Please tell me what this part is.

[Italian Scott]

97 Grand Marquis. I noticed coolant on the driveway. Popped open the hood and noticed there is green coolant leaking from the pictured part. It is rusted through where the lower hose comes out. My chilton manual does not identify what it is. It's on the passenger side next to the coolant reservoir towards the back near the firewall. In my 2007 the same part is farther forward closer to the radiator.

So I think its related to the AC system, if so, is it safe to drive the car or should I get it fixed first before I drive it to work?

Also anyone know if this part is easy to replace? I'm fairly able on other things, I can do brakes, shocks, ball joints, etc. But never had to deal with the cooling system myself. Any info is appreciated, thanks.

[jaywish]

If you are talking about the black cylinder, that is the AC dryer. No radiator coolant in there.

Are you losing coolant, the level dropping?

[offroadkarter]

If you are talking about the black cylinder, that is the AC dryer. No radiator coolant in there.

This^, what you are noticing drip out is the lubricant for the compressor that the factory put in there. The A/C drier is made from steel, so it rots out over time. You can get an aftermarket aluminum one for like 30-40 bucks on rock auto all day that won't have this issue. I just had to replace mine this summer on my marauder, the bottom was rotted the hell out.

[P72Crazy]

Looks like a puke bottle beside the receiver/dryer the left. I don't have a late model so I can say for sure if that's a coolant recovery bottle or not. Since that recovery bottle is under pressure, you might be getting the coolant "sprayed" on to the dryer and it's just dripping off from the lowest point.

[85crownHPP]

Leaking AC dye looks almost exactly like fresh green coolant seepage. If you are not loosing coolant, I'd suspect that black receiver/dryer of the
But, the fat hose coming out of the coolant reservoir is right there too, and I have seen those leak from rubbing on stuff.

[miamibob]

If you have green liquid on the driveway it is NOT going to be refrigerant. An A/C leak may show up near itself but there would probably not be enough to make it to the driveway.

[tjc78]

Hey Bob, if the receiver/drier blows a big enough leak the oil in the system (which from the factory has a greenish dye) can show up under the car. My 04 just this past summer the dryer failed and left a sizeable puddle of green oil in my driveway overnight. On the 03+ its much more common due to the placement down low in between the engine and radiator.

[miamibob]

Hey Bob, if the receiver/drier blows a big enough leak the oil in the system (which from the factory has a greenish dye) can show up under the car. My 04 just this past summer the dryer failed and left a sizeable puddle of green oil in my driveway overnight. On the 03+ its much more common due to the placement down low in between the engine and radiator.

Yeah, I guess it is possible but my guess his condition is ongoing and that is doubtful. One time blowout, I can see that but not continuous....

[offroadkarter]

If his A/C no longer works, we know what the issue is.

[gadget73]

There is that coolant reservoir right next to the drier can. if that hose into the reservoir is leaky, it might be running down the hose and dripping from the same area. Give the fluid a smell. AC oil smells plasticy, very much like PVC pipe cement. Coolant is very sweet smelling and more sticky than slippery.

[Italian Scott]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies, I've been on business and didn't get back to this until now. Upon further inspection, this has to be the oil in the receiver/dryer unit. A hole rusted through near the bottom. My AC still blows very cold, but I'm not running it now so I don't cause any sort of damage.

I might not have a chance to deal with this for a couple of weeks due to competing priorities. Do you guys this its OK to run the HEAT/defogger instead? It's gotten colder around here and its raining nonstop, causing the window to fog up.

[jaywish]

If there really is a rust hole in the dryer the AC can not cool. If it outputs air 20 degrees colder (at the vent) than ambient then you do not have a significant AC leak.

With the car running, ac in VENT mode, look at the compressor. See if the clutch is engaged. Do you know what that is? When the AC is low on refrigerant the pump/compressor will not engage. You can use whatever heat/defrost position cleans the best because the actual AC component of the system is shut by a safety/pressure switch.