referigerant in coolant

[tacmale]

How would refrigerant wind up in the cooling system. MY AC wasn't working bad compressor, so when I pulled it I noticed the refrigerant looked just like the stuff in the coolant reservoir, had the same feel and color. It was on an 87 s10 blazer.

I just looked at a 93 I am thinking of buying and it appears to have the same crap in the coolant tank.

[Rick Norwood]

Originally Posted by tacmale

How would refrigerant wind up in the cooling system. MY AC wasn't working bad compressor, so when I pulled it I noticed the refrigerant looked just like the stuff in the coolant reservoir, had the same feel and color. It was on an 87 s10 blazer.

I just looked at a 93 I am thinking of buying and it appears to have the same crap in the coolant tank.

If you found green stuff in the Air Conditioning system, what you probably saw was an oil based green dye that is put into the A/C system to spot leaks. Some leaks are big enough to see with the naked eye, while others require a black light or special glasses.

The Antifreeze in the Radiator overflow jug is normal.

[tacmale]

Originally Posted by Rick Norwood

If you found green stuff in the Air Conditioning system, what you probably saw was an oil based green dye that is put into the A/C system to spot leaks. Some leaks are big enough to see with the naked eye, while others require a black light or special glasses.

The Antifreeze in the Radiator overflow jug is normal.

What i found was a brown oily substance in my coolant, that would not mix but floated on top. It smelled just like the Air conditioning refrigerant. When i removed the AC compressor I noticed that the refrigerant smelled exactly like the stuff found in my coolant.

I thought the two systems were separate. Did a complete Radiator and cooling system clean and flush. Never replaced the AC compressor so I do not have the problem anymore, was just wondering how it would get in there.

I do not want to put a new compressor in until i find out the cause of this problem.

[brcidd]

In absolutely no way are the two interacting- your floating substance is scum from old coolant..flush out the cooling system...and be done

[CalifOkie]

That is absolutely correct. The only way the two could mix is from a hard frontend collision. The oily substance he found in the reservoir had to be either Motor oil (seeped thru an intake or head gasket) or transmission fluid (seeped out of the cooling lines running through the radiator). In either case he needs to keep a close eye on it. It could lead to head gasket or intake gasket replacement if it is motor oil, and transmission failure if it's transmission fluid.... The dark stuff he found in the freon had to be compressor oil which is very hard to distinct from motor oil or atf because they are all three oils... Futhermore ,"old coolant scum" is rust and corrosion it is not oil and it will not puddle in the top of the reservoir. Let me be the first to apologize to the man who came in here seeking help and got insulted instead.

[tacmale]

Originally Posted by CalifOkie

That is absolutely correct. The only way the two could mix is from a hard frontend collision. The oily substance he found in the reservoir had to be either Motor oil (seeped thru an intake or head gasket) or transmission fluid (seeped out of the cooling lines running through the radiator). In either case he needs to keep a close eye on it. It could lead to head gasket or intake gasket replacement if it is motor oil, and transmission failure if it's transmission fluid.... The dark stuff he found in the freon had to be compressor oil which is very hard to distinct from motor oil or atf because they are all three oils... Futhermore ,"old coolant scum" is rust and corrosion it is not oil and it will not puddle in the top of the reservoir. Let me be the first to apologize to the man who came in here seeking help and got insulted instead.

Thanks for the response, I figured the two systems were separate, but wasn't 100% sure. I did flush and clean the the cooling system and have not noticed the problem recurring, the coolant looks just like it should.