MIDAS guy says AC/heater odor is from oil leak
01-23-2008, 09:08 PM
#1
TECH Addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,693
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
MIDAS guy says AC/heater odor is from oil leak Whenever I have the AC or heater on I can smell exhaust/some sort of toxic odor. It seems to go away when I'm moving, though
MIDAS says it's probably coming from the oil leak, which appears to be the front main seal, maybe. I didn't know the car had an oil leak. I thought the odor was exhaust, but he says the exhaust is fine. I don't think it's the motor oil leak. What do you guys think? How can I get this figured out? Another guy said it might be refrigerant oil leak. I don't know.
MIDAS says it's probably coming from the oil leak, which appears to be the front main seal, maybe. I didn't know the car had an oil leak. I thought the odor was exhaust, but he says the exhaust is fine. I don't think it's the motor oil leak. What do you guys think? How can I get this figured out? Another guy said it might be refrigerant oil leak. I don't know.
01-23-2008, 10:38 PM
#3
TECH Addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,693
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmm. Oddly enough, I haven't noticed any leaks at all. But, I hope that's the problem. That's relatively an easy fix. A leak down test is where I artificially pump pressure into the system through the radiator cap opening?
01-23-2008, 11:14 PM
#4
On The Tree
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If this is the source of the odor it is a pinhole leak and will take a long time for the coolant level to drop so you notice it. There won't be any evidence such as a pool on the floor since the coolant evaporates as it leaks out, thus the odor. The leakdown test involves pumping the cooling system up to normal temp and monitoring the pressure for any drop. It takes special equipment but is a simple, inexpensive test to have done.
01-23-2008, 11:27 PM
#5
TECH Addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,693
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If this is the source of the odor it is a pinhole leak and will take a long time for the coolant level to drop so you notice it. There won't be any evidence such as a pool on the floor since the coolant evaporates as it leaks out, thus the odor. The leakdown test involves pumping the cooling system up to normal temp and monitoring the pressure for any drop. It takes special equipment but is a simple, inexpensive test to have done.
