Harry Yates wrote:
> 
> Hi Everyone.  Well, I started up the van today in the garage, and I
> put on the a/c to run the compressor.  After a few minutes, I noticed
> some "smoke" from the one of the exhaust pipes (the back pipe that
> goes left to right).  After some time, I noticed some "pinkish" oily
> stuff on the concrete floor.
> 
> Hmm.. the power steering is on the right side, and this is on the
> left side.  I couldn't find any source of the leak.
> 
> After the engine had cooled down a bit, I crawled under the van to
> inspect. The only thing that is above that exhaust pipe is the a/c
> compressor.  So, if it is the a/c that is leaking, is freon or
> refrigerant pink?
> 
> Easily puzzled,
> 
> Harry
> ---------------------------------------------------------
> Harry Yates, Langley, BC, Canada
> '90 Syncro Westfalia www:   http://www.bcit.bc.ca/~hyates
> '87 Golf Diesel      email: hyates@bcit.bc.ca
> '91 Miata (Millie)

Freon does not exist as a liquid at ambient pressure.  The oil in the 
system does however, but is not usually colored.  Dyes are sometimes 
used for leak detection in refrigerent systems.  I suspect the pink 
fluid is transmission fluid if you have an automatic.

Larry