Unknown Fluid
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
Unknown Fluid
I found this fluid dripped on my garage floor. It looks like power steering fluid but without a smell. I can see this stuff on top of the front cross member on the passenger side. I go under the car and can see it under the a/c compressor. I dont know where it is coming from. A/C blows cold. Fluid looks like oil but it is lighter in color and doesn't have the same smell. It also looks like power steering fluid but again doesn't have the same smell. It feels kind of thick and sticky. No real smell to it.
Last edited by rrhodes4; Sep 2, 2009 at 09:37 PM. Reason: ttt
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Could be oil from a/c compressor. Mine leaked same way at casting mating surface. Clean area good and add some dye to refrigerant. If this is where the leak is, it'll show up pretty quick. Some dyes are readily visable and others show up under black light.
Last edited by PierEagle; Sep 3, 2009 at 04:22 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
I didn't see any spray on the hood liner and the color is red. I don't want anyone to think by sticky I mean maple syrup sticky. There is no sticky pull stringer between my fingers but it doesn't feel what I would call normal. If it smelled like the power steering fliud coming out of my reservoir I would swear that was it. Looks identical and close to the same smell.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
From: Mt. Pleasant SC
Nope, not necessarily true. Only if the compressor is leaking in the front at the pulley. A shaft seal leak or a leak at the back where the hi/lo pressure lines connect won't produce spray on hood liner. As rrhodes4 describes his leak, it's exactly what my situation was...a shaft seal leak. That means a new compressor. May be lucky and it's only leaking in the back from the o-rings.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
Nope, not necessarily true. Only if the compressor is leaking in the front at the pulley. A shaft seal leak or a leak at the back where the hi/lo pressure lines connect won't produce spray on hood liner. As rrhodes4 describes his leak, it's exactly what my situation was...a shaft seal leak. That means a new compressor. May be lucky and it's only leaking in the back from the o-rings.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
From: Mt. Pleasant SC
That's exactly the right color for R134 with lubricant. Looks like clean light weight oil. The AC will continue to work OK until you lose enough refrigerant. Recommend you have the system evacuated and recharged with dye. That will be the sure fire way to see exactly where it's leaking. If o-rings in the back then that's easy to fix. Mine was leaking at the shaft seal internal to the compressor. Replaced the compressor, orifice and dryer last week. I bought my own parts and the dealer charged me $830for labor. Big job to remove the compressor because the water pump assembly has to be removed.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 6
From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
Probably the nipple on your coolant resevoir tank broke and that's what is causing the leak. The radiators also crack were they were jointed on the plastic sides, so you might look in to that also.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 1
From: LEBANON PA.
Hi There c3 and c5:
You are correct sir about leaks from the rear of the case. Thanks for the reminder as it has been awhile since I have done this.The most common leaks are the o ring on the front of the a/c case & the o rings at the rear of the case where your hi & low lines connect to the case.Internal shaft seals are uncommon & are goofs that occurred at the factory and poor dealership acceptance(delivery) inspections.
I think d. boy has the correct diagnosis with the plastic connector located under the coolant tank. Reason is most people only notice a a/c problem after the refrigerant has leaked out.The op stated his a/c system is cold.
I was wondering if you had the a/c parts why you did not change them out yourself?
robsc501
You are correct sir about leaks from the rear of the case. Thanks for the reminder as it has been awhile since I have done this.The most common leaks are the o ring on the front of the a/c case & the o rings at the rear of the case where your hi & low lines connect to the case.Internal shaft seals are uncommon & are goofs that occurred at the factory and poor dealership acceptance(delivery) inspections.
I think d. boy has the correct diagnosis with the plastic connector located under the coolant tank. Reason is most people only notice a a/c problem after the refrigerant has leaked out.The op stated his a/c system is cold.
I was wondering if you had the a/c parts why you did not change them out yourself?
robsc501
Last edited by robsc501; Sep 3, 2009 at 05:45 PM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
From: Mt. Pleasant SC
Hi There c3 and c5:
You are correct sir about leaks from the rear of the case. Thanks for the reminder as it has been awhile since I have done this.The most common leaks are the o ring on the front of the a/c case & the o rings at the rear of the case where your hi & low lines connect to the case.Internal shaft seals are uncommon & are goofs that occurred at the factory and poor dealership acceptance(delivery) inspections.
I think d. boy has the correct diagnosis with the plastic connector located under the coolant tank. Reason is most people only notice a a/c problem after the refrigerant has leaked out.The op stated his a/c system is cold.
I was wondering if you had the a/c parts why you did not change them out yourself?
robsc501
You are correct sir about leaks from the rear of the case. Thanks for the reminder as it has been awhile since I have done this.The most common leaks are the o ring on the front of the a/c case & the o rings at the rear of the case where your hi & low lines connect to the case.Internal shaft seals are uncommon & are goofs that occurred at the factory and poor dealership acceptance(delivery) inspections.
I think d. boy has the correct diagnosis with the plastic connector located under the coolant tank. Reason is most people only notice a a/c problem after the refrigerant has leaked out.The op stated his a/c system is cold.
I was wondering if you had the a/c parts why you did not change them out yourself?
robsc501
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: Collierville TN
Well I went ahead and did an oil change last night while I had it up and when I was finished I did a good "Simple Green" engine cleaning. Things were really dirty so I believe a good cleanup will help me identify where this stuff is coming from. What I have been hearing you guys tell me is to check the o-rings where the hi lo lines connect to the a/c compressor. What I have not heard is anything regarding this fluid not having any smell to it. Oil, dexcool, power steering fluid, brake fluid all have a different distinct smell. This stuff has no smell or atleast no smell common to to previously mentioned.
