328 Sudden Oil Usage - Advice Please | FerrariChat
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328 Sudden Oil Usage - Advice Please

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by gts328uk, Oct 27, 2004.

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  1. gts328uk

    gts328uk Karting

    Nov 26, 2003
    122
    Yorkshire, UK
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #1 gts328uk, Oct 27, 2004
    I have a 87 328 GTS with 21,000 mils on the clock. The car is usually driven for approx 1,500 - 2,000 mls per year, hence the low milage. Usually it uses around 1 litre of 5W 40 full synthetic oil in around 1,000 miles. Recently I noticed that after around 400 miles it had used 1 litre which is strange. I am closly watching the consumption going forward but woundered if anyone could give any ideas of what this could be.

    The manual says 1-2 litres per 1,000 km so its well within this but the sudden increase is the concern

    In relation to when the oil level is checked I do this 2 minutes after I have switched off after the engine is fuly warmed through.

    Thanks

    Mark
     
  2. Doc

    Doc Formula Junior

    Sep 13, 2001
    886
    Latham, New York
    Full Name:
    Bill Van Dyne
    #2 Doc, Oct 27, 2004
    I can't comment on the sudden oil lose, but it's important to check the oil at exactly the same time after shutdown to get a reliable comparison of readings. As you're likely aware, the oil level rises on the stick fairly rapidly as the engine cools down. The manual says to check the oil 15 min after shutdown, at least for a 308QV.
     
  3. Lawrence Coppari

    Lawrence Coppari Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2002
    2,192
    Kingsport, TN
    Full Name:
    Lawrence A. Coppari
    #3 Lawrence Coppari, Oct 27, 2004
    I owned a Mercedes once that suddenly began to use oil to the tune of a quart every 500 miles. It had about 70K on it at the time. Turned out to be worn valve guides. Factory was aware of the metallurgical problem and replaced them at their cost even though the warranty was out. Not saying this is your problem but it did exhibit sudden oil consumption.

    BTW, I also have a 1987 328 with roughly the same mileage.
     
  4. hardtop

    hardtop F1 World Champ

    Jan 31, 2002
    11,298
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #4 hardtop, Oct 27, 2004
    I know the manual says they can use 1-2 qts/liters per 1K miles, but the vast majority do not. My 89 used about 1/2 quart in 2500 miles/ one year and I think most of it leaked out, not burnt. My former 87 with about 40K miles didn't use any either.

    I top off the oil to full line after car has been stopped several hours or more and then check it under same conditions to get accurate account of use.

    Does it have a new leak?

    Dave
     
  5. Tod328gts

    Tod328gts Formula Junior

    Jul 23, 2003
    626
    River Forest, IL
    Full Name:
    Tod Whitmore
    #5 Tod328gts, Oct 27, 2004
    Check your exhaust pipes, is there oil residue there??? Also, do you notice much leaking underneath the car, of course, Ferrari's do leak, but with that amount of loss, you would notice it even more. Bad seals or leaking out of the over flow for the transmission if the item below happened.

    Another thing, if your shift shaft seal between the oil pan and transmission went out or is leaking, your engine oil will leak into your transmission, i had this problem...
     
  6. gts328uk

    gts328uk Karting

    Nov 26, 2003
    122
    Yorkshire, UK
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #6 gts328uk, Oct 27, 2004
    Tod328gts

    Can't get under to have a look at the moment but from the garge floor there is nothing dripping, garage floor is bone dry.

    The exhaust pipes are slightly black but no real oil residue. This is as per normal. Also there is no sign of blue smoke whilst running even when coasting downhill for a while followed by hard acceleration. There is a slight blue haze from right pipe on cold start up but that soon fades and has always been like that.

    How did you find out regarding failed shaft seal between oil pan and transmission? presumably this was by engine oil usage increasing and also high transmission level?

    Mark
     
  7. Tod328gts

    Tod328gts Formula Junior

    Jul 23, 2003
    626
    River Forest, IL
    Full Name:
    Tod Whitmore
    #7 Tod328gts, Oct 28, 2004
    Mark,
    Reguarding the shift shaft seal, well, not only was my oil level going down and the trans level going up, but also the seal leaving the oils pan was leaking, so i had oil leaking on the ground. I was going in for my major service that winter and they noticed it when droping the pans, they replaced them then, fine ever since...

    If all looks well, i would say just monitor your oil consumption and keep track of it, maybe for some reason your car uses more oil than others??? I think i burn about a quart every 1k miles or so??? Something like that???

    Tod
     
  8. 308qv

    308qv Rookie

    Aug 25, 2004
    34
    Europe
    Full Name:
    S Dali
    #8 308qv, Oct 29, 2004
    Hi,

    I ve noticed oil consumption going up to the levels you mentioned after particularly hard driving including on track

    Let us know what you come up with
     

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