odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

Hi,

After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
hand in front of the vents.

Is it just moisture? Or AC refrigerant that leaks into air stream?

It was raining and I'm at Chicago suburbs.

My car is 1996 civic LX (125,000 Mi).

Thanks in advance.
Jay K

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

"jaykay" <emailtokjk@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1158543592.498616.278300@e3g2000cwe.googlegro ups.com...
>
> After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
> the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
> hand in front of the vents.
>
> Is it just moisture? Or AC refrigerant that leaks into air stream?
>
> It was raining and I'm at Chicago suburbs.
>
> My car is 1996 civic LX (125,000 Mi).

Sounds like condensation from the AC during a high humidity spell. If it
continues and is a refrigerant leak you will notice a degradation in your
ACs ability to "generate cool". If your AC continues to operate normally,
then obviously you're not losing refrigerant.

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

"jaykay" <emailtokjk@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1158543592.498616.278300@e3g2000cwe.googlegro ups.com...
>
> After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
> the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
> hand in front of the vents.
>
> Is it just moisture? Or AC refrigerant that leaks into air stream?
>
> It was raining and I'm at Chicago suburbs.
>
> My car is 1996 civic LX (125,000 Mi).

Sounds like condensation from the AC during a high humidity spell. If it
continues and is a refrigerant leak you will notice a degradation in your
ACs ability to "generate cool". If your AC continues to operate normally,
then obviously you're not losing refrigerant.

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

"jaykay" <emailtokjk@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1158543592.498616.278300@e3g2000cwe.googlegro ups.com...
>
> After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
> the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
> hand in front of the vents.
>
> Is it just moisture? Or AC refrigerant that leaks into air stream?
>
> It was raining and I'm at Chicago suburbs.
>
> My car is 1996 civic LX (125,000 Mi).

Sounds like condensation from the AC during a high humidity spell. If it
continues and is a refrigerant leak you will notice a degradation in your
ACs ability to "generate cool". If your AC continues to operate normally,
then obviously you're not losing refrigerant.

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 22:16:04 -0400, "Seth"
<seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote:

>"jaykay" <emailtokjk@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:1158543592.498616.278300@e3g2000cwe.googlegr oups.com...
>>
>> After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
>> the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
>> hand in front of the vents.
>>
>> Is it just moisture? Or AC refrigerant that leaks into air stream?
>>
>> It was raining and I'm at Chicago suburbs.
>>
>> My car is 1996 civic LX (125,000 Mi).
>
>Sounds like condensation from the AC during a high humidity spell. If it
>continues and is a refrigerant leak you will notice a degradation in your
>ACs ability to "generate cool". If your AC continues to operate normally,
>then obviously you're not losing refrigerant.

Second that. It is not unusual for fog to come out of the vents when
the humidity is high.

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 22:16:04 -0400, "Seth"
<seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote:

>"jaykay" <emailtokjk@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:1158543592.498616.278300@e3g2000cwe.googlegr oups.com...
>>
>> After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
>> the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
>> hand in front of the vents.
>>
>> Is it just moisture? Or AC refrigerant that leaks into air stream?
>>
>> It was raining and I'm at Chicago suburbs.
>>
>> My car is 1996 civic LX (125,000 Mi).
>
>Sounds like condensation from the AC during a high humidity spell. If it
>continues and is a refrigerant leak you will notice a degradation in your
>ACs ability to "generate cool". If your AC continues to operate normally,
>then obviously you're not losing refrigerant.

Second that. It is not unusual for fog to come out of the vents when
the humidity is high.

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 22:16:04 -0400, "Seth"
<seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote:

>"jaykay" <emailtokjk@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:1158543592.498616.278300@e3g2000cwe.googlegr oups.com...
>>
>> After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
>> the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
>> hand in front of the vents.
>>
>> Is it just moisture? Or AC refrigerant that leaks into air stream?
>>
>> It was raining and I'm at Chicago suburbs.
>>
>> My car is 1996 civic LX (125,000 Mi).
>
>Sounds like condensation from the AC during a high humidity spell. If it
>continues and is a refrigerant leak you will notice a degradation in your
>ACs ability to "generate cool". If your AC continues to operate normally,
>then obviously you're not losing refrigerant.

