Do you have to replace AC Dryer on a Ferrari

A/C Dryer = Oil Filter
It's a maintenance item, that should be replaced when your HVAC system has been open to the atmosphere.
Or when something failed and there may be bits n pieces in the system.
You don't " have to " buy why wouldn't you?

S

 

It is possible to "dry" a drier in a oven, i.e remove moisture, but this will not remove the crude from the filter. So changing the filter from time to time is not over zealous.

That's a presumably cheap part ($20 on my 400i).

 

It is SOP on most cars to replace them periodically.
It is listed in the owners handbook in the service schedule to be replaced every 2 years.

Also I googled it and automotive industry standard is every 2 years or when the system is opened.

Just a few years prior to your 355 Ferrari considered AC service an annual item.

During a major? Not my idea of excessive.

 

You can't go wrong with a new dryer. I don't diasgree with the comments above. However, when the system is recharged, they pull a vacuum on the entire system for a half to a full hour. Besides removing the air from the system, this vacuum also causes water in the dryer to vaporize and be removed. While not as good as a new dryer, the old dryer will still will have some useful life. I have owned a vintage Ferrari with A/C for 46 years. The A/C systerm has been fully recharged twice with the original dryer. The A/C still produces cold air. Maybe not a recommended procedure, but it worked for me. This also allowed me to keep the OEM dryer.

 

The long term issue, is that the "desiccant" crystals used in the dryer, do desagregate in the long term, if the screen that keeps them gets loose, you willl end-up with debris in the system.

The reason not to change the drier is not related to the cost of the part, rather finding the proper substitute (as Ferrari dealers used several for the same cars, so the plumbing may vary or can have beenn adjusted), also depending on the car and time since last service this can be quite a few hours. Not something that counts much when factoring labour related to a major.