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I tore the left 3rd row side panel off this afternoon to do the rear hydraulic shock. I noticed that the grommet for rear AC lines was covered in white fine powder. I'm not sure it should be there, it doesn't belong on the grommet. What could have deposited it there?
Doubt the car was a mule before I bought it 😀
Last edited by expl0rer; Aug 30, 2020 at 06:22 PM.
Do those lines go "outside" in some manner? I've never looked on my car, but I assume they do like in many cars. If so... could it be salt from the roads?
Yes, the lines would go outside to the AC pump in the rear which is for the second row climate control. I didn't consider salt being able to get inside the grommet, but that is possible. In all the years I've looked at grommets, this would be the first time I've seen salt get inside one. I suppose I could try to do some creative home chemistry testing to see if it's salt.
Last edited by expl0rer; Aug 30, 2020 at 08:20 PM.
I'm really not sure, either. But that's about all that I could think of. As far being "creative" goes... there's a really, REALLY easy way to do it... can you guess?
The only thing that bothers me about the salt idea is that those metal lines look awfully good for having salt right up against them.
I'm really not sure, either. But that's about all that I could think of. As far being "creative" goes... there's a really, REALLY easy way to do it... can you guess?
The only thing that bothers me about the salt idea is that those metal lines look awfully good for having salt right up against them.
I thought about the lick test, but then I realized I wasn't in a big budget Hollywood production and scratched that idea 😀
The lines are aluminum alloy of some sort, I'm guessing, so corrosion will probably be slow to take in, plus he car's life was spent in the pacific northwest till last year. This past winter is the first time it would have seen a full season of salt roads. Welcome to the Atlantic side, I guess.
What else is back there that could cause that?
those rear ac lines get cold and as a result condensation forms on them, which attracts solids.
im thinking it’s some kind of oxide powder.
Funny you say this, because the first thing I thought when I saw the powder was that oxidization on a battery terminal looked similar. I didnt think much more of it, though, as there weren't any obvious electrical components close enough, let alone exposed connections, in the vicinity, that I could tell, but another look would be warranted.
Update: I cleaned the substance and didn't find anything obvious as the source of this powder deposits. I'll remove the cover next year and see if there's been any new deposits and take it from there.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
