Indentify my leaking liquid!

I've had a small coolant leak for a couple weeks coming from the bleed screw. A little after pulling in to work today I saw puddle under my car. I thought it was coolant but its not the right color. It looks and feels like watered down oil.

Coolant level ok, oil dipstick level ok. I refilled r134a last night. The drive here was fine this morning.

Taste it. Is it sweet?Then its coolant. Does it taste just sorta like dirt? A/C condensate.

It doesn't have the slightest hint of blue or sweet taste. I was going to guess oil from the a/c system. I hoped your responses would support me.

That's what I would suspect, since you had to recharge your system, which suggests it has a leak.

I concur.. please check oil level in AC system.. as very few people ever do.

If your ac has been recharged a few times.. chances are, your oil level is low.

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

That's what I would suspect, since you had to recharge your system, which suggests it has a leak.

Boo.

Optimism fooled me once again. I hoped it wasn't a bad leak. The giant puddle in the parking lot says otherwise. She still drives fine though.

At least it's nothing major... You know, nothing to really sweat about.

Just FYI, another thing about A/C systems is that once there is a leak in the system (which lets air & moisture in), you ruin your dryer. Or, at least this is what I've read in the past when I had to deal with the A/C system on my previous car. So when (if) you decide to fix the leak, you'll also want to replace the dryer.

umm...

precautionary note:
disconnect your AC connector..

Originally Posted by bmw-mania

umm...

precautionary note:
disconnect your AC connector..

Whhhhhat?

The plug with the wires that goes into the AC condenser that tells it to turn on.

You have a AC leak.. you're low on oil.. why run AC with fingers crossed?

Originally Posted by bmw-mania

The plug with the wires that goes into the AC condenser that tells it to turn on.

You have a AC leak.. you're low on oil.. why run AC with fingers crossed?

bmw-mania, did you mean compressor? The condenser doesn't 'turn on', and doesn't have electrical connections (unless that's where they put the low pressure shut-off switch).

Not bustin your chops, just wondering.

meatballs..

Yuppers, compressor, not condenser.

Ok, well if pull it and I don't get free albongidas...

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

Just FYI, another thing about A/C systems is that once there is a leak in the system (which lets air & moisture in), you ruin your dryer. Or, at least this is what I've read in the past when I had to deal with the A/C system on my previous car. So when (if) you decide to fix the leak, you'll also want to replace the dryer.

Absolutely correct. The "drier" is filled with desiccant that absorbs moisture. Once it's saturated, it's toast.