2009 F430 Scuderia oil leak - what's wrong with this picture?

Investigating an oil leak form my Scud, I pulled the undertray and discovered this. The car had recently been to the dealer for its first service. This is the bottom of the engine/trans where the engine case mates with the trans case. The inspection holes for the flywheel and clutch were exposed.

1. Shouldn't there be cover plates for these?

2. Should there be any oil in these areas?
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I think you will get more response if you post this in the "360/430" area.

 

What colour is the oil? Is it coming from the area in the pics? If so;If its a reddish color it will be from the slave seals. If it's brown and smells of cats wee it's likely from the transmission shaft seal. If its engine oil it could either be from the rear main seal or the crank bung having become loose. If its any of the above transmission needs pulling....
Don't drive it about to much or you may end up with whatever oil on the clutch surface...

 

There should definitely be a cover plate for the inspection holes for the flywheel and clutch !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know my car has (360 Modena)...

Most likely the dealer took it out and forgot to put it back... Typical dealer behavior... I guess you get used to the dealer messing up all the time... It is among those things that you learn when you get into the Ferrari ownership... LOL !!!!!!!!

 

Nope. No cover there...your 360 does indeed have one. Not on the 430.

 

I thought so.. none visible on the parts diagrams for 430

 

It's engine oil. There was some wetness higher in the flywheel area, but none in the clutch area. The engine oil vent tube is suspiciously close to this area, and the tube was not passed through the grommet in the fiberglass underbody panel. The oil may have come from the vent tube as a result of over-servicing at the dealer, and the overflow collected in the undertray, rather than on the ground. The engine and transmission cases are close enough to the undertray at that point to be in contact with the pool of oil.

 

No cover on a 430. Imagine that the dealer was right and did not screw up. Apparently you have had a bad experience with your local dealer and I am sorry for that but know your facts before you run your mouth. There are lots of well qualified dealer and independent techs on this forum who would be much more willing to assist if it were not for uninformed peaple badmouthing professionals and spreading missinformation.

The exact reason "Rifledriver" left.

That being said.

It is not uncommon for there to be a small amount of residual fluid in the bellhousing area. If it is redish I would look closely at the fluid condition in the F1 resocoir with a flashlight and you will likely see it has alot of glitter in it which is typical metal generated by the pumps. It eventually causes the throw out bearing seals to push some fluid and if left unattended it will start to do the same to the e-diff valve and the shift actuator. Flush the system which does require the actuator to be removed to access the bleed screws, bleed the clutch. Clean and monitor if it continues to degrade it will likely need a Throw out bearing. To do all of this properly you will need a SD3 or equivalent.

 

+1. Very good post. There seems to be a general trend here now that all indie and dealer shops are being well and truly slated, either being called incompetent or out and out thieves.

 

Well how else could we afford those fine vehicles we drive Eddie?

Thanks to OP for figuring it out, nothing a 'hose correction' won't fix.

 

Well said, thank you sir.

S

 

Exactly Brian. I wouldn't be able to run my stable of f-40's, my 5 original Maserati birdcage racecars in original trim, and my selection of 250gto's otherwise....
Nice "correction......"

 

You beat me to it. Good job locating the source and reasoning behind it sir!

S

 

I certainly hope you have corrected your concern. It is great when simple items fix potentially larger concerns.
The area you are speaking of does not have an oil vent tube. The engine oil system on a 430 does not have a vent tube for the engine oil system at all (Unless the Euro car is different from the U.S. car). The only vent tube in that area that goes through the floor is the overflow tube from the expansion tank. The remaining vent tubes for the F1 drop out behind the RR wheel.
I only mention this as I would hate for you to go on a long drive with the oil leak remaining and have other concerns arrise.
Cant hurt to keep an eye on it.

 

Well, I was feeling better, but now I'm not. I thought it was the oil vent tube, since it's directly below the oil reservoir, and it was dripping oil. Anyway, I wiped everything down, and have been driving it, monitoring the oil level, and looking for leaks. Nothing yet.