355 - Priming engine oil pressure before starting | FerrariChat

355 Priming engine oil pressure before starting

Discussion in '348/355' started by SteveRielly, Jun 23, 2025.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. SteveRielly

    SteveRielly Rookie

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2024
    Messages:
    42
    Full Name:
    Steve Rielly
    Hi All,

    I'm looking at ways to prime the engine with oil before starting it, especially for when the car will be sitting for a month or more without being driven.

    One thought was how to spin just the oil pump without cranking the engine at all, to get the oil flowing around ti build up pressure first.

    Alternatively, have the ability to crank the engine, but with no spark or fuel.

    I've done this on my track bikes by pulling the fuse so it will crank but not start, what's the F355 equivalent?

    Some many say it's not needed, but, I like the idea of being able to minimize engine wear, especially the top engine, in a highly strung engine ( this will be for my TODA engine build ).
     
    JazP likes this.
  2. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2015
    Messages:
    14,283
    Location:
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    Decisions, decisions....

    If you filled out your profile, we might know if you have a 2.7 or 5.2, US/Euro/UK car, an F1....

    Pull the injector relay/s? Not sure if the car will crank on a 5.2 (with immobilizer). You may hear some buzzing noises (Secondary Air Pump) when you pull the relay and turn on the key.

    Jumper the starter

    Jumper the starter relay on a 5.2 F1 (key required for cranking). Pins 30/87
    Jumper the starter relay on a 5.2 (gated). Pins 30/87. No key required... Car will happily crash into your garage wall if you just jumper the relay if the car is not in neutral.
     
    SteveRielly likes this.
  3. SteveRielly

    SteveRielly Rookie

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2024
    Messages:
    42
    Full Name:
    Steve Rielly
    I was wondering about that...just having an 'oil prime' button that without doing anything else, just powered the starter relay to get things spinning.
     
  4. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ Owner

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2004
    Messages:
    11,223
    Location:
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    Totally unnecessary. Just trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist.
     
  5. JazP

    JazP Karting

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2013
    Messages:
    52
    You can use your immo to achieve that.
     
  6. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2015
    Messages:
    14,283
    Location:
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    Ian Riddell
    My 5.2 (gated) doesn't crank with the immobiliser active.
    Cranking on the F1 is controlled by the F1 TCU, so you can leave the immo active and still crank.
     
    JazP likes this.
  7. redwedge

    redwedge Formula Junior

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2012
    Messages:
    463
    Location:
    London
    Full Name:
    Steve C
    My manual 5.2 is the same.

    If I want to turn the engine over, I remove the fuel pump fuse.
     
    mikey64 and Qavion like this.
  8. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2004
    Messages:
    37,099
    Location:
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Amen.
     
  9. altaylar

    altaylar Rookie

    Joined:
    May 19, 2025
    Messages:
    3
    Using a high Molly/ZDDP/Titanium oil should provide more than sufficient protection for those early seconds.
    Redline 10W40 is loaded on Molly and ZDDP (and no Ti as far as I know). That is precisely why I was considering it. But then it turns out it is also extremely high in Ca, which would compete with the other two. So I am not sure how effective are those antiwear agents
     
  10. SteveRielly

    SteveRielly Rookie

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2024
    Messages:
    42
    Full Name:
    Steve Rielly
    Why doesn't the problem exist?
     
  11. Portofino

    Portofino Formula Junior

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2011
    Messages:
    847
    Location:
    Yorkshire UK / Switzerland/ Antibes France
    Full Name:
    Portofino
    Cranking over supplies enough oil to the crank journals . There might be sufficient residual lub left as well from the previous ( long time ago I know ) run .

    As long as you don’t immediately redline it with 2 secs of running you will be ok .

    Just let it tick over for a few mins before attempting manoeuvres …..talking a modern Ferrari that’s been stood idle for a long period .

    I know certain marine diesels ( bigger 20-34 L ones ) won’t let it fire unless the oil pressure has reached a certain point .ECU controls this .
    So after extended sleeping ( winter haul out etc ) they crank over a bit longer , but we are talking crank shafts 6 ft long here and 45 L sump capacity, 15/40 W oil .

    Back on topic .
    The forum isn’t congested with “new shell threads “ and “another big end job “ etc etc like say cam belts , fuse 30 A for the HVAC .Sticky plastics , Slow down light , dropping a bank , ALL of which afflicts every 348 owner and few more for 355 guys .
     
  12. m.stojanovic

    m.stojanovic F1 Rookie Silver Subscribed

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2011
    Messages:
    3,227
    Location:
    Serbia - Niš
    Full Name:
    Miroljub Stojanovic
    Two possible ways:

    1. Install a push-button switch to crank the engine (without having to turn the ignition "on") - you can do this via the existing starter relay or via an additional relay. Having an additional relay will avoid energising some other circuits that may be linked to the coil of the existing starter relay.

    2. Install an Accusump - the smallest would be fine as it would practically only be used for engine pre-lube.
     
    SteveRielly likes this.
  13. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Joined:
    May 4, 2001
    Messages:
    36,431
    Location:
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    I had an accusump for several years many years back. I installed it trying to help oil starvation during hard (I think left - I don't recall now) corners. Didn't work. I left it on to simply use a a pre lube before start up but finally just ripped it all out because it made oil changes a bit more complicated. Seem like I was always leaving dirty oil in the thing. It became more of a pain in the ass than anything else.

    When I removed it I was shocked to find how the shop spliced it in.

    You want it? I still have it in a box.
     
  14. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2004
    Messages:
    37,099
    Location:
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    The oil film on bearings is what lubricates them. The film stays for decades after the engine is shut down. In 47 years working on Ferrari professionally we never rebuild engines for worn out bearings. Pistons, rings, cylinders, valves and guides wear out. Often the bearings are good enough to be reused.
    What problem are you trying to cure?
     
  15. Targatime

    Targatime Formula 3

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2014
    Messages:
    1,449
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    On my car ('98 GTB) if I don't lock the doors, I can crank it and it won't fire. Press the immobilizer button once (so the lights flash), or lock/unlock the car, and it fires. When it's been sitting for weeks I'll give it a quick crank to create oil pressure before starting. I know it's pointless but it makes me feel better.
     
    SteveRielly likes this.
  16. SteveRielly

    SteveRielly Rookie

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2024
    Messages:
    42
    Full Name:
    Steve Rielly
    I know exactly how you feel...
     
    Qavion likes this.

Share This Page