Been noticing that the a/c overflow from my Jag will cause the paint on the garage floor to bubble. Normally I would expect this to be just condensation water but something else is going on. Doesnt smell unusual but does slightly discolour green-ish on the floor of left (that maybe just the interaction with the paint)

Anybody have a similar experience or some knowledge of what it might be? If this is a feature not a bug, then its little wonder floor pans rot out when the condensation drains are blocked.

One other car parked in the painted area, does nothing unusual. Just drops a little water with no effect.

 

Interesting phenomenon and I think you are on to something. Distilled or the type of water that comes off an evaporator should have a neutral PH...BUT....when it combines with free C02 in the atmosphere it becomes slightly acidic and forms carbonic acid. There would be lots of opportunity for C02 to react with distilled water in an automotive evaporator. First there is a lot of C02 in road air from other motorists and a fan forcing its interaction.

What is your garage floor coated with? It would be fascinating to know if your floor coating is affected by acids, if so then it adds up.

You can also geek out and acquire some evaporator water as it drips and test its PH with a pool water tester kit.

 

Your heater/air-conditioner matrix may be leaking coolant and draining out the condensation drains. The heater/air matrix uses the engine cooling system to regulate interior temps. Ethylene glycol is a very good paint remover.

 

Thanks both for your ideas. Probably the next step is to get a container under after the next run and see if I can learn more about the make up of the liquid.

 

Think about pressure-testing the cooling system.

 

Hi Giovanni

The system was pressure tested about a month ago. Was flushed out, new coolant, new thermostat and cap put in. I have a horrible feeling that the next link in the chain has failed and you are probably correct re the core, or (he says optimistically) a nearby connection. The coolant colour is similar to what I sometimes see in diluted form on the floor.

We are in full summer here and in theory I would expect no flow through the heater core, so the leak may be nearby or its just waiting to bite me in the ****/*** the first time I want heat. Some under dash mining look inevitable.

I guess the good news is so far its contained and flowing outside the car.

 

Heater core and tap replaced, it was not in a great state would certainly have gone big time come winter. Dead lucky to have the leakage drain nicely away down the drains.

Thanks to Giovanni for pointing out the paint stripper effect of the coolant. Something I had never even noticed or thought about until I had the luxury of a garage and a painted floor.

 

Steve,
You're a lucky guy!
So many floors have succumbed to the tin worm and oxide cancer! Window seals, heater matrixes and fresh air vent seals are all culprits! Lay back on the dog-bone wheeled creeper and roll under the open doors. There are drain weep holes under each door, next to the bottom seals. Also an 1/8" steel drain tube under each 1/4 panel, on the coupes. I use a coat hanger to router the drain openings.
Torque the head,often and be the chemist of your Jag's cooling system and your engine will be living the cool life.

 

sounds like a coolant leak not neccesarily related to the air conditioner. There are steel pipes under the radiator hidden by the splash guard, which leak on the splash guard and the fluids drain backwards.

 

Way back when, I turned the defrosters on in my 85 Ford 4x4 F150. Odd goo on the inside of the windshield. Coolant!!!! Quick diagnosis. Heater core! Access was fairly easy, behind the glove box. Fleeting temptation to fix it. Ran water into it. Nope, lottsa little leaks. New core not all that costly. All ended well.


As to the Delanair climate control. Whatever the weather, calling for heat oughta produce it.


Carl

 

Ford pickups got really cheap in 2000. They used a crappy low quality aluminum heater core and mounted it so deep into the dash, that the entire dash needs to be removed to replace the core.
$700.00 shop repair to replace a $70.00 heater core!
Mine needs replacing, as well as my best friend's Ford pickup.