Coolant leak - aircon related?

[terryc101]

Morning!

Bit puzzled as to where this leak can be coming from as my 172 knowledge isn't the greatest. Had the car about a year now and in that time the aircon has never worked as a pipe to the condenser had a hole in.
Changes that last weekend, got it gassed up and it was working to its full potential and it was lovely! A few days later however and I noticed a trail of coolant coming out from under the car.
It seems to be collecting on the drivers side of the subframe just under the steering rack and from a brief investigation only when the aircon is running. I've been underneath and I can't for the life of me see where the water is actually originating from.

Any ideas what it could be? What's around that area at the rear of the engine/bulkhead?

 

[bozothenutter]

could it be telltale liquid? (what they use in the aircon to look for leaks)
rear of the engine only has heater hoses and such.

 

[STEVE.M]

could it be telltale liquid? (what they use in the aircon to look for leaks)
rear of the engine only has heater hoses and such.

It`s condensation from the aircon.Quite normal,nothing to worry about.

 

[terryc101]

could it be telltale liquid? (what they use in the aircon to look for leaks)
rear of the engine only has heater hoses and such.

That's what I hoped or condensation. But the level in the header tank is dropping too.

 

[JamesBryan]

That's what I hoped or condensation. But the level in the header tank is dropping too.

I think you're getting coolant and air con mixed up.

The coolant in the header tank is for the engine only, not the air con system.

The air con is a pressurised gas system so they don't leak liquid as such, the condenser unit does drip condensation though.

If your coolant level is going down, then you have a probable waterpump, heater matrix leak.

 

[Chrisgti6]

How much has the header dropped? IS it below minimum?

 

[STEVE.M]

That's what I hoped or condensation. But the level in the header tank is dropping too.

It is normal for the cooling system to draw some coolant from the reservoir as the engine cools.Recheck the level with the engine hot.
Dip a finger in the discharged liquid and take a taste,you`ll soon realise if it`s coolant or pure water.

 

[Amos91]

Pretty sure that is exactly where the air con system drains the moisture removed from the air and is perfectly normal.

 

[terryc101]

Cheers for the replies.

I knew the aircon system didn't use coolant as such but wasn't sure if there were water pipes running into that area for the matrix etc.

The coolant dropped about 2cm over a few days.

Waterpump etc was not long done by a specialist so I hope it's nothing to do with that.

 

[JamesBryan]

Has the level rose again or stayed down by 2cm?

 

[terryc101]

Has the level rose again or stayed down by 2cm?

Stayed down.

 

[JamesBryan]

Hmmm. Keep an eye on it.

If it keeps dropping then it will need looking at.

 

[terryc101]

Hmmm. Keep an eye on it.

If it keeps dropping then it will need looking at.

Yeah if it persists this week I'll pop back to the garage and ask them to have a quick look. I'll try and have a drink of the water next time lol see what it tastes like.

 

[Chrisgti6]

It should be fairly obvious if it's coolant or just condensation. When it next leaks, dip some tissue or kitchen roll in the liquid and sniff it, coolant will have a smell, condensation shouldn't really. You might be able to tell from the colour too, Renault Type D is a greeny/yellowy colour