Certainly a flush/refill is the safest, but I don’t think the hydraulic fluid in the top mechanism is under any great strain or risk of contamination like in industrial equipment. I’d check the color of the existing fluid. If it looks like the new fluid, just top off, but it wouldn’t be much of a chore to at least empty the reservoir and refill that. If you do that, don’t forget to cycle it a number of times to work out any air that might have bubbled up in the lines.
I have an F430 spider and the top doesnt lock up or go entirely down. i will be replacing my entire top soon but kind of stinks to fingure out how to top up the fluid. i managed to take the top back reservoir screw off without loosing it (big win) and have tried two syringes and small plastic 40mm (i think) hoses from that into the reservoir but cannot seem to get hose in all the way as the liquid just comes back out. any thoughts here. And how in the heck are you supposed to get that hex screw back in. no finger room and had to get smaller hex just to get the screw out. took forever with tiny screw movement as its got no clearance b/w the body side panel. bought the Mercedes fluid.. just cannot get it into there. thanks, Rick
Did you follow Ratarossa's instructions? You have to (partially) remove the whole assembly: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/ferrari-360-spider-soft-top-roof-hood-hydraulic-liquid-reservoir-how-to-top-it-up.140091/
Boy was I doing that the hard way!! thank you QAVION I owe you a ton. The link was perfect and I’m not sure why but I did not see the step-by-step with pictures. Maybe I wasn’t logged in. I’m not sure but I thought I knew what I was doing and was driving myself crazy. Gotta see how much I love all the ferrarichat brothers and sisters
Glad I could help I just remembered that Ratarossa/ @spiderscott created the guide, so I used Google (instead of the forum search)
Yeah sometimes hard to find a post thru the many many layers. I really am thankful you have me the link. Back down and no longer stuck up Image Unavailable, Please Login
The simplest way to fill the hydraulic reserve in the 360/430 is to use an old fashioned oil can like this: Image Unavailable, Please Login Remove the "B" pillar, which pulls straight out on plastic clips, remove the plug with a shorty allen wrench, form the tube into a right angle to the right and it fits right into the hole. Pump the fluid in until the level is in the bullseye and you're done. One caution: If you need to refill the reservoir, it's almost a certainty that one or more of your rams is leaking. Typically, these are the two secondary cylinders that are about shoulder position on either side of the top, or the locking ram. The locking ram up front pours oil into your cockpit, so that one is obvious, but the secondary rams leak down the back of the main supports for the top and into the tub where the capote is stored. Drain holes in that tub will keep the oil from accumulating. Check the rams by running your finger in back of the secondary rams and feel for an oil slick.
