Compressor leaking. Not freon

[Jason94sport]

My 04 EB 4.6 has some sort of leak. It's been dripping on the ground for a few weeks. It's not engine oil. Engine Oil would stain my driveway(been there on 1st gens). I traced it to an area that seems to be the AC compressor. It's wet & dripping by the bolts at the front by the pulley. See picture. I do not see any wet spots elsewhere. The kicker is I'm not losing freon. My AC blows cold. FL needs to almost all year lol. Has 84K miles. Do compressors leak oil but not freon?

 

[Fix4Dirt]

My 04 EB 4.6 has some sort of leak. It's been dripping on the ground for a few weeks. It's not engine oil. Engine Oil would stain my driveway(been there on 1st gens). I traced it to an area that seems to be the AC compressor. It's wet & dripping by the bolts at the front by the pulley. See picture. I do not see any wet spots elsewhere. The kicker is I'm not losing freon. My AC blows cold. FL needs to almost all year lol. Has 84K miles. Do compressors leak oil but not freon?

From working on home ACs my udnerstandign is freon and oil mix in these systems and the shaft seal if it goes bad youll see the oil leak out since it stays but freon becomes gaseous so you wont see it. So if youre up to pressure on freon then not sure.

 

[J_C]

Is it possible that it's condensation (water) running down the pipe? I'd catch some on a piece of newspaper and see if it evaporates away or leaves an oily residue behind.

Yes the A/C system has oil in it that can leak out, but as Fix4Dirt mentioned, typically you'd be losing refrigerant too.

 

[Jason94sport]

That is what I thought. This is some sort of leak. This pic was taken after 2 days of the X sitting. It is greasy, but not engine oil.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Yes the A/C system has oil in it that can leak out, but as Fix4Dirt mentioned, typically you'd be losing refrigerant too.

OK good to know the cars do that too. I was only familiar with home ACs as far as their ins and outs haha.

 

[Jason94sport]

It was from the front compressor seal. It was replaced. Not cheap @ almost $800! I forgot labor rates went up so much Book labor is 2.3 hours.