PWNER - gerryvz

[gerryvz]

Ahh....yes, that certainly could be something.

I was just topping off the air in the tires a few minutes ago for the trip (pressure was at the 34.5-36 psi level, even after the winter, so the tires are holding air nicely), and did some more investigative work in the engine bay. It appears that the area under the passenger side front of the engine, under the lower radiator hose, is wet on the lower under-engine panel. Can't tell right now if it is grease, or coolant. Running my hand on the ground side/edge of the cladding was inconclusive, but it seems that it could indeed be coolant.

Took the front top engine panel off, and no apparent leaks at the intake manifold, at least from the front. Zero leaks from the heater hoses - those were easy to see in the back of the engine.

A couple of things did give me pause though - a spray pattern on the driver's side ignition cap cover - as shown on the photo below. This is right behind the upper radiator hose connection at the radiator. Nothing wet, and the spray pattern didn't appear wet.

You can see from the other close-up photos of the lower radiator hose on the passenger side, some of the wetness/drops I was talking about on that hose. It is seeming that this could be the problem, though. I don't know why the drops on the hose itself are appearing very green (like green coolant) as I have ALWAYS used the proper straw-colored Zerex coolant in the system.

No leaks from the expansion tank hose connections, for sure. It seems very centered on that lower passenger side area of the front of the engine.

When I get back I'll have to take off the lower cladding, pressure test the system, and really look under there, and see if anything drops onto the ground (will put a pan there to catch anything). That will tell me what any fluids are.

I'll pop the hood when I get to the Dulles Airport parking garage to see if I lost any coolant on the trip there.

Investigative photos below.

Driver's side ignition cover:



Views of vertical and joint areas of lower radiator hose. Dunno why things appear green there, as I have never used green coolant.

 

[gsxr]

Droplets of liquid Green on the driver side may be PAG oil from a leaking AC compressor seal. I've had this happen on multiple different 124's. However, I don't know how this would travel to the passenger side...

 

[TerryA]

@gerryvz'
Gerry, In the past when I had a 1967-230 Sedan I discovered a coolant leak that was easily fixed. What I realized was the when the weather got really cold outside the coolant hose connections actually shrunk and were leaking coolant. If i were you I would go over all of the hose connections especially the ones down low and re-tighten them. That may be all it takes.

 

[emerydc8]

Droplets of liquid Green on the driver side may be PAG oil from a leaking AC compressor seal. I've had this happen on multiple different 124's. However, I don't know how this would travel to the passenger side...

That green spray is strange. Is the condenser more toward the center of the radiator such that the viscous fan could blow it back onto the hose area if PAG oil was leaking from the heat exchanger (condenser)? I can’t think of anything else that would be green unless it’s residue from a cleaner (Simply Green?) that wasn’t completely wiped down?

 

[gerryvz]

Yeah, I'm going to have to remove the lower cladding and pressure test things.

I did pop the hood and check coolant when I arrived at the Dulles Airport garage (65 mile drive) and shook the (blazing hot) expansion tank back and forth - no apparent coolant loss from the trip up there. I'll check things again on Friday AM when I get back into Dulles to see if any coolant disappeared while I was away.

I will say the car (with original suspension front and rear, and old/worn tires) is feeling rather "old." I can't wait to (at some point) revive the suspension and make it feel & drive like a new car again.

I also have an external transmission leak, which I've had for probably the past 10-11 years. It's gradually getting worse. Not to mention, I have been "nursing" the clicking reverse gear for probably 15 years now. I'm up to a 1-1.5 second delay into reverse gear. The transmission is going to have to come out and be rebuilt and re-sealed on the exterior. Dave's Uncle's recent series on 722.3 repair has convinced me that I can 100% do this job. So I will.

Hard to believe I've been babying that reverse gear along for 15 years now - since probably the 90K mile mark (now at 151.8kmi). That reverse-failure-shoe has been a long time a-coming to drop on me.

 

[gerryvz]

Droplets of liquid Green on the driver side may be PAG oil from a leaking AC compressor seal. I've had this happen on multiple different 124's. However, I don't know how this would travel to the passenger side...

I will clean everything off this spring and see if / what comes back in terms of any spray anywhere. The compressor was replaced with a new unit in 2020, and doesn't have that many miles on it. Not to mention that the system is still very tight - no refrigerant leakage and still blowing very cold. Which reminds me.... I have a new compressor that I need to install on the SEC (R-12).

 

[gsxr]

Ah, ok, with a new compressor it's unlikely to be PAG oil. You'll find oil droplets at the lower edge of the clutch/pulley area if this is leaking, but I really doubt it. Note that the old/original compressors can leak out quite a bit of PAG oil without leaking any refrigerant, and will still blow cold! I've got at least 3 of my cars that need compressor replacements due to this front shaft seal leak... sigh.

 

[Jouser]

On my E300D - I had a c-clip literally pop off my compressor and splattered that green oil all over (mostly the ground). Your photo brings back memories - and tonight: NIGHTMARES!

 

[gerryvz]

Yeah, the lower radiator hose is on the other side of the engine compartment than the A/C compressor, so I don't think it's related. All good though - I have a cooling system pressure tester and we'll find the issue. Perhaps a good diagnostic HOW-TO.....

 

[gerryvz]

No coolant leakage at the Dulles parking garage, or after I returned home.