Leaky valve cover... and since ya is in there....

So.. When I bought my car there was a small leak on the valve cover... No big deal... well it turned in a little bit bigger leak that I had to address....

So now I find out that my the solenoids that control the value timing are starting to leak oil.
Since the valve cover is off... time to replace the solenoids... too bad they are 840 each.... and there are 4 of them.

The good news is that its supposed to be a better design so it shouldnt happen again.

 

Can you take some pictures while the cover is off and post it on here?

 

Here is the pic of the solenoid.
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Have I read somewhere that the same solenoids are available considerably cheaper, but under a non Ferrari part number?

 

Where exactly is the oil leaking out ? What alerted you to this leak

 

Do you have a part number for the solenoid?


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How many of the 4 are leaking??

 

There was oil in the electrical connector. They had to remove/ inspect the connector when their replaced the valve cover gasket.

 

All 4 had some oil in the connector. 2 on the drivers side were worse than the 2 on the passenger side..If the connector fills with oil, it creates a CEL.

My F430 is a 2005 (first year).. The new solenoid design for the later years corrected this problem...

The failure is due to driving the car over 4k rpm before the oil is at proper temperature.

 

I am not sure of the Ferrari part number... they are 1400 each from the dealer, so at 840 I thought I was getting a deal....LOL

 

Hope you did not buy them yet......

Ferrari 430 Coup? - L.H. Cylinder Head: Page 004 | Order Online Eurospares

$376.26

 

How long does it take to get them from Eurospares? Im in the USA.

 

Typically a couple of days - sometimes I get stuff the very next day

 

FMS hit me up for the same thing on my car during the annual service, BTW Ricambi has them much cheaper... Ah the joys of Ferrari ownership.

 

Good looking out for a fellow Fchat member Dave!

 

Ordered 4 solenoids...

 

Ricambi is 646.72
Search results for: '250646' - Ricambi America, Inc.

 

The solenoids don't leak oil. They are under the valve covers so they are in oil. The connectors/plugs seem to have gotten oil in them because they too are in oil. Just looked at my '07 and there are plugs outside the covers. Maybe this is the upgrade? Sounds like you had no faults other than the cover gaskets which I can't see being related to the percieved solenoid problem. The connectors probably have seals or o-rings that could be replaced very cheaply. But then again an upgrade for a known fault is worthwhile. Still some serious Ferrari tax in action here.

 

The earlier design of the solenoid will leak oil up the wiring harness and into the connector if the oil pressure is too high for extended periods (like driving above 4k RPM before oil temp reaches 170F.
The oil on the connector will cause a CEL. The connectors are outside the valve cover on all years.

 

Ah so the harness leaks up the middle. That explains it. Obviously the new part has better sealing. No real pressure in the covers though, only splash I would think. I was looking at the grommet where the harness goes through the valve cover thinking that was the connector.

 

Just to make sure; this is a problem related to the f430 alone and not the 360, right?

 

Yes... the pressure in the solenoid will break through the seal on the wiring harness... The wiring harness is sealed tight, so it will travel up the wires and into the harness. Oil + electrical connectors is not a good mix