Proper Start-up and Shut-down 488 | FerrariChat

Proper Start-up and Shut-down 488

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by dgl36, Jun 28, 2025.

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  1. dgl36

    dgl36 Karting

    Feb 20, 2013
    171
    Canada
    What is the proper startup and shutdown procedure for the 488? Should the engine idle for several minutes or get up to a certain temperature before engaging? On shutdown should the engine idle for a few minutes before turning it off. I'm curious because of a recent post about turbo failure.
     
  2. PS-GT4

    PS-GT4 Rookie

    Oct 5, 2024
    47
    Full Name:
    Paul
    Have an F8 (similar) - leave in park let it idle till engine RPM drops to normal idle (approx 1 min), then drive under 4k till VDA says all systems go.

    full send…:D
     
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  3. todd cloud

    todd cloud Formula 3

    Jun 21, 2019
    1,074
    Full Name:
    Todd
    Buy a 458
     
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  4. Depress brake pedal, push start button, pull the right paddle and go.

    Don't overthink it.

    At the end of the day, it's just a car.
     
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  5. GSF355

    GSF355 Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 21, 2013
    55
    Brisbane
    Like any car, don't flog it when it's still cold, and as with any turbo car don't switch it off immediately after driving it hard - give it some time for the oil and turbo's to cool down a bit. It's not an exact science, but just takes a bit of care and consideration (mechanical sympathy).
     
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  6. Eric C

    Eric C F1 World Champ

    Mar 20, 2009
    11,033
    St. Louis, MO
    Full Name:
    Eric
    Lol
     
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  7. vdm9

    vdm9 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    May 11, 2014
    382
    long island new york
    Full Name:
    vasilios
    Do todays oils and turbos still need that old school "Let Her run for a few minutes to cool down?"

    I don't know much about new turbo tech , so please school me

    thank you
     
  8. Eric C

    Eric C F1 World Champ

    Mar 20, 2009
    11,033
    St. Louis, MO
    Full Name:
    Eric
    Turbos are still the same. You aren't gonna catch me parking my car and sitting there for 5 minutes while my oil cools.

    You aren't going to get that oil hot enough unless you're having a track day and want to shut it off immediately after a run.

    I used to have turbo timers on my turbo imports. There's a reason why they stopped selling them.

    Ferrari owners act like they're driving f1 cars straight off the track lol
     
  9. PS-GT4

    PS-GT4 Rookie

    Oct 5, 2024
    47
    Full Name:
    Paul
    Yea I tend to agree with the “Don’t overthink it” and “it’s still just a car”. The only thing I’d stick to is the warmup - make sure fluids are at temp before flogging. Unless you are coming off a track, don’t overthink the “cool down” thing.

    enjoy the ride
     
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  10. mdrums

    mdrums F1 Rookie

    Jun 11, 2006
    3,424
    Tampa FL
    For the last 1-2 miles I drive home or to where I am going easily. Not getting into the turbo's for the time period and that will cool them off. That is all you need
     
  11. up4speed

    up4speed F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 16, 2012
    3,690
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    Chris
    That's exactly what I do
     
  12. mdrums

    mdrums F1 Rookie

    Jun 11, 2006
    3,424
    Tampa FL
    That is what I did for years in a Porsche 911 (991.2) Turbo car I tracked and drove all the time and my 488 I put almost 10k miles on. Never any issues.
     
  13. Eric C

    Eric C F1 World Champ

    Mar 20, 2009
    11,033
    St. Louis, MO
    Full Name:
    Eric
    Not sure what kinda situations these fellas be in where they are in full prolonged boost until the moment they pull into their garage and shut it off lol
     
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  14. mdrums

    mdrums F1 Rookie

    Jun 11, 2006
    3,424
    Tampa FL
    Ya know I gotta drive slow a few miles through my hood so ur’body see what crib da ‘Rarri is at.
     
  15. Stethoscope

    Stethoscope Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 18, 2025
    18
    LOL
     
  16. BuyHighSellLow

    BuyHighSellLow Karting

    Mar 18, 2025
    121
    Alberta Canada
    They must live on the median strip of a highway.
     
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  17. Chocofishez

    Chocofishez Rookie

    Jun 1, 2009
    20
    I notice on start up that my 488 has an uneven / slightly rough idle for a min or so. I let that run its course then off I go keeping revs under 4k till I get the “go” green light on the vda. Coming home I am guilty of keeping the rpm high cause it sounds so good just in case any of the hot suburban moms are out. I have 3 yrs of warranty tho
     
  18. MANDALAY

    MANDALAY F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    May 23, 2013
    14,606
    AUSTRALIA
    Full Name:
    ANGELO
    I drive my 488GTB on nice Sunday mornings.

    Start the car and let it idle 3 minutes so as to get some temp in the oil.

    Then drive in auto until the oil and water temps hit 80 degrees Celsius and then it manual and rev the car.

    Last 2 - 3 kms when going home again back to auto , park the car and allow another 3 minutes on idle with the glass hatch up.

