Hi: I noticed an odd smell by my Maytag three-door refrigerator/freezer. I pulled off the front grill on the bottom and with a flash light could see that there was a dark liquid in the drain pan. I checked online and saw that the only way to remove the drain pan is to tip the refrigerator over as the drain pan is actually screwed in to the bottom of the refrigerator (really). So I did the best I could putting my hand under unit and cleaning what I could reach with paper towels. Besides the fact I think this is a design flaw I am wondering what all this dark sticky and stinky substance was. Any ideas? Thank you for your time.

Perhaps this article can help or giving you a start to find what and where this fouled water comes from.

https://www.hunker.com/13407488/black-oily-stuff-leaking-from-under-the-refrigerator

Thank you so much for the website. It does appear like there is a leak somewhere.

Not enough information. First of all, find out what kind of liquid it is. There are no liquids of this color in the refrigerator. Oil (not soluble in water), mixing with the refrigerant gives an emulsion, and it evaporates quickly ... Condensation (due to a malfunction of the evaporator) can overfill the collecting tray and change its color from bacteria, but it can turn black with a very long decay. And the stink should be freezing ... If the refrigerator is working properly, then just pull out the refrigerator and look at the back and bottom, you may be able to find out from where this liquid flows out. Contact the service