Air-con gas/fluid?
Discussion
Has anyone ever had an air-con pipe on their car leak?
My new Pug 306 Gti has decided to leave small spots of oily stuff on the floor under the car since running the air-con on Sunday (hot day).
I've had a really good look around for where it's coming from, and can only really see it originating from right under the offside area of the radiator.
Anyway, it's definately oily, but not water or power-steering, brake fluid etc.
It *could* be engine oil, but god knows how it's got so far forward in the engine bay to drip down from nowhere.
There is an air-con pipe right above the leak though, could be a pinhole leak spraying onto the surrounding area of the bay and dripping down. Maybe 6 drips a day max at the moment.
Could air-con liquid stuff do that?
I keep hearing it's a gas and then I hear it's an oil!?
Any help with what it looks like would help
Cheers
Dave
My new Pug 306 Gti has decided to leave small spots of oily stuff on the floor under the car since running the air-con on Sunday (hot day).
I've had a really good look around for where it's coming from, and can only really see it originating from right under the offside area of the radiator.
Anyway, it's definately oily, but not water or power-steering, brake fluid etc.
It *could* be engine oil, but god knows how it's got so far forward in the engine bay to drip down from nowhere.
There is an air-con pipe right above the leak though, could be a pinhole leak spraying onto the surrounding area of the bay and dripping down. Maybe 6 drips a day max at the moment.
Could air-con liquid stuff do that?
I keep hearing it's a gas and then I hear it's an oil!?
Any help with what it looks like would help
Cheers
Dave
Dave
I seem to remember reading that R134a (your AC refrigerant) vapourises at about -13 degrees fahrenheit. Because it's pressurised in your car, it stays cold.
Therefore, the substance on your driveway isn't refrigerant.
However, the stuff used to fill your AC system is a mix of refrigerant, Oil (to lubricate the compressor) and sometimes a UV dye (used to detect leaks).
Both the dye and the oil are a liquid at room temperature, so perhaps that's what you're seeing.
Either way, if it's leaking that badly, it certainly won't be working now. If your AC is still working, it's not leaking.
Does this <stuff> stain, or does it evaporate or wash away? I reckon it's more likely to be coolant. That leaves slippery oily residue from the Anti-freeze.
Cheers,
Andy.
>> Edited by Andy Eccles on Tuesday 12th April 11:14
I seem to remember reading that R134a (your AC refrigerant) vapourises at about -13 degrees fahrenheit. Because it's pressurised in your car, it stays cold.
Therefore, the substance on your driveway isn't refrigerant.
However, the stuff used to fill your AC system is a mix of refrigerant, Oil (to lubricate the compressor) and sometimes a UV dye (used to detect leaks).
Both the dye and the oil are a liquid at room temperature, so perhaps that's what you're seeing.
Either way, if it's leaking that badly, it certainly won't be working now. If your AC is still working, it's not leaking.
Does this <stuff> stain, or does it evaporate or wash away? I reckon it's more likely to be coolant. That leaves slippery oily residue from the Anti-freeze.
Cheers,
Andy.
>> Edited by Andy Eccles on Tuesday 12th April 11:14
Hmmm, air-con was on for 10 mins this morning on way to work and was bloody freezing! So the aircon is ok.
Pic looking back from front offside corner.
Pic of splodge from almost 24 hours ago.
Pic looking down side of rad expansion tank and new splodge on floor underneath.
Well, it looked just like nice clean engine oil when I dabbed a drip off the cross member and onto my hand.
Weird really as the engine oil is a bit dirty.
It didn't evaporate, the splodges on the drive are several days old now. Doing the usual splodge out effect over many hours like blotting paper with ink.
I guess it could be water, as right above that point in that corner is the radiator.
Am getting it over a pit tonight to have a proper look underneath and try find the source of the leak.
Thanks for the help so far, much appreciated!
Dave
>> Edited by Mr Whippy on Tuesday 12th April 10:39
Pic looking back from front offside corner.
Pic of splodge from almost 24 hours ago.
Pic looking down side of rad expansion tank and new splodge on floor underneath.
Well, it looked just like nice clean engine oil when I dabbed a drip off the cross member and onto my hand.
Weird really as the engine oil is a bit dirty.
It didn't evaporate, the splodges on the drive are several days old now. Doing the usual splodge out effect over many hours like blotting paper with ink.
I guess it could be water, as right above that point in that corner is the radiator.
Am getting it over a pit tonight to have a proper look underneath and try find the source of the leak.
Thanks for the help so far, much appreciated!
Dave
>> Edited by Mr Whippy on Tuesday 12th April 10:39
Yeah, just had a fairly well informed work mate telling me the same thing.
He said the air-con, not been used for a while, then being used alot on Sunday (warm day), the cool pipes make air vapour condense on the pipes, and then kinda washes the oil and grease buildup off all areas that get cooled down, this then runs off the car in the water.
Makes sense I think.
Now planning on just pressure washing my car tonight, and while I'm at it, spray down there a bit and clean it off, then I can see if it carries on doing it, and see where it's coming from!
Thanks for the help. Just the first few weeks of getting a new (second hand) car is always hard work thinking what noises, smells etc are normal
Not sure if it has an oil cooler or not. There is no Haynes manual specific to the Gti-6 engine
Will soon work it out, just don't like the idea of an unknown leak. If I knew what it was and where it was coming from I'd be happier
Cheers
Dave
>> Edited by Mr Whippy on Tuesday 12th April 11:25
He said the air-con, not been used for a while, then being used alot on Sunday (warm day), the cool pipes make air vapour condense on the pipes, and then kinda washes the oil and grease buildup off all areas that get cooled down, this then runs off the car in the water.
Makes sense I think.
Now planning on just pressure washing my car tonight, and while I'm at it, spray down there a bit and clean it off, then I can see if it carries on doing it, and see where it's coming from!
Thanks for the help. Just the first few weeks of getting a new (second hand) car is always hard work thinking what noises, smells etc are normal
Not sure if it has an oil cooler or not. There is no Haynes manual specific to the Gti-6 engine
Will soon work it out, just don't like the idea of an unknown leak. If I knew what it was and where it was coming from I'd be happier
Cheers
Dave
>> Edited by Mr Whippy on Tuesday 12th April 11:25
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