355 coolant leak help

Today, after four months of inactivity, I've fired up the engine of my 355 F1.

I've heated the fluids and then a copious and continuous leak of coolant from the mid front of the engine (the area closest to the tunnel between the seats) has started.

The leak is also continued when I've turned off the engine.

I did the very complete service of belts 11 months ago, even with the revision of the water pump and that in 11 months I got the car two or three times at most.

What could it be?

Thank you all for your help.

 

Let's hope it is not the waterpump.

Other than that, there are a number of coolant hoses in the center of the engine toward the front that can leak. Heater hoses, coolant bleed hoses, and various water pump hoses that can leak. It is best if you get yourself a pressure tester and start looking around.

 

There are 8+ places in that area where it could be leaking.

Try your best to identify where the leak is coming from....look from the top and then put it on a lift. It is a really a tight cluttered area in there so it is not the easiest thng to spot the exact location.

Look for the simple things first, and given that you have not driven the car much and just had an engine out I would suspect a loose clamp....

 

Vittorio,

Don't be alarmed yet! I believe your problem stems from the car sitting for four months. My XK-E and VW Vanagon would both leak from one of the hoses (not the same one obviously) if the car was allowed to sit for any length of time . Usually, once the offending hose has been brought up to temp, the problem will go away (eventually). However, yours may need to be tightened to remedy the leak. From the tone of your email, it seems as though you may be mechanically inclined, so remove the under tray and see which hose it is and snug it down.

Without out trying to sound "preachy", letting any car sit for that long is not good for it. Things dry out, stuff isn't lubed, etc, etc, etc. I imagine living in Italy, that it may be difficult to find "nice" weather during the winter (depending on your particular locale), but even 5-10 miles to get everything up to temp is a huge benefit.

I hope this helps you locate the problem, keep us informed on your findings : )

Randy

 

Easiest way is to get a boroscope (used in construction for looking in walls- home depot sells them for a couple of hundred dollars-see if you can rent one) start the motor and look in the firewall area from the top......a leak as described should be real easy to spot.
Just watch out for the rotating belts

 

Thank you all for your kind answers.

I really hope is a hose problem also because I've had the water pump revisioned during the last service for a big leak (and would be a shame for the Ferrari shop).... and I DON'T want to have the engine off again to substitute the pump!
Tomorrow I'll go to the Ferrari assistence to understand if the service is still covered by warranty after less than one year. Unluckily, for my job, I'm already far 150 miles away from my car now.
I'll make you know!

 

You don't need to remove the engine to change the water pump, just remove the gas tank. Still not a fun job, but it is less than an engine removal.