uses and as a pro it’s easy to apply in tight areas but very slow leaks like air seeping past the threads of a gage, that stuff doesn’t work well for me. I can’t tell by the bubbles already in the foam if it’s from the application of the foam or from the actual leak. If it’s a strong leak that stuff throws out big bubbles, but for one of those leaks where your gun goes down 10 bar in a week and a half, it doesn’t work to well.
The dish soap and water in a small sprayer, same thing. Are the bubbles from the initial spray application or from that slow leak? Then of course there’s the water issue making its way into areas you didn’t intend the water to get into, and yes it will rust parts overnight.
I’ve done the dunk in water system and that will show a leak everytime, but like I mentioned earlier you must be ok with the fact that you will have to completely tear the rifle down and dry parts and replace the contaminated lubricants within the gun.
About the only item from a gun that I still dunk in water is just the air bottle all by itself. Water can’t get into the bottle because of the air pressure but if one(or all)of the three o rings within the bottles valve is compromised, it’ll show quickly in a water dunk.
My new method today has worked every time, as it takes on the best features of the methods described above but does not leave me with a saturated gun, and clean up is very easy and fast. Here’s what I use today-
From your local Home Depot or Lowe’s-
View attachment 317650 The applicator, which is the key tool here-
View attachment 317652 Just a small drop applied with a nose dropper bulb, as seen here-
View attachment 317653 This was on an HW44 that wouldn’t hold air, very slow leak. I had a hunch, and found it instantly with this method-
View attachment 317654 Clean up was easy, no over spray or water running into other areas of the gun, and quick results.
The most stubborn leak I’ve found using this dropper method with, was the Dowty seal to bottle leak on an impact. When this leak detection solution worked its way into that very slim seam, with the use of a flashlight I could see a very very tiny leak. This was the type of leak that after a full gun fill of 250 bar, the pressure would leak down to 225 bar which took almost 8 days, then the leak would stop. Fill again to 250 and in 8 days the needle stops at 225 bar and never goes down anymore. Those are tough leaks to find, but this method found it