Florescent oil leak

[Whut?!]

I have a 2007 Ford Explorer XLT and troubleshooting an a/c leak. Blowing hot air suddenly and a strong (compressor oil?) burning odor was coming from vents and then eventually stopped. Had system recharged a couple times but each time air was blowing hot within a few days. A black light shows neon yellow near condensate line under SUV and there's a corresponding oil stain on my driveway that shows neon yellow under the light too. The engine is also showing faint neon yellow shadows and pinpricks on parts of engine. Trying to figure out what's leaking. Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[shucker1]

Dye coming out of the A\C condensate drain would suggest a blown out evaporator coil.

One way I have also tried to verified an evaporator leak is to put a can in the system and let the truck sit over night.

In the morning put a Freon Sniffer Probe in the center dash register.

Place the blower speed on low and turn the key on.

Any trapped Freon should be pushed up to the dash register and you should get a quick beep out of your tester before it stops alarming.

 

[Whut?!]

Thanks for the quick response. I've taken it to a couple shops with mixed diagnoses and didn't know what to think or how to proceed. If evaporator the dash will need to come out, correct?

If the evap coil needs to be repaired is there any other components that s/b replaced along with it in order to hopefully avert a chain reaction of stresses and failures.

 

[shucker1]

@Whut?! ,

I know on my 98 (Gen 3 Model) the dash needs to come out to replace the evaporator.

I am not sure about the 2007 (Gen 4). I would think so.

If the evaporator is bad it should be replaced not repaired. They are aluminum and basically disposable.

I would also replace the Filter \ Dryer assembly and Orifice Tube.

It would be a good time to do the heater core while you are in there too.

If your luck is like mine you will put it back together and (4) months from now you will blow a heater core.

 

[Whut?!]

@Whut?! ,

I know on my 98 (Gen 3 Model) the dash needs to come out to replace the evaporator.

I am not sure about the 2007 (Gen 4). I would think so.

If the evaporator is bad it should be replaced not repaired. They are aluminum and basically disposable.

I would also replace the Filter \ Dryer assembly and Orifice Tube.

It would be a good time to do the heater core while you are in there too.

If your luck is like mine you will put it back together and (4) months from now you will blow a heater core.

 

[Whut?!]

I wouldn't be able to do the work myself but was hoping that it would be something simple since the air blowing hot and burning oil smell happened so suddenly after leaving a different shop following a routine oil change.

I've read so many forums looking for answers that I FEEL like I should be able to do it myself. Didn't find much on evaporator leaks until I came across this forum since some claim evaporator failures are pretty rare for the most part.

Major dollars to fix it and considering not getting it done, yet. The Extended Warranty people denied the shop's repair claim and said I might want to take it somewhere else and the shop is saying I should get them to send out a different inspector.