Drip Drip Refrigeration Oil

[grasscutter]

About a quarter size fluorescent green drip on the garage floor everyday after driving the previous day. The air still blows cold but I think I'm on borrowed time. The drip seems to be directly below the compressor. The A/C compressor on this car is at the bottom of the accessory group; not too far from the floor. It's safe to assume that if refrigerant oil is coming out, then refrigerant itself is coming too; correct? The system seems to be fairly simple by looking at the parts drawing. I changed the A/C compressor a long time ago. Not because it was leaking, but because it was not providing suction to the system. Back then I was able to replace it with an ACDelco unit, but as of now, they are no longer available from ACDelco. A GM unit would be nice but they quit suppling those probably at least 10 years ago. The car is 25 years old.

 

[Lubener]

If oil is leaking out , so is the refridgerant. Verify its exact leak source. It may be a connection point to the compressor and not the compressor itself.

 

[grasscutter]

Lubener,

If the outside humidity is down to 15 percent, I don't need to pull a vacuum on the system before doing a recharge, do I ?

 

[Lubener]

Lubener,

If the outside humidity is down to 15 percent, I don't need to pull a vacuum on the system before doing a recharge, do I ?

I would always use a vacuum pump to see if the system is leak free and to get any residual air/moisture out of the system. I would also replace the accumulator/dryer (#16) along with the compressor if that is what you find faulty.

 

[RBT]

Are you sure it is not coolant? My experience is that car AC units usually fail by leaking out the refrigerant at a failure point, and then the compressor shuts down to protect the system.

 

[RooflessVW]

Lubener,

If the outside humidity is down to 15 percent, I don't need to pull a vacuum on the system before doing a recharge, do I ?

Yes, you must pull a vacuum to remove any air and moisture, wicme.both are detrimental to longevity and performance.

 

[repairman54]

2x on coolant. A quarter size drip of refrigerant oil making it onto the floor the system would be empty and not cooling.

 

[Rand]

I am having a hard time believing its refrigerant oil leaking that much and the system will even turn on.

Double check what is going on.

 

[Fitter30]

Compressor needs to replaced now along with the condenser accumulator and metering devise. Flush system with parts removed can borrow a flush tool and solvent from autozone or buy through amazon.

 

[grasscutter]

Are you sure it is not coolant? My experience is that car AC units usually fail by leaking out the refrigerant at a failure point, and then the compressor shuts down to protect the system.

Yes I'm sure. The drip is a fluorescent green and it feels greasy between the finger tips. Car uses orange dexcool for the coolant.

 

[brages]

I'm working on a Fusion with a locked up compressor. There's a green drip on the compressor. Possible theory: leak at compressor caused it to lose enough oil that it failed from lack of lubrication.

 

[grasscutter]

I'm just going to leave it alone until I get a UV black light and some yellow glasses.