Mystery marks around fridge vent

[jjkitt]

My '65 Safari still has the original Dometic fridge which recently my brother and I worked on. I should mention I have also just finished a re-polish.

We removed the gas lines and thermocoupler, cleaned everything really well and re-installed.



I am not sure when the last time this fridge was run for any extended time. We fired it up on gas and let it run for a couple of days and it was working well. It rained for a bit and I noticed a strange discoloration over the vent with what looks like drip marks down the side of the trailer after the water had dried.



It took a little work but was able to polish out the discoloration. We camped last weekend and could not get the fridge to run cold. The pilot stayed on for a day or so. Now just back in town after a week away for work to find the same mysterious blemished over the vent again. Has anyone seen this before?

I am super puzzled...

[sgschwend]

I would guess the refrigerant (ammonia) is leaking out and the chemical is corrosive in the presence of humid air which happens due to the leak.



http://jes.ecsdl.org/content/143/4/1175.short

[jjkitt]

Thank you!