Hi all

I've just bought a 1984 TownAce. They started importing them earlier here in NZ than in UK, but I suspect this was still one of the early ones. It came in in 1991 with 58,000 km on it. Is this the oldest reported on this site? I've seen some 1986ers...

Great site - it's being very helpful.

My question - there's a puddle of brown oily fluid in the bottom of the hot/cold box. Any ideas what this means/whether it can be fixed? The box still cools, on a quick test. Haven't tried heat. Is the fluid is likely to be coolant, electrical transformer oil or what? There's what might be a blocked up drain hole in the centre of the base (except it's not at the lowest point.)

thanks
Bill

- (#3837) Bill Dashfield, 16 Jul 02

Remains of an old curry mixed with amber nectar?

Seriously, if you've cleaned it out and the stuff keeps coming back, you need to try and strip the box down to see where it's coming from. Can't think what would cause this from the aircon side though, unless compressor oil is somehow finding its way out from a leak. You say it still cools. Is it continuous or intermittent?

- (#3840) Ian Dunse, 16 Jul 02

Is the fluid quite watery in consistency, or is is viscous & oily, if it is watery, then it is most likely that is IS water that has been condensed out of the atmosphere by the cooling effect of the evaporator unit in the cool box (exactly the same as the air con does & deposits water out of the drain tubes on the front & rear heater bos casings) if the drain is blocked then you will get a build up of moisture in the box, this is probably then going brown because of the bacteria & mould that grows on any air con evaporator. If it is oily, then it could be air con system oil leaking out of the system, but then I would expect the gas to be escaping as well & then the air con & cool box to stop working. I would check the drain tube first, then do an anti bacterial treatment on the evaporator to ensure it is clean, then fire it up again & see if the build up of water continues after the drain is cleared. HTH Regards Rob.

- (#3845) Rob Drinkwater, 16 Jul 02

(well that's wahat I want to keep in it.)

Haven't had time to give it a proper test - will do so and let you know.

Thanks for all the advice.
Regards
Bill

- (#3852) Bill Dashfield, 17 Jul 02