Leak Help
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Leak Help
I have a leak that is extremely hard to find. I first noticed a small leak and when I put the car on the lift, there is a fluid on the cross brace right in front of the oil drain plug, and just about in the middle of the brace. On this brace the fluid looks kind of orange looking, but I don't think it is dexcool, because it is too seems too thick to be dexcool. Also my Dexcool levels are fine. Looking from every angle, I can not see any fluid leaking anywhere. Water pump looks fine, etc. The only place I can see any fluid at all looks to be on the a/c compressor. I can see some of this fluid on the compressor looking from under the car up toward the bottom of the compressor. I know that compressors don't have fluid in them, except for the lubricant in the R134, Has anyone had this issue before, and what did you find it to be?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Thanks for your reply leadfoot4. Now that you mention it, I did check the P/S fluid, and it does appear to be a little low. It is the only fluid that looked low. The reason I didn't think much about it, is because the P/S res is on the driver side of the car, and I am not seeing anything leaking around it. Is there something to do with the p/s fluid on the passenger side of the engine compartment? You may be on to something here.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,323
Likes: 1,587
From: Western NY
Airflow around the engine compartment, while driving, can sometimes blow fluids around a bit, making leak chasing a challenge. Maybe some Simple Green, a stiff brush, and a low pressure garden hose, to clean up what you currently have, will make your quest a little easier. (don't get any water in the alternator)
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
I will look around some more, but so far everything under the hood looks totally dry except for the cross brace under the car in front of the oil drain plug, and the bottom of the A/C compressor has the same fluid on it. Does the compressor have fluid in it that could be leaking?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,323
Likes: 1,587
From: Western NY
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Not sure I understand you on this. My a/c has been working fine. If the oil is mixed with the 134a, then if it is leaking out, wouldn't my a/c not work anymore?
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Racer
Joined: May 2009
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From: Austin Tx
I'm no expert on AC compressors, but here's what I do know:
When compressor is replaced, there's a drain plug that must be removed and oil poured into a measuring cup. The same amount of new oil is supposed to be added to the new compressor.
Since the drain plug has to be removed to get the oil out, it leads me to believe that oil is separate from the oil mixed in with the 134a.
Otherwise you could simply pour the oil out the input/output ports of the compressor.
If dye is mixed in with the 134a and there was some bypassing of 134a within the internal seals of the compressor, seems possible dye could be present in the sump oil.
I have my doubts the compressor is the source of the leak, but I believe it is possible and the A/C sys still be operable.
When compressor is replaced, there's a drain plug that must be removed and oil poured into a measuring cup. The same amount of new oil is supposed to be added to the new compressor.
Since the drain plug has to be removed to get the oil out, it leads me to believe that oil is separate from the oil mixed in with the 134a.
Otherwise you could simply pour the oil out the input/output ports of the compressor.
If dye is mixed in with the 134a and there was some bypassing of 134a within the internal seals of the compressor, seems possible dye could be present in the sump oil.
I have my doubts the compressor is the source of the leak, but I believe it is possible and the A/C sys still be operable.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Long time, but I wanted to follow back up on this with everyone. I finally decided that it had to be the A/C compressor leaking something. I purchased new compressor, etc. Finally decided to tackle this, which was a pretty big job. Turned out it was the compressor, even though it was still working and blowing cold. Changed compressor, and components like new drier, orifice, seals, etc. Working perfectly now, and no leaks. So, if you have a strange leak and you notice a weird fluid on your cross brace and around your Oil drain plug, it could be the A/C compressor leaking.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,958
Likes: 342
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
You sure it wasn't just a hose? Or a connection? Did you see any evidence of oil leaking from the compressor? If you had an AC fluid leak, you could have found the source with a leak detector or putting fluorescent dye into the system. Before shotgun replacing everything, a little more detective work could isolate and identify the source.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Of course I did. It just took forever to try to determine this. Yes it was leaking where it looks like the compressor casing is made in two parts and put together. Took forever to figure it out, because of where these compressors are, you just cant see them to inspect from the top of bottom of the car. All of the other items I replaced are just parts that should always be replaced anytime you are replacing the compressor.