Where did the oil go???

I have had my F355 spyder for quite some time and it has never required oil between routine changes over the years. A few weeks ago I drove the car and noticed a slight tick from the engine bay and the oil pressure was a tad lower then normal. Limped home and checked the oil right after shutting down the motor and found the dipstick dry. Four quarts later it was showing full. I had just had the headers replaced and the poikl changed after a three day Ferrari track event so I thought the shop may have screwed up and not filled the oil to the proper level. Two weeks later and I find the oil level low again. Not as low but at minimum rather then haft way between the marks as I keep it.

The car has been driven less then 500 miles since the oil change. The cars runs fine, has power, throws no codes and does not smoke. The car has no leaks and does no spot the garage floor. The oil temp is a bit higher then it has been in the past and the exhaust tips are a bit darker then usual.

Any thoughts as to where the oil has gone???

 

I would get the car up to full temperature and then check the oil while running. It's possible that it's not as low as you think. Though, I can't explain away a full 4 quarts, unless it was 2 quarts low to begin with.

Any time I let someone else fiddle with my car, I check oil and tires as soon as it comes home, even if they weren't going to be working in those areas. I had a shop try to be "helpful" once and found my Boxster was 1.5 quarts over full when I got it back from having the CV boots changed.

 

Manifolds replaced?? How long did you drive it with a melted manifold?? I'll bet cylinder number 2 sleeve is done. Get a leak down done, and I think you'll find the engine will have to come apart.

 

How's the coolant look? discolored?

 

Ouch ...

 

If the exhaust tips are discolored more than normal it's either excess fuel or it's burning some oil. I hope it's nothing serious but it doesn't sound good. Sorry.


Rob

 

Don't you think if a cylinder was down it'd smoke?

Because here is what I'd say - as long as there is no smoke, knocks, ticks or power loss - drive it till it does...

 

Not necessarily. I am no expert, but have read threads where people ended up having valve guide and/or cylinder liner wear to the point of going through close to a quart of oil every tank, and yet they did not see lots of smoke out the exhaust. The assumption was the catalysts were burning it off cleanly? Hard to ignore the obvious...the oil is going somewhere, I would take Tom's advice and have a compression/leakdown test performed...

 

The driver side manifold went out at the Ferrari Nationals this year. All was fine until the last track session when I noticed a tick. Did not drive the car after that other then to load it into the trailer for the ride home.

The coolent color is normal...

I would expect there would be some power loss with a sleeve issue but I don't know???

I plan to bring the car in for a compression check/leakdown and go from there...

 

Ticking usually idicates bad valve guides. That was the symptom in my case and would explain your oil consumption. You need a compression and leakdown test done right away.

 

Sadly I am in the same boat as you, I didn't notice lack of power either in street driving. In my case it was the passenger header that just let go on the way to the shop which is about 4 hours from my house.

 

Uh-oh...

Seems very familiar!

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=312526

 

Other then the fact that I closely monitored the situation and did not have any oil conumptin issues...