Should I stop using the A/C?

[generalchaos]

Im a complete noob on A/C systems, and ive tried to search for what I can.

Yesterday I noticed some small amounts of fluid under the ex. I imediately started looking for where its coming from and why..

Well after some searching I found that its dripping what looks like water from the front passanger wheel well area. I couldnt get in enough to see where exactly the liquid was originating, but thats where it was leaking down at. I also noticed that it only leaks when the A/C is turned on.

Some people I asked about it said its probably fine since some window A/C units can make water like that but id place my money on them being wrong.

So should I stop using the a/c untill I get this fixed, or is it somehow supposed to actually do this? the liquid really seemed like water, and im not sure what condensed freon (or whatever gas it uses) looks like. This was clear, thin, and unscented.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Completely normal. I could get all scientific on the actual reactions that are taking place, but basically its like a glass of ice water. When it's really humid/hot outside, the container (the glass) sweats because of the two different temperatures meeting. Your A/C does the exact same thing. If you pop the hood you'll see an accumalator on the passenger side. Look at this picture: (see the black bottle looking thing next to the windshield washer bottle and the anti-freeze overflow bottle - that is your "water-maker")

The freon inside is getting so cold that when it hits the actual temperature, it starts to "sweat" like a glass of water. You should be good to go. Freon (what actually is in the a/c system and cools the air) is invisible to the eye. Hope this clears up your problem.

-Drew

 

[aldive]

I wouldn't worry.

From your description, it sounds like condensate.

 

[BenS]

Might be blinker fluid, better check your levels.

 

[rookieshooter]

The AC is doing what it's supposed to, conditioning the air. Most the water you see is coming out of the drain from the evaporator coil. It is in a plastic casing near the accumulator which also sweats. You should notice more water on ground on humid days compared to not so humid. Just one more thing the ac is not really blowing in cold air as much as it is taking heat out of the air and what is left is cold. Its transfering the heat to the atmosphere by transferiing it from the cab area vla refregerent to the condensing coil, this is the one near the radiator. Just a little of AC 101







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[rookieshooter]

Might be blinker fluid, better check your levels.

That's funny I thougth I've heard them all

 

[PPro]

Just to add:

Every car/truck I've ever seen drips a puddle of water after the AC has been on for a while. I've never seen one NOT do it. Just condensation that eventually drips off once you stop.

 

[generalchaos]

OK thanks guys, it was pretty hot and humid yesterday so it makes sense.

And I topped off my blinker fluid yesterday so im good to go!

 

[BeauJ]

OK thanks guys, it was pretty hot and humid yesterday so it makes sense.

And I topped off my blinker fluid yesterday so im good to go!

As long as it was sythetic

 

[TheFox88]

Lol!

 

[Longjohn119]

Rookie has it right,

You can't beat the law of physics, you cannot create cold (but you can create heat many times unwanted heat) you can only move the heat from one place to the other (and in the process even more excess heat is created) An air conditioner is really nothing more than a heat transfer device, a really effcient one.

Hold your hand over the fan on your residential AC when it is running and you'll feel the heat that used to be inside your house ...

And I've seen plenty of cars whose air conditioners don't drip water ... of course they don't work very well either ....