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348 dipstick markings

Discussion in '348/355' started by willmon, Mar 30, 2007.

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  1. willmon

    willmon Rookie

    Mar 6, 2007
    5
    #1 willmon, Mar 30, 2007
    I just acquired a 1995 348 spider. While the oil level on the car is fine at the moment, I am curious to know for future reference the amount of oil required to bring the level from the MIN mark to the MAX mark.
     
  2. chrisx666

    chrisx666 Formula Junior

    Dec 6, 2004
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    YorkshireUK
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    Chris B
    #2 chrisx666, Mar 30, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
    8,324
    Palos Verdes
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    Vince V
    #3 vvassallo, Mar 30, 2007
    I was always told to run the car for a few minutes, then turn it off. Measure the oil level and fill to mid-point. Run it to operating temperature, turn car off. Check it again for maximum level. Given the price of Red Line, I never want to use too much oil. Given the price of new engine, I never want to use too little (or too much). :p
     
  4. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,044
    USA
    #4 f355spider, Mar 30, 2007
    How accurate is that mention that the difference between the min and mx mark is 2 liters? That has been the case in every manual I have had (308, 328, 355) and yet one quart (just shy of a liter) seems to always bring a min reading to max.
     
  5. willmon

    willmon Rookie

    Mar 6, 2007
    5
    #5 willmon, Mar 30, 2007
    The first thing I did was read the manual but must admit I missed that detail. I'll have to go have a look. Thanks for your kind reply.
     
  6. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
    Milton, Wash.
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    Jeff B.
    #6 Miltonian, Mar 30, 2007
    Congratulations on your new Spider, Willmon! And welcome to Ferrari Chat!

    JUST IN CASE, can we assume that you are aware of the proper procedure for checking the oil level in a dry-sump 348 engine? It is very important that you do NOT add oil to the tank based on the dipstick reading on a cold engine, you will overfill the tank and the oil will be blown all through the vent system. Just follow the instructions in the manual (pages B9-10).
     
  7. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
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    Mr. Sideways
    #7 No Doubt, Mar 30, 2007

    Exactly. Don't do what I did. When I woke up the first day after my new 348 was home, I checked the oil. Of course, the engine was cold. The car hadn't been driven in 12 hours.

    So it showed "no oil."

    I panicked!

    I added quart after quart, thinking that I'd been sold a car that either leaked badly or else had no oil when I bought it (among other paranoid thoughts).

    Then I started her up and smoke poured out from everywhere!

    I called Ferrari of Atlanta and the mechanic on the phone there started laughing at my "puff of blue smoke."

    He explained that you can only check the oil level on dry sump cars when the engine is hot.

    Oh.

    So then I had to suck out (shop vac!) the excess oil, clean my air filter and MAF's, etc.

    Started her up and no more smoke.

    I'm not alone. Lots of people make this mistake. So many make this mistake that our oil cap needs a notice on it to "Only check oil level when Engine is Hot, will show NO OIL LEVEL when Engine is Cold."
     
  8. willmon

    willmon Rookie

    Mar 6, 2007
    5
    #8 willmon, Apr 20, 2007
    I am enjoying the 348 spider but still waiting to get the top down here in Maine. I am new to Ferrari chat but not to the marque as this is my 8th. Started in the early 70's with a 275GTB, followed by 330GTC, a Lusso, then skipped a few years to a 308GT4, then 308GTS, 328GTS, and most recently sold my 1988 Testarossa to get the 348 spider. I've enjoyed every minute with these cars but wish I had the foresight to hold onto the first three! As we all know hindsight is always 20-20.
     
  9. Gimme Fuel

    Gimme Fuel F1 Veteran

    Mar 15, 2003
    9,428
    In my 348
    Full Name:
    Paul (Norway)
    #9 Gimme Fuel, Apr 20, 2007
    LOL
    Sorry to laugh ND, but I almost did the same, the day after I bought my 348, I wanted to have a closer look at it - and, like you I panicked...
    when I saw my face (!) in the dip stick and NO oil, luckly I looked it up in the manual and it all made sence! :)

    I guess we've learned alot after that ND, dont you think? ;);)
     
  10. spider348

    spider348 Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
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    John
    #10 spider348, Apr 20, 2007
    Hello Willmon. A 275GTB! I regret not buying my father's 246 Dino, a 275 would be even harder to forget. Where in Maine? We have several Maine Ferrari owners. Preparing to gather for 1 of our Ferrari work days to do a major on a Maine owners 308QV in North Reading, MA in May. Interesting, I also sold a TR to buy my 348 spider. Always wanted a drop top Ferrari!
     

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