| Author |
Message |
Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member
Username: Hardtop
Post Number: 681
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, October 05, 2003 - 8:22 pm: | |
Ferrari rad caps are crap. I once had one that was bad right out of the box, would not hold pressure. Try a new cap from your neighborhood NAPA store and your problem will most likely go away for about five bucks.
Dave |
David Harris (Dakharris)
Junior Member
Username: Dakharris
Post Number: 187
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 2:16 pm: | |
My '85QV spits coolant when hot, even though the expansion tank is only half full and I bleed the system regularly. She runs cool, so I don't worry about dropping a little fluid now and again. |
tim fry (Timthetooth)
New member
Username: Timthetooth
Post Number: 10
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 11:38 am: | |
Thank you all for the suggestions. Air in system may be an issue as I have replaced the head gaskets soon after getting the car and it has done it ever since. Any tips on bleedind, I followed the advice in the workshop manual. As an aside, if anyone wants advice on gasket changes on these beasts I may be able to help! I am not ove filling the system, or putting any coolant in the expansion tank. Next I will rig a test system to check what pressure the caps I have start to open. The radiator cap is of the sealing type with no pressure relief valve. All your advice is valued. |
Skip Williamson (Darolls)
Junior Member
Username: Darolls
Post Number: 108
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 10:23 am: | |
Tim-
You're overfilling the expansion tank.
If you leave it alone, it should eventually reach the proper level and stop spitting out through the overflow.
Or, you can siphon some out. |
dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 1953
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 9:36 am: | |
Tim,
Please do verify the correct amount of coolant. My 328 requires the coolant to be 6cm below the filler neck. I inadvertantly filled above that point, and had coolant spit out, until it came back down to the correct height. |
Phil Hughes (Ferrarifixer)
Junior Member
Username: Ferrarifixer
Post Number: 215
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 8:08 am: | |
Test the old one before throwing new parts at it!
Snap on tools sell the adaptors for all Ferrari caps, including the screw cap type of late cars.
You need TA18B and TA26A for screw cap testing, on top of the standard cooling system testing kit that can do all other Ferrari caps. |
loretta, anthony and company (Ranosportscarco)
New member
Username: Ranosportscarco
Post Number: 24
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 7:25 am: | |
We have a customer with a 512TR that is having the same problem. Everything has been done except the radiator cap which I believe is the next thing he will try. Can a cap be bought in a local parts store for a 92 512TR or does it need to be ordered through Ferrari?
Thanks |
Phil Hughes (Ferrarifixer)
Junior Member
Username: Ferrarifixer
Post Number: 213
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 7:22 am: | |
Make sure the cap on the radiator is just a seal cap, and not a pressure cap. The pressure cap should only be on the expansion tank.
If the rad has a pressure cap, it will not be able to retract coolant back into itself when cooling down...effectively a one way valve.
It's quite common for the caps to get swapped accidently, or ignorantly....in the nicest possible way of course!! |
Russ Turner (Snj5)
Member
Username: Snj5
Post Number: 552
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 6:22 am: | |
Unless the cap is new, it might be the cap. I had a Ferrari radiator cap fail with the same symptoms you are having. Spend about $4 and get a 12 or 13 pound cap from the local auto supply store and see if that helps. Any std cap will probably fit - at least it did for an 88 Ferrari.
Although less likely in a 400i than a 3X8, the air bleed issue does apply. |
Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Intermediate Member
Username: Mcharness
Post Number: 1079
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 6:12 am: | |
If you're losing cooland through expansion overflow when hot, it may just mean that you need to bleed the air out of the system. |
tim fry (Timthetooth)
New member
Username: Timthetooth
Post Number: 9
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 1:05 am: | |
I always just fill the radiator till I can just see the coolant in the neck of the filling pipe. Car does not overheat, but runs hot in traffic jams. |
dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 1950
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, October 04, 2003 - 12:07 am: | |
Are you sure you haven't overfilled the expansion tank? Have you tried just leaving it alone and see if it continues to spit out for several days/drives? It may stop, once it reaches the proper level... |
tim fry (Timthetooth)
New member
Username: Timthetooth
Post Number: 8
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 11:47 pm: | |
Apologies for double posting, The set top box I use for surfing always does this. Anyone know a cure! |
tim fry (Timthetooth)
New member
Username: Timthetooth
Post Number: 6
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 03, 2003 - 11:38 pm: | |
My 400i loses coolant through the expansion tank overflow pipe when hot. The cap fitted is a .9 bar one as specified, would it hurt to try a 1.0 bar one. The head gaskets are intact! |