355 Oil leak 355

So i recently traded my F355 in on another car. I no longer have the car but I need to see if someone can help me understand what is going on because it’s bothering me a lot. I’ll try to explain. Car was fully serviced (30k service engine out) last Oct (23). This car has never smoked even before service. Car gets to the dealership and they send me a video of it smoking. Honestly I was pissed beyond words. So the only thing I did before the car left was put less than a quarter of a quart of oil in it because it was reading just below the bottom hash on the stick right after driving. The picture below show a small puddle of oil sitting on the left manifold. Any idea as to what might have happened? The driver that picked the car up did not have a clue of how to operate the car with the F1 transmission much less know how to start the car when he drove it off. Thanks for any replies.

Image Unavailable, Please Login




Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

A major service isn't a magic wand of certification. If well done things related to it should be just fine. But still sh^& happens. Oil drips are rarely a big deal. They are 90% an easy fix. But it needs a simple diagnosis. It needs someone to look for where the oil is coming from.

 

I fully understand that major service isn't a certification but the car has never leaked oil much less smoked like the video they sent me and I have put about 1k miles on it since it came out of service. Again this is not a problem that I have had with car. Do you think it could have happened in transportation or that adding the little bit of oil that I did triggered something. The dealer has been good about everything but it bothers the s#$@ out of me because I don't want them thinking I sent them a car that had issues.

 

I say don't worry about it. Your car was "personal" to you. It is just a "unit" to them. They want you wrapped up emotionally. That's their superpower. As to cause sometimes that's just what happens. I can't imagine how transport or filling oil as described or a perfectly well serviced car would have a pool of oil on the header. It's not big deal to smoke the headers get hot. Oil smokes just like it would if you have oil in a frying pan. No harm comes of it. If you get a lot of oil leaking you don't want to start a fire but the typical some oil on headers and smokes is no big deal. It might be embarrassing to you but you'll get over it.

Italian car without oil leaks = better check make sure there is oil in it

 

Id be looking at rocker covers. Mine dripped a bit and whilst that didnt really bother me but the smell did (spider).

seems theres a bit there so should nit be hard to trace.

 

Yep you're right. Well said. Thanks man.

Yeah that's what I was thinking. Thanks

 

Let's reverse the roles. You buy the car at the dealer (after a nice little test drive). During the test drive, it's perfect... no smoke, no oil drips, nothing. You bang out the deal with the dealer on a Friday night. A few days later you got to pick up the car and enjoy your new Ferrari. On the way home, some oil leaks, or a CEL illuminates. I 100% guarantee the dealer isn't losing a wink of sleep or feeling any 'personal' stuff whatsoever. They'd ask you to bring it back. Probably fix it. And probably one party or the other would pay the bill.

Now, back to your current situation.... If the deal is done and inked, just don't worry about it.

(I have no idea why your car suddenly had a leak -- but for just for emphasis, '1 quart' is more than I'd consider a small amount, It's about 10% of the system capacity.)

 

I read that as independent events. It needed some oil he put it in. The leak on the header is minor probably from valve cover no big deal. Sometimes a evap hose will leak oil and oil will wick into strange places.

 

First. You need to read my post better. I said a quarter of of a quart of oil. I wouldn't pour a whole quart at that level. I am trying to understand if transporting the vehicle or adding a small amount of oil would cause this. Second the dealer sent me a video of it smoking then tells me "I am not asking for money". The car i am receiving has issues. So why send me video?. Don't know what point you are trying to make.

Makes sense. Thank you.

 

Thanks everyone for your replies. I received the answers i was looking for on this issue.

 

The cam covers have often been the culprits in minor oil leaks on Ferrari V8's. The gaskets are thin and fragile and the cam covers have a very narrow sealing surface machined around the perimeters. My personal experience when installing these gaskets is to coat both the cam cover and the gasket surfaces with a "Very Thin" smear of Honda Bond sealant prior to assembly. I have not had any leaks since. Also any minor "squeeze out" that may cause the detail oriented dismay can be easily trimmed once cured with a scalpel. J Glen Wesanko

 

Read your post again. I understand what you are saying. Thanks

 

Counterpoint: Engines aren't supposed to leak oil (or fuel). If they are, it's because something is wrong. What is that something? It could be a weeping gasket that you can safely ignore. Or it could be a significant problem. Or it could be something that's really easy to fix. I've never found a pool of oil on the header of my 355, but if I did, I would absolutely figure out how it got there -- and then decide whether or not it's no big deal.

 

Very true. If you look at that header, one thing you will noticed its extremely clean. Its never seen oil. Anyways just trying to figure out what might have happened. Like i said dealership has been good.