What are the symptoms of a leaking evaporator in a car?
2 Answers
Evaporator leaks manifest as symptoms where the air conditioning fails to cool, and a smell of automotive air conditioning refrigerant or refrigerant oil can be detected in the cabin. Below is relevant information: Refrigerant Composition: It consists of polyester-based synthetic oils (such as polyalkylene glycol). Since nitrile rubber is incompatible, polybutadiene nitrile rubber is used as sealing components. Characteristics include being colorless, odorless, non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-explosive. Currently, R134a refrigerant is widely used. R134a does not damage the atmospheric ozone layer but still has a certain greenhouse effect and is currently one of the alternatives to R12. Refrigerant Replacement: There is no fixed time cycle for adding or replacing refrigerant. Whether replacement or addition is needed mainly depends on the state of the air conditioning cooling. The simplest way to evaluate the cooling state is to measure the temperature at the air conditioning vents, which is generally between 5 to 10 degrees Celsius and considered normal, with slight variations depending on the vehicle model. After eliminating causes such as heat dissipation or refrigerant leaks, the refrigerant can be replaced. Additionally, after performing maintenance or replacing components in the air conditioning system, refrigerant may also be replaced to ensure the cooling effect of the air conditioning.
During that drive, I noticed the air conditioning's cooling performance was particularly poor. On a hot day, the interior temperature wouldn't drop, and the vents only blew warm air, which felt extremely uncomfortable. Additionally, I could hear a faint hissing sound, especially near the engine compartment after parking, which might have been the sound of refrigerant leaking. What's even stranger is that there was a faint chemical odor inside the car, resembling the smell of refrigeration oil, quite pungent. Upon inspecting the evaporator area, I found oil stains or grime attached to nearby components, appearing like an oil leak. If this issue isn't repaired promptly, the compressor might frequently cycle on and off, increasing wear and eventually failing completely. Since then, I've learned to regularly check the air conditioning system to avoid malfunctions on the highway that could affect safety.
