A question about leaky 308 GT4

an absolute correct answer to your question

 

The Italians have devised an ingenious system to check the level of oil in the car. If you notice that it isn’t leaking, it means you need oil.

 

hahaha
and when the engine will get destroyed it is not a problem of the oil - oil is not inside anymore

also: where oil is can not be rust

 

Just be sure he didn't dodge the question. I agree a little seepage seems inevitable. But a leak is more than that and should be both disclosed and eventually addressed.

 

before talking about leaking here try to find out what is leaking.
at that time the aluminum has been like a sponge. if you use fully synthetic oil 0 W30 or what ever then the engine oil comes trugh the aluminum
gearbox oil normaly comes out at the sealing rings from the diff
if water is draining rebuilt or use a new waterpump ( if the water comes from there? )

 

Don't buy a GT4 and expect a dry engine. It might not leave a 12 inch spot, but it will leak oil. Not a fuzz, but a leak. You will need a drip tray under the car.

 

The GT4 engine has very rudimentary oil orings where there should be more robust oil seals, multiple seals. Places like shift shaft, distributor cams, cam seals, even front main seals, engine to gearbox orings, rear main seals will leak, not just fuzz but actively leak. That ... is expected of this engine. You can probably expect the coolant and brake fluid to not leak but there is no way to keep the engine oil inside the case.

 

I saw the site where you posted your query, and the response. Note that the reply you received was not from the seller, but from someone else just adding to the conversation.

 

While some weeping/seeping may be typical, it still isn't desirable. Also, there is a big difference between weeping/seeping and leaking.

 

The 308 guru mech I used left me with more leaks than I started with. Really has made me tired of the car.

 

Hey guys. The OP is talking about my car on Bring a Trailer: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1977-ferrari-308-gt4-2

I was not the one who responded quoted by OP in his original post. That was another commenter.

This was my response today: "@TWD3: The car does not have any leaks. Oil, coolant, etc. $28K was spent to replace the cooling pipes, and a full major service, including cam seals, was performed." What I didn't say in the comment as well, but did say earlier, was that the because the cooling pipes were replaced, the engine had to come out of the car, hence the $28K. A lot of other work was done as well, and the invoices are in the photo gallery.

I do agree that, due to the design of the 308 engine, some minor seepage is expected. From what I understand, there is no positive crankcase ventilation in the engine, so there is a lot of pressure on the seals. A drip here or there is normal and expected.

However, I also agree that there should not be a puddle of oil or any other fluid on the ground. That indicates an issue, and I wouldn't be selling a car with that kind of an issue.

 

And, as a followup:

This morning, when I did a cold start video, I then moved the car out into the middle of my facility for a walkaround video. I just walked out to where the car has been parked for the past few days, and there is not a single drip of ANY fluid on the ground where the car was parked.

 

Best of luck with the auction, Michael. It is clearly a prime example of a beautiful car.

 

Mine did weep / seep and leave a 2 inch puddle drip .I used a tray in the garage .
Last year I took it to a well reputable F shop in the U.K. .
Had the cam seals replaced and cam covers ( valves + belts done ) This cured the burnt oil smell I was getting with the window open due to the station wagon effect blowing it back into the cabin .
I used to wipe oil with a tissue if you wiped under the rocker casing and parts of the exhaust manifold were blackened over the years of burnt oil .Now fixed bone dry .
I did look very closely at DIY but the more i watched U tube vids the more I was put off .The slightest bit of miss fitting gasket or using the wrong seals = nightmare.
This is on top of the timing malarkey for the belts etc .
Additionally I had the g box seals done .The fwd one was the 2 inch puddle culprit .
Both pans were seeping couldn’t tell if it was the edges or the bolts .Always wet with lub .
I did a few DIY lub changes and the g box oil was never contaminated so that’s why I held off until the belts 6 y (20;000 miles ) needed doing .
So the pans came off to do the middle gear link seal .
Then the tech suggested the drive shaft seals “ while we are in there “ as they were misting / damp and not a big job .

The cooling side was / is ok so we’re the brakes .I have DIY d those fluid changes+ minor pipes etc - no issues all dry .

Upshot 12 months later the car is bone dry . Absolutely dry not a drip on the garage floor of oil .
Yes I have a mirror and still wipe under the cam cover edges and under the cam seals …..bone dry .

That’s the point the guy I used also tuned the carbs ( removed them to access the fwd bank better ) has been wrenching 308 s for over 40/yrs .I trusted he knew what works and equally what does not work .You know the best parts etc .
The gear linkage is like a rifle bolt action , it’s wasn’t bad before but 100 times better .
I know there are a lot of DIY internet stuff but fortunately I can pay a professional for this . Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

What i am saying is you can end up with a dry 308 it is possible.You just need to know who to take to.

 

Serious question. Can someone explain the difference between a “full major service” and say, a 30k service? $28k makes my eyes water. Are we talking full engine rebuild?
Got my QV back last month after taking it and a basket of parts to a f-car mechanic after getting over my head and finding cams not lining up withs marks. Replaced all the seals , degreed and shimmed the cams. New belts/bearings, distributor seals/O-rings water pump etc. etc. I supplied all the necessary gaskets/seals/water pumps and my bill was $5300. Truly not trying to start anything here I just want to know why the vast discrepancy. Thanks!

 

The cooling pipes that run longitudinally underneath the car were leaking. In order to replace these pipes, the engine had to come out of the car. Not something that you normally need to do for a "major service" on one of these.

In addition, the electronic ignition was replaced and relocated, as well as a number of other things done. That's how it got to the $28K.

The invoices are all posted in the Bring a Trailer photo gallery if you want to see exactly what was done.

 

No that’s quite all right. Had a feeling it was more than just a major engine service. Thanks Michael!

 

As a Harley owner once said to me, when I noted a few drips of oil on the ground under his bike, "It bleeds. If it isn't bleeding, it could be dead!" Then he put is face in mine, gritting his teeth, and asked, "Do you bleed?".

 

My Mondial is dry - at the moment.

 

I did a poll on this back in 2014 and I was surprised how many reported no leaks...

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/leave-your-mark-or-not.467940/