328 not firing on all cylinders after several months' storage | FerrariChat
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328 not firing on all cylinders after several months' storage

Discussion in '308/328' started by pad, Aug 6, 2024.

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  1. pad

    pad Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2004
    1,426
    Tequesta, FL
    Full Name:
    Paul Delatush
    #1 pad, Aug 6, 2024
    I have had this problem for several years now. After several months in storage, my 328 does not want to run on all cylinders. The first thing I do when I bring it out of storage is put a full charge on the battery. The car then starts right up, but seems to be down 1 or 2 cylinders. Sometimes, I resolve this by starting the car and running it for a few minutes, then after turning it off for about a half hour, I restart the car. I will do this routine over several hours and finally, it starts and runs great. However, if this does not work, I change out the plugs and everything is then good. This only happens after storage. When I use the car every few days, there are no issues. BTW, the car is in Florida, and the storage occurs during the summer months. Comments? Thanks
     
  2. MaranelloMark

    MaranelloMark Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 24, 2019
    438
    Bay Area, CA
    #2 MaranelloMark, Aug 6, 2024
    Any smoke on startup when this happens? Does it go away after the engine is at temperature?
     
  3. rwbolt1

    rwbolt1 Karting

    Sep 10, 2006
    218
    Boerne, TX
    Full Name:
    Rodney Bolt
    #3 rwbolt1, Aug 6, 2024
    Did you add fuel stabilizer to a full tank before storing? Petrol might have gone bad and gummed up the injectors or water condensed in the tanks. Just a couple of thoughts.
     
  4. pad

    pad Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2004
    1,426
    Tequesta, FL
    Full Name:
    Paul Delatush
    #4 pad, Aug 6, 2024
    Yes, stabilizer was used, however I discounted bad fuel as the cause in that after the plug change, the "bad" fuel was still present and should create the same problem. At this point, I'm leaning towards a quasi ground issue, but I can't narrow it down. Or maybe leaking valve guides/seals that are allowing oil to seep into some cylinders during a length of time?
     
    MaranelloMark likes this.
  5. MaranelloMark

    MaranelloMark Formula Junior
    Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 24, 2019
    438
    Bay Area, CA
    #5 MaranelloMark, Aug 6, 2024
    If all you changed were plugs and then it worked, it’s probably not wiring unless it’s plug wires. My guess is oil fouling or a dirty injector. How did the removed plugs look?


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    Sergio Tavares likes this.
  6. Sergio Tavares

    Sergio Tavares Formula 3

    Nov 15, 2018
    1,308
    Full Name:
    Sergio Tavares
    #6 Sergio Tavares, Aug 7, 2024
    +1 for Bad fuel
     
  7. theunissenguido

    theunissenguido F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jan 21, 2004
    2,669
    Argent/Brasil
    Full Name:
    Guido
    #7 theunissenguido, Aug 7, 2024
    What I do before a 6 winter months storage = I put paper props in the 4 exhaust tips so no air is circulating inside the exhaust. Air can go up to on or more open exhaust valves and corrode spark plug(s).
     
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  8. Saabguy

    Saabguy Formula 3

    Mar 28, 2012
    1,785
    Shreveport, LA
    #8 Saabguy, Aug 7, 2024
    What is a paper prop?
     
  9. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
    6,872
    Full Name:
    Mike 996
    #9 mike996, Aug 8, 2024
    As has been noted, I suspect it's an aging fuel issue which has clogged some injectors. Fuel stabilizer like StaBil WILL prevent that if the proper amount is added to the tank at the gas station before adding the fuel AND the car driven far enough to ensure the stabilized fuel is well distributed throughout the system. My 328 has been routinely stored for 5-7 months of the year since 2008 with (StaBil) stabilizer added to the local pump gas (with ethanol) and it always starts as if it had been running yesterday.
     
  10. mixedgas

    mixedgas Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 23, 2019
    267
    Ramona, CA
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #10 mixedgas, Aug 8, 2024
    Condensation on plugs? Humid in Florida
     
  11. theunissenguido

    theunissenguido F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jan 21, 2004
    2,669
    Argent/Brasil
    Full Name:
    Guido
    #11 theunissenguido, Aug 8, 2024
    Put some newspaper in the tips. That will stop humidity entering the engine from this side. The inlet side is almost air tight.

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