Restoration - Ford Filter-Driers

Filter-Driers

What does an filter-drier do?

The Filter-Drier is a canister typically mounted near the Condenser that receives the mostly liquid from the Condenser. It has two primary functions in the air conditioning system; 1 – Filter contaminants. This is the primary location where larger contaminants will end up. 2 – The desiccant stored inside removes any residual moisture from the system that evacuating doesn’t remove. This is the most important function, as moisture is the #1 enemy of the a/c system. Combined with refrigerant and lubrication, moisture will turn acidic (hydrochloric acid) and start to eat the system up from the inside out. It is necessary to replace or restore the filter-drier whenever the system is opened up to the atmosphere.

Note some later model Ford systems use an Accumulator, instead of a Filter-Drier, to perform a similar function. An Accumulator is usually located immediately after the Evaporator’s suction outlet.