I am getting around to repairing the leak in my AC system, problem is though my co-worker got me set on using UV dye, but the problem that I am running into is that I hate to spend $80 for the UV dye kit and it not work. From my understanding UV dye is simmilar to refrigerant oil, my question how ever is will UV dye work in a AC system where the oil does not really cycle through the AC system? The York line of compressors have a built in sump that all refrigerant oil stays in and if im looking at this right, the dye would be a waste of money as it would not cycle through the system for me to find the leak.

If this is true then I am back to a sniffer and I want to ask what would be a good sniffer to purchase. I kind of would like to keep it under $100 for a refrigerant sniffer if I end up going this route over the dye. But I also dont want to pick up one that will not help me.