Oil on AC condenser

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youracman

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Nov 17, 2015
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336
Location
Denver, CO
I am considering a coach on a consignment lot...... 1800 miles away. I lifted the attached pic from one of the sales videos and I am concerned about the oil on the condenser fins. Before retiring, I had an AC business for about 15 years and early on I repaired a lot of car/truck ACs. The oil is often the result of a refrigerant leak (refrigerant has a great affinity for oil, so some refrigerant oil often escapes when there's a refrigerant leak.) On the other hand, my current coach has some oil showing in this area from inadvertent spillage when adding engine oil to the V10 from high up above. The coach in question has the V8; it's a 2022 Tiffen.

Whatcha think (especially any newer V8-powered coach owners)?
 

Attachments

  • Tiffin Oil Cropped.jpg
    Tiffin Oil Cropped.jpg
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Video is 2:31 so its very short, but it won't play except via the Youtube app/channel


Oil fill is on the driver's valve cover between the first and second ignition coil. I think you know the cause of that leak. Why on a 2022? dunno.

Charles
 
Identifying the type of oil on the condenser would be ideal but not an easy method. It could be refrigerant oil but it also could be residual engine oil or hydraulic fluid.

I guess the only sure way to check for a refrigerant leak would be to do a leak test. The best way I have found to check for a system leak is to pull the system down into a vacuum and let it sit. There are other ways. I am sure you well know.

Being as new as the unit is, the coil could show signs of damage or failure. I have seen bad fairly new coils but most of the time when they leak, it has been damaged.

You could clean the coil out real good and fire it up to see if anything shows up using a leak detector and your eyes.

Another option is to have the seller warranty the system or perform a leak detection process while you are there and in a way that you approve of.
 
What is that in the red circle? It appears to be in line with the stain on the condenser - maybe from an outside source?
Good catch. I "assumed" it was water, but ya know how that goes. Coach is in FL and I believe the sales guy is mighty busy right now even though the sales lot is on the "dry side" of hurricane Milton (hope his home is too.) I'll be talking with him when this all blows over.... so to speak. I got caught in a Cat 3 while living on the TX gulf coast ......... scary, scary stuff for sure.

FWIW, I will try to attach a link to the video.
A134 Engine Compartment.MP4
 
Thanks for your thoughts, guys. I have decided to pass on this coach even though it checks all my boxes re floor plan, etc. I posted on several forums and pretty much got agreement that a leak was present on that condenser in all likelihood.

On one forum, I even got a response from Tiffen mgt that if the condenser did, in fact, fail a leak check the replacement should not be more involved than replacement in the automotive industry. Hmmm, not my experience; i.e., MHs co$t more .... in general.

Also had a fella on the Facebook F53 Chassis forum say it might well be covered by Ford's 3/36,000 warranty since the coach is a 2022. Interesting. Me thinks the current owner needs to check that out; personally, I don't want to go down that road.

Thanks again to a great forum.
 

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