Coolant on back of A/C Compressor? - Help identify leak

[tsitalon1]

Hey guys,

Recent replaced ALL coolant hoses.

Problem is, now I spotted a small leak on the ground directly under the A/C compressor. Upon examination, I find coolant on the back side of the compressor(opposite of pulley) side.

My first thought was maybe I didn't tighten the heater hoses as they sit directly above the A/C compressor and that's got to be the cause.

Nope, I checked and all is tight and no coolant is dripping from any hoses (including the heater hoses).

Any idea's how coolant could get on the backside (opposite of pulley side) of the A/C compressor?

 

[rdomeck]

Invest in a coolant pressure tester or rent one from an auto parts store. It lets you put pressure on the coolant system. Pretty easy to find the leak at that point! Seems like the only thing that could leak back there would be a freeze plug or the head gasket.

 

[citymunky]

Throttle body lower half?

 

[tsitalon1]

Quoting rdomeck:
Invest in a coolant pressure tester or rent one from an auto parts store. It lets you put pressure on the coolant system. Pretty easy to find the leak at that point! Seems like the only thing that could leak back there would be a freeze plug or the head gasket.



I just let the car idle for 30mins and made sure it got up to temp...I don't see a leak.

I wonder if it's just spillage from when I removed the heater hoses this past weekend.

 

[tsitalon1]

Well, it appears to still be leaking somewhere...

I cleaned off the compressor very well and then drove the car for 30 mins....looked underneath and seen the same coolant all over the back side of that compressor again.

I don't suspect head gasket as there was NO leak prior to replacing all coolant lines.

Need some ideas guys!

 

[rdomeck]

go buy a pressure tester!

 

[Noobsauce]

Pressure tester!!!!!!

 

[Wizardawd]

Pressure tester OR UV dye. With a blacklight you'll spot even minor seepage.

Money is on a freeze plug.

Wiz

 

[tsitalon1]

Pressure tested system and there were no leaks!

I think the green fluid on the back of the A/C compressor must be Freon leaking. I imagine I used some R-134a with a dye in at at some point.

Today I loaded some R-134a Stop leak into the system, maybe that will save the compressor seals.

Just a note, my A/C never stopped working /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jepherz]

Water pump?

 

[tsitalon1]

No, no cooling system leak as verified by pressure tester. It was a false alarm...

Turns out A/C compressor is leaking freon, tried R134a stop leak to see if it seals the compressor seals.

 

[Wizardawd]

Remember to try to use your A/C even in the winter once a week for 15 minutes. You don't have to have it on cool, just turn it on. During defrost is a good time since the A/C also acts as a natural dehumidifier. That'll keep the oil circulating and prevent the seals/compressor from going bad.

Wiz