Buick grease streak...

[rschap1]

Neighbor has a 3800 GenII powered Buick. Streaks of grease underhood. Looks like an off white lithium grease is getting sprayed/spun right along the serpentine belt area. I was guessing that it was coming from the inboard passenger side CV joint as it's boot is right in line with the grease streaks too. But... the AC compressor is right there too and when driving there is a noise which disappears when the AC is engaged...so...just curious if there is anything inside an AC compressor that would resemble white lithium grease??? I wouldn't expect the oil mixed in with the freon would look anything like what is being seen on the firewall, hood liner, radiator support etc. But is there a gear case full of grease or anything like that in the front end of a compressor before the CV boot takes all the blame?
THANKS!!!

[Smittro]

R134a usually contains a red lubricant and does'nt have near the same consistancy of any grease..

The CV joints usually have a gray cream type grease sometimes white-ish in color..

Most likely an inboard CV boot.

If it is the CV boot and has been leaking for a while the joint will likely soon die..

They usually rumble and some even make a "popping" sound before they go..

Also sounds like a bad/worn clutch assembly on the AC compressor..

[Knight]

^ +1. I'd inspect the boot around the cv joints for cracks or tears.

[BLK2KSS]

It kinda sounds to me like belt dressing was sprayed on the belts and got everywhere. It is a nasty sticky white grease and gets all over everything in the general area of the belts when used. Ask him if he has used any of this, would be great if it were something as simple as this.

[rschap1]

HE didn't mention using any belt dressing and it was GREASY. We were both pretty sure it was coming from the CV boot, but wanted to make sure that there wasn't some similar lube in the AC compressor because of it's proximity to the grease splatters. Thanks everyone!!

[Smittro]

It's almost always the passenger inboard cv joint on w-bodies..

I'd recommend (for what it's worth) that he purchase a OEM or better replacement..

There are some cheap "split" style boots out there designed to save time..

Unfortunely that is all you will save...

Best to remove the entire axle assembly and replace the boot with new grease also (fill the boot with grease)..

There is a snap rig that fixes the joint to the half shaft..

Cut away the old boot (but dont drive it like this) then, sqweeze the ring with snap ring pliers and the joint will detach from the half shaft..

BUT, only after detaching the tie rod, removing the out board king nut, and popping the lower ball joint pin out of the carrier..

Whole axle will pop out by grasping the inboard joint and pushing it in then pulling out in a sharp motion.

Only then you can take the inboard joint off the shaft..