How Often Should You Charge Your Ferrari?

Not a Ferrari here, but a Porsche and an Aston.

Only have one charger, so I charge the Aston almost 24/7, and every 2, 3 weeks (sometimes 4) I hook the Porsche up for a day or two (sometimes a week), and then it's back the other car.

Might not be the best option, but the Porsche had a new battery placed in 2002 or 2003, and it's still on that same battery.

 

I'm sorry for the off topic, but what Aston did you own?

I bought a second hand 4.3 Vantage in 2015, and it has been fuuuuun !!
Almost bought a F430, but decided on the Aston. James Bond and stuff

 

The key indicator is that you should not allow your battery to drop below 90% capacity. Dropping below 90% degrades battery life. Dropping below 60% may not be able to start car.

How long before your battery will drop to 90% depends on many factors. My guess is anywhere from one to ten weeks, maybe even longer. Depends on state of charge, battery condition, current drain the car is pulling when ignition off, etc.

You can keep your car on a battery tender 24/7 without any harm. If you drive your car weekly, probably don't need to put it on a tender at all. If the car sits longer than four weeks without being driven, then you probably should put it on a tender.

Without knowing exactly the current drain and battery condition, there is no way to tell for sure. I have a 360 and I will put in on a tender if it is going to sit more than 2 weeks. I have heard that newer Ferraris may drain the battery more rapidly.

Steve

 

I asked a tender question recently, and got good feedback, which you may find useful.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/california/547354-how-long-off-tender.html

For the record, I have an '11 Cali and to my recollection, 2 - 3 days is the longest it's been off the tender under my ownership, which is 10 months. I drive mine, on average, twice a week and 150 miles per week. But, as you can see from replies in my thread, some go off-tender much longer...T

 

My opinion... based on your driving cycle, I do not believe you need to put car on the tender. I do not believe any harm in doing so, but if it were me, I would find the plugging / unplugging to the tender that often a bit of an annoyance.

Steve

 

I agree, but I view it as a "better safe than sorry" approach, especially given that (i) my car comes with HELE (which, it is my understanding, places greater demands on the battery), and (ii) I don't know the age of the battery in the Cali...T

 

Pardon my ignorance... what's a HELE?

Steve

 

And holy postings, batman, you have 8700 posts! Wow!

Steve

 

High Emotion Low Emissions, the most hilariously named option in the Ferrari universe! Near as I can figure it's a stop-start feature. I think there are other features related to the A.C. and engine mapping.

I'm saving the planet by driving my Ferrari!! LOL.

T

 

I got a lot to say!
T

 

Sexy beast.

 

Indeed. That's a great looking AM.

 

10plus years of owning different models I have never used a tender . Been overseas on holidays come back 4 weeks later started no problem. Current is 599 with HGTE.

 

Nice !

Mine is a tungsten silver one.

 

Depends on the car, options, and how many gizmos have been added over the years. And on battery age.

When I first bought my 328, it'd drain the battery within a week. I measured nearly an amp of draw when it was "off".
I then took it to a shop and told them to remove everything not on the wiring diagram, and got back a large box of unidentified junk.
After that, it'd hold a charge nearly all winter (in New England).

Then I added an MP3 player that draws memory power.
It'd hold a charge for a month or two.

But as the battery gets older, it needs charging more often.

(Somewhere around here I have a half wave battery reconditioner I built back in the '70s that was able to revive a 14 year old DieHard. But it's easier to not let the battery die in the first place. )

By contrast, the same model Optima in my Alfa Spider still has a charge after almost a year. (Rebuilding the fuel pumps.)
(The Alfa doesn't even have a clock. Zero draw when off.)
(The battery was originally from my home inverter. I put it in the Alfa when I moved.)


But, given today's automotive environment, I'd be tempted to say I "charge" my car whenever the gas gauge gets near "E".

 

I have mine on the tender if it will be idle 3 days or longer.

 

Me too. Dang Ferrari's.

 

My 01 550 has a 2 year old battery. I find if I let the car sit for 4 weeks, it is a bit sluggish turning the engine over. I found if I topped it off every 2 weeks it was fine. Last winter I topped it off every 2 weeks. I got tired of making sure I remembered to top it off and I got a 2nd charger and have left it on all winter. I will see what happens when the 'mud season' in the spring is over and I can actually get the car out again.

 

The people who actually build the cars offer up about 1 week as advice.

 

My F12 is everyday on the battery tender. Whenever I have the car at home.
A friend of mine with a very expensive new Ferrari with 1'500 miles only, had a battery replacement issue and the factory refused paying for a new battery (warranty!). They had checked the onboard computer system in the car and it was found out that the car had been off the battery tender during two weeks. With this information the factory refused to give proper warranty, saying that the owner didn't handle things as recommended. Factory strongly recommends to always use the battery tender, every single day.

Marcel Massini

 

If that's the case, then I will do that.