Leak in boot solved (not the usual!)

[Teflon]

For some time now I've had a leak in my boot. Not water, but a slightly sticky substance. Some days just a few drops, other days quite a significant amount .

It could only be coming from one of the various detailing products stored in the boot, and I couldn't help noticing that my (expensive!) tyre dressing was disappearing at a rate far quicker than I was using it at . Thing is though, there was never any indication of wetness or leaking from either the bottles themselves, nor the bag they were kept in . All very odd.

Anyhow, determined to trace the leak, I put some kitchen towel down underneath the bag the other day, and this morning, this was the scene in the boot:



It would seem that the product is leaking from the spay head (which was in the "off" position) and landing on the boot floor, bypassing both the bottle and the bag. I could perhaps understand it if the bottle was full to bursting, but here's a look at the bottle in question:

..

It must be some sort of capillary action that is causing the bottle to "self dispense" it's contents all over the boot floor. Anyone else ever come across anything similar? I've unscrewed the top of the bottle a little to see if allowing air in will stop the process. Time will tell.

In the meantime, I must buy some more tyre dressing .

Cliff

[suffolk boy]

may be expansion due to heat.btw the megs stuff is good and smells lovely

[Mike Trident]

Originally Posted by suffolk boy

may be expansion due to heat.btw the megs stuff is good and smells lovely

Agreed! Plus if it leaked your boot would smell nice at least

[Teflon]

Originally Posted by Mike Trident

Agreed! Plus if it leaked your boot would smell nice at least

That's positive thinking .

Cliff

[Teflon]

Originally Posted by Teflon

……...I've unscrewed the top of the bottle a little to see if allowing air in will stop the process. Time will tell...…..

Cliff

Oh well, that didn't work - more product all over the boot floor this morning. Hardly any left in the bottle now .

It's been relegated to the shed for now .

Cliff

[wraymond]

If it's dripping, rather than condensing, it can only be from a vertical source or, at a stretch, seepage from a similar level. And it can only condense if volatile or cooling. It may also be from the small amount of residue left in the spray head of a squirty bottle (they all retain a tiny amount for a while to help re-use without pumping up the whole bottle. Do you turn the nozzle 'off' after use? Don't forget you leave pressure inside the bottle when you have finished. You can evacuate that pressure by unscrewing the head a twist then twist back. Pressure is then equalised inside and outside.

[Teflon]

Originally Posted by wraymond

If it's dripping, rather than condensing, it can only be from a vertical source or, at a stretch, seepage from a similar level. And it can only condense if volatile or cooling. It may also be from the small amount of residue left in the spray head of a squirty bottle (they all retain a tiny amount for a while to help re-use without pumping up the whole bottle. Do you turn the nozzle 'off' after use? Don't forget you leave pressure inside the bottle when you have finished. You can evacuate that pressure by unscrewing the head a twist then twist back. Pressure is then equalised inside and outside.

Tried all that . Yesterday, before putting it back in the boot, I removed the spray head and squirted what remained in the head back into the bottle to ensure the head was empty. When I replaced the head, I only gave it a couple of turns so the bottle wouldn't be air tight (so no pressure build up) and made sure the spray head was in the "off" position. This morning, there was another pool of product on the boot floor directly below the spray head and the tube feeding the spray head was full of product .

I don't know how or why, but it would seem that the product is being drawn up the tube, and then dripped out of the closed nozzle onto the boot floor. I'm beginning to think it's alive. Where's Professor Quattermass when you need him.

Cliff

[slovcan]

Originally Posted by Teflon

Tried all that . Yesterday, before putting it back in the boot, I removed the spray head and squirted what remained in the head back into the bottle to ensure the head was empty. When I replaced the head, I only gave it a couple of turns so the bottle wouldn't be air tight (so no pressure build up) and made sure the spray head was in the "off" position. This morning, there was another pool of product on the boot floor directly below the spray head and the tube feeding the spray head was full of product .

I don't know how or why, but it would seem that the product is being drawn up the tube, and then dripped out of the closed nozzle onto the boot floor. I'm beginning to think it's alive. Where's Professor Quattermass when you need him.

Cliff

Does anyone else have access to your car?

[Snetty]

Remove the spray nozzle and replace with a screw cap, not ideal but saves your expensive tyre dressing.
(Its possible that a screw top from any bottle would fit)

[Teflon]

Originally Posted by slovcan

Does anyone else have access to your car?

Only Mrs Teflon. She wouldn't ……….would she?

Originally Posted by Snetty

Remove the spray nozzle and replace with a screw cap, not ideal but saves your expensive tyre dressing.
(Its possible that a screw top from any bottle would fit)

I think that might be the most practical solution .

Cliff