This is a fungus smell.....not abnormal as pollen and other vegetal particles stick on the moist evaporator (that eventually freezes) and when turned off, the moist fungus emanates this kind of odor.
Good interpretation...yes, silicone does smell like vinegar....much closer than fungus....Silicone sealant was my guess as well. That stuff smells like vinegar. If it is it will go away after it cures fully.