A/C "blowoff" What happened here?

[EDKtrans]

Yesterday while working I fired up my truck to cool the cab a bit before starting to drive again. I set the truck on a fast idle and turned on the A/C. While finishing up outside the truck I heard a loud hissing sound, a high pressure air release, and a cloud of gas drifted out from under my truck. Foul smelling stuff, left a nasty taste in my mouth. I found a small green puddle under the front end, right below my A/C compressor. It seems the A/C system vented out. I drove a short distance afterwards to a hotel and the A/C still seems to work but I don't really know if it works as well as it did or not. It was a short drive. I'll know more today as I'm heading home to Colorado and will be crossing the Mojave desert...

My question is, what the heck happened? Do these A/C systems have over pressure vent valves?

 

[mweiman]

There is typically a relief valve on the back side of the compressor. I would first check the engine fan for proper operation and check for fan related engine fault codes. Also flush on your radiator and condensor with a garden hose to make sure the are not packed with dirt.
Matt

 

[JFought]

i had it happen as well i overfilled the system with refrigerant .

Awhile after it popped off the compressor died. like 3-5 months

 

[Motorhead]

If it had "Green Stuff" in it then I'd say someone before you or someone has worked on the A/C system. It IS a HIGH side, excess pressure relief. The "Green Stuff" is a dye that someone put in there to find any leaks. It also sounds like to me that the system was over-charged. In the case of A/C systems... MORE isn't better. A/C will not work as well when over charged. Most systems are the coldest at just under full charge.

 

[JFought]

mine was green at that point in time i had charged it a few times, no sealers or dyes ever induced-
yes green