Radiator Leak??

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Mar 10, 2012 | 11:09 AM
  #1  
Pulled the car from storage this morning and noticed a leak from the front left radiator?? Please see attached picture. I wiped it down before taking the photo. My car has been stored since November in the garage (2001 TT 17,000 miles). No heat in the garage but it never gets below 35 degrees. Any ideas? I'm concerned about driving the car to the dealer so I'm thinking about having it put on a flat bed. On a side note, my left front A/C condenser does have a leak and needs to be replaced. Dumb question.....the A/C is freon so there shouldn't be a liquid leaking from that, right? Most likely radiator related?? Thanks, Brad

 

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Mar 10, 2012 | 11:14 AM
  #2  
actually besides the refrigerant in the AC system there is a lubricant for the compressor
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Mar 11, 2012 | 12:17 AM
  #3  
Could have a pin hole leak in the rad from stones getting flicked up. I had an issue once where there was to much pressure on the little dog ears that hold the rad hose to the radiator and sometimes one side would just pop out enough to not fall out but leak. I fixed it by taking the pressure off the dog ears as the other end of the rad hose is held on with a traditional hose clamp and i just gave a little slack up to the front (where the dog ears are) to help them seat better. No more leaks.
Not sure if this is your case but pull the bumper, if the rad looks greasy on the fins you have a pin hole leak, also look around the plastic after you wipe it down then start the car and look for leaking around the plastic mounts, hose attachment spots etc. as the rads will become pressurized from the water pump exposing any leaks.
On the plus side there not too expensive if it's broken and an easy do it yourself job.
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Mar 11, 2012 | 07:09 AM
  #4  
Could be that someone added leak detection dye to the ac system,which will look like that,but it is fluoresent.Use a black light to see if it glows
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Mar 11, 2012 | 09:23 AM
  #5  
I have to ask a dumb question... Pentosin coolant is pink - your leak is green. Is the stuff in your coolant reservoir green or pink? (I'm hoping you're going to say green)
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Mar 11, 2012 | 12:17 PM
  #6  
Quote: Could be that someone added leak detection dye to the ac system,which will look like that,but it is fluoresent.Use a black light to see if it glows
That's it! The black light made the fluid glow. The driver side condenser does have a pin hole in it. The dealer leak tested it last year so I'm guessing the fluid leaked out while the car was in storage over the winter. Just drove her about 15 miles and did not see an issue. There is a small amount of fluid leaking but I don't think it's from the radiator, most likely it's the A/C condenser dye making it's way out.

Thanks for the help!
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Mar 11, 2012 | 06:09 PM
  #7  
The green is the compressor oil as stated. It's a neon yellow/green colored fluid that's added into a dry system when they vacuum it down prior to adding refrigerant. The oil vaporizes and mixes with the refrigerant so when you have a leak you can see exactly where it is.
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