X7 Compressor refrigerant leak

[EDC5]

Since a refrigerant recharge last summer my air con had all but lost all effectiveness and the system hissed loudly inside the cabin, the usual sign of low refrigerant charge.

When I checked the pressures, I found the low side pulling down to 0 psi and the high side was really low for a 134a system.

The system was recharged once again and this time I included 10ml of fluorescent PAG oil.

My plan is to wait for a few weeks then cast a UV torch about to try and locate the leak. Whilst i am waiting for the torch to arrive I noticed some suspect patches on the compressor itself, right at the part where two parts of the compressor housing meet:

Time will tell if this is the source of the leak when the UV torch arrives but I thought I would ask if anyone would find these patches suspicious first.

[moizeau]

Did you do the recharge yourself Elis or was it done with garage equipment and vacuumed first? When mine was done at Citroen the chap could see a problem straight away because it wouldn't empty properly. Turned out to be the condenser. That was a fun bumper off afternoon! Got the rad out from the engine bay side and would have managed the condenser if it were not for the lower pipe connecter being inaccessible.

[EDC5]

I did the recharge myself. I have a vacuum pump, but didn’t want to empty it all out whilst it still worked (at least a little bit).

I added some refrigerant, but that was mainly to push the dyed oil into the system.

I am fully expecting it to be the condenser, judging by the state of it; but after seeing those patches on the compressor I thought it would be worth querying as they do look suspicious.

[moizeau]

Yeah, when I took mine out it pretty much disintegrated in my hands. A condenser is probably easier and cheaper than a compressor at least, if it is that.