oil residue from AC air vent

[newworld2004]

I noticed some oil residue from AC air vent , also some time clear white color steam. any idea what that could be ?

thx

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Eek, almost sounds like you could have oil getting into your coolant and seeping into the heater core?

 

[newworld2004]

so is that expensive repair?

 

[newworld2004]

Hi , all

is this something considerably hard to diagnoise and repair?

 

[Salonika]

If it is your heater core leaking then yes it’s a big job.

 

[TNMontero]

If it is your heater core leaking then yes it’s a big job.

I'd be more worried about how oil is getting into the coolant system. Because that means coolant is getting into the oil system, meaning potential engine failure.

New World - Check your oil. Is it milky or chocolate milk colored? Depending on the age it should be fresh clear oil (if just changed) or close to black. That's just to make sure you don't have a bad head gasket and oil/coolant are swapping.

 

[Salonika]

Remember A/C refrigerant contains a light oil as well.

 

[newworld2004]

I checked the oil constantly since I usually have to add to it. so I am not seeing milky or chocolate milk color. it is mostly close to black. I read some where it might be A/C refrigerant oil getting to vent if there is leak. I still trying to understand how this happens. please note if I don't have Fan on , when I come to stop I can see some white steam blowing of vent as well. I took some video to show white color steam , but it is hard to see it.

find below link not sure if it is related.

https://gm-volt.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-130474.html

 

[newworld2004]

heater core is not leaking as I don;t see any evidence inside on passenger site.

 

[Salonika]

It might not be your heater core, it could be the A/C Heat exchanger.

 

[Swank Force One]

It will be hard to diagnose over the internet. You will need to poke around.

If it's in the dash, it will be a pain to fix.

 

[Salonika]

How long have you owned your truck? Any chance that there could be fluorescent dye in your a/c charge? If so, hit your vents with a UV light.......otherwise I think you could buy a sniffer or a shop could use one to search for a refrigerant leak.

 

[newworld2004]

had it for two years now. AC blows cold air though. what would be mist or steam means from two front air vent?

 

[Salonika]

I've actually just recently had this steam thing happen to me but in a Honda Accord. It was legit fog......I had the cold maxed out and high blower setting, and humidity was pretty high. It was fogging pretty good. When I raised the temp away from max cold, the fog stopped....I maxed it out again and the fog came back. I Googled it, apparently it can be something related to humidity and rapid cooling, basically making clouds. It doesn't smell. Now I didn't have any oil residue so yours is different in that way, but I've seen the fog / steam.

 

[newworld2004]

I've actually just recently had this steam thing happen to me but in a Honda Accord. It was legit fog......I had the cold maxed out and high blower setting, and humidity was pretty high. It was fogging pretty good. When I raised the temp away from max cold, the fog stopped....I maxed it out again and the fog came back. I Googled it, apparently it can be something related to humidity and rapid cooling, basically making clouds. It doesn't smell. Now I didn't have any oil residue so yours is different in that way, but I've seen the fog / steam.

Thx for info . If I dial temp away to hot then I don't see any fog mist coming out. It might be related to what you mentioned.