Hello everyone fluid leak question | FerrariChat
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Hello everyone fluid leak question

Discussion in '308/328' started by Pauly, Jan 28, 2008.

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  1. Pauly

    Pauly Rookie

    Nov 30, 2007
    37
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #1 Pauly, Jan 28, 2008
    Hi everyone I bought a 1980 308 GTSi #3393 last summer and love the 2vi's. I'm the 3rd owner and the past 2 owners took good care of the car but didin't drive it much. It's all original except I put a new radio in it (still have the old one in a box) and I purchased it for 31K and it had 29K miles on it with all the maintance records since new showing it had all been done at a Ferrair dealership so I decided to do the 30K mx check at the Ferrari dealership here in Denver. They did a great job and after the 10K mx bill and the shiping cost when I bought it and all the extra stuff I'm into the car now for around 45k. From what I have been reading on Ferrari chat sounds like I've put too much into the car, what are your opions. This 2vi does smoke when started for about 5 minutes then seems to disapate, smokes more from 1-4 cylinder silde, so it is one of the 308's that does burn oil but sounds like that's ok the 308's of this year. A question I have is that when I drive it and park it in the garage and shut it down it looks like (blue) windshield fluid leaks a small puddles from a drain line behind the drivers side rear wheel but that doesn't seem to make sense, is that what it is or is it something else? Anyway, I'd like to say hello to everyone on the site and enjoy reading all the posts, what a great site.

    Pauly
     
  2. desire308

    desire308 Formula 3

    Oct 19, 2007
    1,433
    Florida
    Full Name:
    Peter W
    #2 desire308, Jan 28, 2008
    Welcome the Fchat and the Fraternity! You will find lots of useful info here.

    The smoke sounds to bit a bit more than I would be comfortable with, at least for 5 minutes. I would keep an eye on the oil consumption. Then again I have only had my 81 308 for a few weeks. It doesn't smoke at all [at least nothing I can see in the mirror]. I only get a little blow off if I rev it high...but it's pretty normal stuff.

    What did they do for the 10K? It's hard to tell if you have too much into it without more info.

    The fluid could be from the washer hose...check for leaks.
     
  3. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,380
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #3 BigTex, Jan 28, 2008
    Yep, I'd follow the routing of the washer system, I have found that when stored a thirsty mouse will bite right into it for a drink..

    Then when they get ambitious and move to the fuel lines, you find them in the driveway!

    I wouldn't worry so much about the 'upside down' issue...because to maintain these cars properly that is always the case!
    I prefer to think of it as 'purchasing peace of mind" and "value rentention investments".........see what I mean?

    Drive on!
     
  4. jackson

    jackson Karting

    Dec 3, 2007
    134
    Chapel Hill, NC
    Full Name:
    Jack McCausland
    #4 jackson, Jan 28, 2008
    Are you sure the fluid is not coolant? - sometimes if the coolant is too full, the 308's will push the excess out and it will do it by the driver's side rear tire - mine actually pushed some on Saturday after having driven it for a little while, I parked it and right when I shut it off, it dropped some - per my tech's recommendation... I just re-checked the level (ie - does your finger touch coolant) in the reservoir and kept an eye on the temp - everything was fine.
     
  5. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,380
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    #5 BigTex, Jan 28, 2008
    ...well, he said blue fluid from the front.LH fender, that's just wierd.....my expansion tank sometimes purges green fliud ahead of the trunk firewall, but when that happens I test and replace the tank cap......

    The age of all these cars ANYTHING can leak ANYWHERE, at ANYTIME!! LOL! :D :D :D
     
  6. Pauly

    Pauly Rookie

    Nov 30, 2007
    37
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #6 Pauly, Jan 30, 2008
    Thanks for your input guys, I found that the fluid is coming from the expansion tank. It doesn't look like coolant though (bluish in color) so I used a coolant tester and it reads OK so I'm calling the Ferrari dealer in Denver to find out what they used to put new fluid in the tank, blue is new to me. I'll look for a new tank cap hope that helps.
     
  7. WaltP

    WaltP Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
    1,512
    Cape Canaveral/Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Walt P
    #7 WaltP, Jan 30, 2008
    Big Tex- well, he said blue fluid from the front.LH fender

    No he didn't

    QUOTE=Pauly;137415794]and shut it down it looks like (blue) windshield fluid leaks a small puddles from a drain line behind the drivers side rear wheel but that doesn't seem to make sense, is that what it is or is it something else?

    Drivers side rear is more than likely engine coolant and it does come in blue.
     
  8. Pauly

    Pauly Rookie

    Nov 30, 2007
    37
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #8 Pauly, Jan 30, 2008
    Thx Big Tex learned something new, no need to make the phone call tomorrow then.
     
  9. Jbryant

    Jbryant Karting

    Sep 23, 2006
    220
    California City
    Full Name:
    Jeff Bryant
    #9 Jbryant, Jan 30, 2008
    Do not feel bad. It just means you are taking care of somethig that you have always wanted and are proud to own........

    Mine smokes in the morning when first started. Mine is because the New Cat's are doing their job and turning the exhaust into STEAM. Try this, first thing in the morning after you start the car, put your hand behind the exhaust pipe for as long as you can, I bet it will be wet and moist and smell like exhaust. If so, thats the CATS doing their job. If its fuel or oil, you will know it right away. You will smell the fuel or burnt oil on your hands. Try it and see.......

    Jeff
     
  10. ducowti

    ducowti Formula 3

    Jan 27, 2008
    1,557
    NY/SC
    Full Name:
    David
    #10 ducowti, Jan 30, 2008
    Do 308's (or Ferraris as a whole) run particularly hot? I don't know about Ferraris but Ducatis run hot and often we'll use Engine Ice which is a blue coolant - maybe that's what the dealer used?
     
  11. Red_Bull

    Red_Bull Rookie

    Oct 23, 2008
    1
    #11 Red_Bull, Nov 6, 2009
    I know the question posted is old, but Just FYI in the case of someone else having the same problem, When I stop my car, reverse a couple of feet and stop (parallel parking) I get some antifreeze drip from the overflow tank from the left hand wheel well. This only happens when the system is hot. It's just a case of a full coolant system and is harmless. That's why the hose is there. For cleanliness sake you can suck a bit of coolant out with a coolent tester and the problem will go away!
     

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