Small Oil Leak on my F360 - Common? | FerrariChat

Small Oil Leak on my F360 - Common?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by vrracr, May 12, 2007.

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  1. vrracr

    vrracr Karting

    Jan 14, 2007
    160
    Sugar Land, Texas
    i drove my 360 for the first time in about 3 weeks yesterday. car started up just fine and i went about my day. when i got hom, i opened the garage and as i was pulling in, i noticed a small oil stain on the garage floor (about 3-4 inches in diameter) and it was located under the motor of where the car is normally parked. i immediately thought "crap! something is wrong."

    i had guest over so i couldnt do much but this morning i went and checked the oil level (cold motor) and it was barely making it to the dipstick (not even .25"). so i dropped by the dealership to pick up oil and was talking to the guy there and he said it's normal and not to worry about it.

    he said its very common and even a few drops can spread into what looks like a big stain. also, he said to check the oil level when the engine is warm and that if the dip stick shows even a little bit when its cold, it should be okay. my last oil service was done in december right before i bought the car and my belt service is not due until next year.

    i purchased 2 quarts of oil just to keep on hand anyways but wanted to know if what he said is correct. TIA.
     
  2. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,614
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    Okay before the rest of the guys come here and bust your balls, read the manual. Check the engine oil as the mechanic said, with the engine warm. You do it either just after shut off, or with the engine idling.

    As for your leak, it is not "normal". They just feed you that line of crap. Find exactly where the drip is coming from. You either have a seal that has gone bad, or a bad gasket. Either or both will need to be changed to stop the oil leak.
     
  3. sherpa23

    sherpa23 F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 28, 2003
    10,008
    Rocky Mountains
    Full Name:
    Bastuna
    Oh boy. Where to even start?

    Oil leaks should be addressed. If it's seepage from something like a shift shaft seal, that's one thing. If it's coming from a cam cover, that's something else.
     
  4. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,594
    Gates Mills, Ohio
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    Jon
    Oil leaks seem to be very common, but you want to make sure the oil isn't leaking on anything more critical than your garage floor.

    If you're not a mechanic, I would at a minimum have a mechanic look at it.

    (And I doubt your car is leaking enough oil to affect the level, or you would have a brown river on the driveway. As posted above, make sure you're checking the oil per the manual...)
     
  5. vrracr

    vrracr Karting

    Jan 14, 2007
    160
    Sugar Land, Texas
    ok, thanks...that's what i thought. i dont know why i can't trust anyone at the dealership. by the way, the guy wasn't a mechanic...he was just a salesperson. i even told him that my next major service doesnt need to be done until later in the year so he said "dont worry about it, they will fix it then." thanks for the info...time to find an independent shop.
     
  6. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky F1 World Champ
    Consultant Professional Ferrari Technician

    Sep 18, 2002
    19,948
    The Cold North
    Full Name:
    Tom
    If you have an oil spot on the floor under the engine on a 360, it's more then just a small leak. The entire underside of the engine is covered in a belly pan that also works as part of the aerodynamics of the car.

    In other words, you have an accumulation of oil in the belly pan which is dripping out one of the access holes for the oil drains. Get it checked.

    I have replaced numerous front crank seals, and rear main seals. Cam cover gaskets are also common to seep/leak oil as well.
     
  7. FERRARI-TECH

    FERRARI-TECH Formula 3

    Nov 9, 2006
    1,677
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    Ferrari-tech
    Exactly what he said.
    Any car with an encapsulation panel under the engine will hide an oil "seep" for a long time. cam covers, front rear crank seals, cam seals, may all seep a little over time and accumulate in the pan, then over flow onto the floor.
    If you don't have access to a lift, a flash light and a mirror will allow you to check a lot of the common areas.
     
  8. Schumi76

    Schumi76 Formula Junior

    Feb 15, 2006
    329
    NC
    Full Name:
    Marco
    Is it at big job to replace the front and rear seals ??? How long would it take more less to repalce them ??? Couple hours ??

    Sporadicly i also have a drop or two in the belly pan but not on the floor. Probably comming from the Cam cover gaskets.
    Are those easy to replace ??? Should i just get it replaced or just leave it like that ?? Thank you !!!


     
  9. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
    Vegas+Alabama
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    Mr. Sideways
    Before you do *anything* else, open up your airfilter box or boxes. If an airfilter is coated in oil it means that your engine has been overfilled with oil.

    Overfilling your engine with too much oil is *typically* harmless, but it can cause leaks...can clog up your MAFs...could blow a head gasket (not harmless at all! FAR FROM IT!)...could burst your oil filter, etc.
     
  10. Schumi76

    Schumi76 Formula Junior

    Feb 15, 2006
    329
    NC
    Full Name:
    Marco
    Funny you bring that up. Couple months ago i replaced the OEM air filters with the KN air filters. Car sounds way better with the KN air filter and it's a little more aggressive. But since then i sporadicly have few oil drops in the belly pan.

    KN air filters are fine. No oil in them due to overfill. Could the air filter change have something to do with this ??? I know it sounds stupid !!!

     
  11. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,614
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    Are you planning on doing this yourself?
     
  12. Schumi76

    Schumi76 Formula Junior

    Feb 15, 2006
    329
    NC
    Full Name:
    Marco
    No.....not really. I let my mechanic do this if i end up doing it. Just wanted to know how big of a job that will be.
     
  13. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
    Vegas+Alabama
    Full Name:
    Mr. Sideways

    No, the engine oil on the air filter is from having your oil overfilled.

    I did it my first day after I had my 348 home...went out that morning and checked the engine oil level cold. No one had told me that the dipstick would show LOW or EMPTY if you checked the oil with a cold engine on a dry sump Ferrari.

    So I freaked out thinking that I had no oil in my car. I added so much oil that I *could* see an oil level reading with a cold engine.

    And yup, me adding all of that oil overfilled the engine. When I started her up I had smoke come pouring out of the exhaust pipes!

    My air filter was soaked in engine oil, too.

    Had to drain some oil to set it all straight.

    Now I know better.
     

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