    Right or wrong ? But I'm respecting my car and not abusing it needlessly.
     
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  19. mdrums

    mdrums F1 Rookie

    Jun 11, 2006
    3,424
    Tampa FL
    @MANDALAY when he sells his 488.... only driven to church on nice Sunday mornings ;-)
     
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  20. MANDALAY

    MANDALAY F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    May 23, 2013
    14,606
    AUSTRALIA
    Full Name:
    ANGELO

    Your forgetting , never driven in the rain , actually NEVER turned on the wipers :)
     
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  21. Echelon

    Echelon Karting

    Jan 28, 2025
    69
    I track mine prob one 15-20 min session every 60 days or so. Nice track, smooth transitions, no heavy braking and I let it cool at idle, engine bay open and parked for about 2-3 min before I shut it down. I always open the engine bay after a good run on track or on the way home. Getting that heat out of the engine bay is a huge game changer for longevity.

    The irony though, the biggest killer of 488 turbos....is not driving the damn thing! The first 30 seconds of dry spinning of the turbos/bearings after the car has sat for two weeks is HELL on the turbos. Every time I see some dealer "LOWEST MILEAGE 488 on the market, ONLY 1,800 Miles for this 2018" I shudder and laugh. 100% that car will have issues. No way, nope. Give me a 15K mile well maintained 488 ANY DAY.
     
  22. Eric C

    Eric C F1 World Champ

    Mar 20, 2009
    11,033
    St. Louis, MO
    Full Name:
    Eric
    I really only get into full boost through 3rd and a little bit of 4th. I feel like those upper gears really put a beating on the turbos. Plus, I only live a 1/4 mile at a time.

    Would be nice if the car primed up the cartridges before ignition.
     
    mdrums likes this.
  23. F8F8evoevo

    F8F8evoevo Karting

    May 27, 2025
    62
    UK
    I very nearly got into asking such questions when I bought my F8 after reading a variety of threads. The fearmongering is horrendous. From the delicate lexan that scratches if you breathe on it requiring £10k replacement and avoiding driving in the rain which just kills the car entirely!

    Lucky for me the day I collected the vehicle it rained a fair bit, water poured into the engine bay and scared the living daylights out of me. I could see in the rear view mirror huge amounts of water just pouring in. I litterally panicked and wanted to find a covered car park and leave the car but I was 100 miles from home. So many thoughts went through my head like going back to the hotel in London to park up, cover the F8 and take my other car. It became too much. When I stopped and checked the engine bay, nothing, no water nothing. Water on the engine had dried up from the heat and those 'wet areas' took excess water away. Then I realised how stupid it would be for Ferrari to make a car in 2020 than you could not drive in the rain. Wouldn't there be many complaints especially from the UK? Electrics frying? but found nothing. Why did the Official Ferrari dealer not tell me not to drive in the rain or heavy rain? It was only light rain when I left but this is the UK.

    Still after this from what I read I did not touch my lexan for the first two weeks, wasted time researching what cleaning solution and cloth to buy and use in order to clean it. Eventually it was fairly dirty, I felt a bit silly starting a thread and read more posts like this and the responses. I ended up trying to clean a small section and guess what no issues. I simply used a clean microfibre cloth with G techniq quick detailer which I already had. It was fine and i ended up feeling a fool and just wasted time also driving around with a dusty lexan screen for some time. Didn't spend any money and just used what I have. Agreed don't polish it but that's just common sense.

    Now I realise not every owner is a real man. I just drive the car. I'm new to Ferrari so I take it easy for now while I get used to it, such as all the controls on the steering wheel, blind spots pulling out of parking spots and 3 point turns which are common due to turning circle, pressing 'R', then upshiting the paddle to get into drive just standard stuff when you get a new car. So like all my cars I start it up for a minute or 2, then drive and take it easy until warm. Then take it easy for a few minutes before reaching my destination, anyway who wants to be that 'tool' driving hard and loud arriving at your destination or home then wonder why someone left you a wavy signal on your paint work indicating you should slow down? You don't need more attention and there are always jealous people wherever you go.

    Give your thread some time as some people jump in too quick as they simply have nothing better to do than fearmonger. You've been lucky here and had some great advice. A number of people on this thread have helped me a great deal. The F8 wasn't even my first choice of vehicle and was the most expensive out of my choices, I bought the car because of the advice from mdrums, spent more than I intended and now think I would have happily spent more. They have indeed given you the right advice and just want you to recognise the fearmongering. It's crazy. Indeed give what you do some thought but don't get carried away. Apologies for my long reply. I just don't want you to fall into the trap I nearly fell into. I nearly made myself look like a right fool as a newbie on FC and nearly started a number of threads for no reason.
     
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  24. Eric C

    Eric C F1 World Champ

    Mar 20, 2009
    11,033
    St. Louis, MO
    Full Name:
    Eric

    Couldn't have said it better myself.
     
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