A few days ago I went out to get in my 82 240D, I noted a puddle of clear oil that had run out from under the car. Note that my garage floor was constructed so that liquid runs toward the house and not out the garage door, which is another story. After verifying that all vital fluid levels were fine, I determined it was the A/C system oil I was seeing. The A/C cooling temperature began to deteriorate over the next couple of days and finally the compressor wouldn't kick on at all (obviously a major leak). I recently converted the system from 134A to Duracool.

I tried to pinpoint where the leak was coming from, but all I could really determine was that it appeared to be dripping off of the compressor.

The question is how do you determine the source of a major leak? I suspect the compressor, but it certainly gave no advanced warning. After I did the Duracool conversion, I was getting about 45PSI suction pressure and 48 degrees out the vents. The system did still appear to be using way to much horsepower, but the car has always been considerably slower with the A/C on with R12, 134A, or Duracool. I was hoping that the Duracool would improve performance, but I really didn't detect much improvement. When I converted from R12 to 134A a couple years ago, all I did was evacuate, charge with 134A, and add a can of 134A oil.

Do I have to re-charge it to find the leak? Or is there another way?

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1976 240D
1987 560SL
2007 E320 Bluetec
1998 C280 (now son’s car)
1982 240D Manual - Sold