Refrigerator leaking black liquid?

2 years ago by SharkEatingBreakfast to c/fixing

Refrigerator is a Frigidaire LTFR1832TF0.

Leak came from the front-right side.

I did not notice any temperature fluctuations, but I also don't notice much of anything. It still seemed cold when I unplugged it, though!

Checked the drain pan & it seems dry? Not overflowing or anything.

No water on inside of refrigerator.

Anyone have any idea what might be going on? I'd really appreciate it, as no one can take a look for another 3 days.

I don't want my food to spoil, as I don't have a lot of money. I just want to know if it'd be safe to plug it back in!

Thank you.

EDIT: had my BIL stop by to take a look. More than likely it's refrigerant. The compressor was fine, but one of the lines on it would not get cold, so that's that. Probably a leak in the line, more than likely from a failed seal.

The cost to refill the refrigerant / repair the line / seal would cost waaaaay more than a new fridge, unfortunately.

Thanks, y'all. Appreciate the help and advice.

DemSpud 43 points 2 years ago

Umm why did your refrigerator leak a picture of my parents yelling at each other?

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Sabata11792 12 points 2 years ago

That's clearly half of 2 bears high fiving.

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DemSpud 3 points 2 years ago

What do you think of the new show?

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Sabata11792 4 points 2 years ago

I was surprised. It's actually good. I ended up binging it.

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DemSpud 3 points 2 years ago

Exact same experience here, I think I got through the whole thing in 2 days, keen as for the next season.

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Death_Equity 7 points 2 years ago

How does that make you feel?

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boredsquirrel 4 points 2 years ago

What? Where?

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ug02x 7 points 2 years ago

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorschach_test

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SirSamuel 3 points 2 years ago

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tryplot 2 points 2 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w1wwGcu0Dk

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Death_Equity 29 points 2 years ago

Unfortunately it is probably a bad seal in the refrigeration loop if it is oily. I would recommend keeping windows open and animals in a separate room just in case the refrigerant leaks. You can risk running it until repair is possible, but there is a small chance of fire if the compressor overheats and you may make the repair more expensive.

It will be a pain but you can throw ice in it to help keep the food good while you wait for repair.

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SharkEatingBreakfast 14 points 2 years ago

It seems to have more of an ink-like consistency more than it does oil.

Didn't seem to stain, either. Comes up just fine with water + paper towel.

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Death_Equity 21 points 2 years ago

The oil used in refrigeration systems is like mineral oil, so it isn't thick or stain like most engine oil.

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SharkEatingBreakfast 9 points 2 years ago

Oh dear..

Good to know, though. Thank you.

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CoolMatt 5 points 2 years ago

It's okay, the refrigerant in your fridge is low toxicity, and if it loses the 6 oz of charge in its system, no people or pets are at any kind of risk.

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Septimaeus 12 points 2 years ago

Didn’t see others mention yet: if that’s compressor oil, it’ll smell. Even after airing out on the towel for a while the solvent smell will be there. (Edit: also I’ve never recovered from a fridge but the dirtiest oil I’ve seen was more brown than inky black.)

If not though, then I’d be very curious. Soy sauce? Balsamic vinegar? Cuttlefish sachet? KM? …Prune juice?

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Nooodel 10 points 2 years ago

Keep it turned off.
If you are good with tools and know how to hard solder, dismantle the housing, find the leak and close it. Once closed, run the fridge for an hour or two standing freely in the room and check whether it works properly. By the amount of cooling you found it can well be a goner.
For your food get another fridge off FB marketplace, Craigslist or whatever else people in your region use to sell used stuff locally. You can often get them for free. In case you manage to repair your fridge/get it repaired it's probably gone again as easy as you got it.
Keep the room well ventilated, coolants often becomes a gas at room temperature, so you won't find much liquid residue of the actual coolant. Also they don't smell. They are not dangerous to you imminently AFAIK (only really bad for the environment) but nobody likes breathing industrial chemical agents :)
Refilling a fridge with new coolant requires a professional, there's some tricks and special pumps involved to get something that is a gas at room temperature into those pipes and also to get any air out of them. If it's necessary to refill, don't try on your own.

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CoolMatt 13 points 2 years ago

Nevermind the temperature of the room, as soon as refrigerant is exposed to atmosphere, it becomes a gas because its boiling point at atmospheric pressure is so low. Any liquid leaked from the refrigeration circuit is just compressor oil, which actually is a good indicator of a leak in the system. But it shouldn't be black like in the photo so idek what's in the photo, let alone if there was a refrigerant leak.

Also if your frudge lost its charge, just get a new one. It'll be cheaper than the repair bill

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BigDanishGuy 6 points 2 years ago

The leaked fluid, how does it smell? Do you live alone?

I don't live alone, and I would be freaking out too initially, and then much later remember that I have kids who frequent the fridge.

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