Yesterday I charged my A/C. It did not get real cold. I kept the pressure in the green. Today it worked great but when getting home, there was an odd smell. The engine seemed to have an oily film on it. Not any normal engine oil. Is this from the compressor? Why is it leaking now?
Welcome to the forum…
Sounds like you just added freon without knowing the high side and low side pressures… You need a set of Manifold gauges to know what the AC is doing…
AC is something best left up to the pros and DIYers shouldn’t be messing with the Freon side of it…
It did not get real cold after charging it or before you charged it??
Did it (the ac) stop cooling once the smell started or still cooling real cold??
Sounds like you may have over charged the system and caused a leak… Could be a hose, compressor, or any weak point… But the odd smell could be from the compressor trying to lock up slipping the belt if over charged and the oily film could be the oil from the ac system…
Was this originally a R12 or R134a system?? If R12, had it already been retrofitted to R134A or did you just screw on a fitting and put R134A in it??
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Yah, 1994 is right at the change over point from 12 to 134a. If it’s an old R12 the only option is to change it to 134. But it’s a job for someone who knows what they are doing and has the right tools for the job.
It was and is R 134A. Putting R12 in will not cause an oil leak right away, If at all.
There is a pressure relief valve in the A/C line manifold connection at the rear of the compressor. Excessive pressure can be caused by an inoperative/failing radiator/condenser cooling fan or system overcharge.
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The reason I asked is the difference in the oils, R12 uses mineral oil and R134A can not carry mineral oil and could/will damage the compressor, if not converted to R134A correctly…
And I never asked if you added R12 to a R134A system…
Yes it may damage the compressor and may cause it to seize but not cause the seal to leak. I did add R134 A to a R 134 A system. You are correct about not asking. I will probably replace the seal. I have done that before in my 60s Cadillacs.
Again, you might need to read my post again, I never said it would make it leak by adding R134A to a R12 system, I did however say it:
And as the pressure relief valve that Nevada mentioned is the weakest point (safety valve) on the high side it was included in the “or weak point” part of my previous reply…
I am trying to be very nice and respectful, but if that is making you uncomfortable or go on the defensive side every time I respond to your request for help, then I am perfectly able to be a belligerent asshole if you would prefer??? I am more at home being one, trust me, but this is a family friendly forum, so I will respect that and try to refrain from being that way…