Second that. It is not unusual for fog to come out of the vents when
the humidity is high.

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

Gordon McGrew wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Sep 2006
>> Sounds like condensation from the AC during a high humidity spell. If it
>> continues and is a refrigerant leak you will notice a degradation in your
>> ACs ability to "generate cool". If your AC continues to operate normally,
>> then obviously you're not losing refrigerant.
>
> Second that. It is not unusual for fog to come out of the vents when
> the humidity is high.
>

Especially if your A/C is working at top efficiency<g>

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

Gordon McGrew wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Sep 2006
>> Sounds like condensation from the AC during a high humidity spell. If it
>> continues and is a refrigerant leak you will notice a degradation in your
>> ACs ability to "generate cool". If your AC continues to operate normally,
>> then obviously you're not losing refrigerant.
>
> Second that. It is not unusual for fog to come out of the vents when
> the humidity is high.
>

Especially if your A/C is working at top efficiency<g>

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

Gordon McGrew wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Sep 2006
>> Sounds like condensation from the AC during a high humidity spell. If it
>> continues and is a refrigerant leak you will notice a degradation in your
>> ACs ability to "generate cool". If your AC continues to operate normally,
>> then obviously you're not losing refrigerant.
>
> Second that. It is not unusual for fog to come out of the vents when
> the humidity is high.
>

Especially if your A/C is working at top efficiency<g>

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

jaykay wrote:
> Hi,
>
> After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
> the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
> hand in front of the vents.
>
> Is it just moisture? Or AC refrigerant that leaks into air stream?
>
> It was raining and I'm at Chicago suburbs.
>
> My car is 1996 civic LX (125,000 Mi).
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Jay K

You may be a wee tad low on refrigerant. Normally, you shouldn't
see much fog, even with high humidity. Why? with the proper
charge, usually the coil temp is high enough to avoid blowing fog.
In most cases, blowing fog is due to being slightly low on charge.
This causes the coil temp to drop below freezing, and hence, you
see fog. If charged back up, the coil temp rises above freezing, and
no more fog. Better cooling too...
MK

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

jaykay wrote:
> Hi,
>
> After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
> the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
> hand in front of the vents.
>
> Is it just moisture? Or AC refrigerant that leaks into air stream?
>
> It was raining and I'm at Chicago suburbs.
>
> My car is 1996 civic LX (125,000 Mi).
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Jay K

You may be a wee tad low on refrigerant. Normally, you shouldn't
see much fog, even with high humidity. Why? with the proper
charge, usually the coil temp is high enough to avoid blowing fog.
In most cases, blowing fog is due to being slightly low on charge.
This causes the coil temp to drop below freezing, and hence, you
see fog. If charged back up, the coil temp rises above freezing, and
no more fog. Better cooling too...
MK

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

jaykay wrote:
> Hi,
>
> After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
> the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
> hand in front of the vents.
>
> Is it just moisture? Or AC refrigerant that leaks into air stream?
>
> It was raining and I'm at Chicago suburbs.
>
> My car is 1996 civic LX (125,000 Mi).
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Jay K

You may be a wee tad low on refrigerant. Normally, you shouldn't
see much fog, even with high humidity. Why? with the proper
charge, usually the coil temp is high enough to avoid blowing fog.
In most cases, blowing fog is due to being slightly low on charge.
This causes the coil temp to drop below freezing, and hence, you
see fog. If charged back up, the coil temp rises above freezing, and
no more fog. Better cooling too...
MK

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

On 17 Sep 2006 18:39:52 -0700, "jaykay" <emailtokjk@gmail.com> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
>the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
>hand in front of the vents.

I concur with the other replies. Moisture did not condense on your
hand, because your hand is warmer than the air from the vent.


Elliot Richmond
Itinerant astronomy teacher

Re: odorless fumes from the AC vent
 

On 17 Sep 2006 18:39:52 -0700, "jaykay" <emailtokjk@gmail.com> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>After running the AC for a couple of minutes, I get odorless fumes from
>the AC vent of the car. It does not condense in my hand when I place my
>hand in front of the vents.

I concur with the other replies. Moisture did not condense on your
hand, because your hand is warmer than the air from the vent.


Elliot Richmond
Itinerant astronomy teacher