Yellowish Substance with Refrigerator Failure

[Grey_Mountain]

When the refrigerator goes out, or is about to go out, there is a yellowish substance (or there can be) often found. What does that substance smell like?

Had this happen to me on a trip several years ago, but I've forgotten what the smell is like.

[Chris_Bryant]

A factoid that I am 90% sure of- the corrosion inhibitor used is sodium tetrachromate, which is a somewhat more benign brother to hexavalent chromium, also used for corrosion inhibition, and the Substance in the true Erin Brockovich story.

[Old-Biscuit]

The yellow residue doesn't smell.....it is the AMMONIA that smells

The yellow residue is dried up sodium chromate (rust inhibitor) and it is TOXIC
To clean it up use safety glasses, masks, gloves and vacuum it ---do NOT use air compressor to blow it out


Coolant solution is Ammonia, Hydrogen, Sodium Chromate and Water
(Some units have used Helium vs Hydrogen----very small percentage....Atwood HE and aftermarket replacements)

[Grey_Mountain]

OK. Thanks. I was getting confused over the smell from bad water - strong sulphur/rotten egg smell.

Thanks for the response.

[MFL]

Yup...not sure how you'd forget that smell, but it will go away eventually.

Jerry

[Dutch_12078]

Strong ammonia smell...