348 oil change almost went horribly wrong

Do you mean the one marked "A" in this picture (below). It's the gear oil drain. You didn't strip it, did you? BTW, that is the wrong plug installed in that gear oil hole. It should be a recessed hex and look like this: http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=189543

CAMBIO = gearbox oil
MOTORE = engine oil
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I don't know what 'A' is for either, but it's not the gear oil. The gear oil drain is under the gearbox - 'B' in this pic.

Edited to add:

Good write-up on changing gear oil here (well, before the guys start arguing about oil anyways..)

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101885&highlight=348+gear+oil+change
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I completely retract my original post.

I apologize profusely, and am embarassed that I would post such a comment. Obviously that plug ain't the gear oil one. Having been under my car enough, you'd think I wouldn't need a damn geography lesson.

I suspect you were loosening #17 shown below
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Plug "A" is for access to the oil pump pressure adjustment bolt. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT mess with the oil pump pressure bolt. You can remove the plug without doing any harm to the pressure adjustment bolt, but DO NOT FOOL with the adjustment bolt. It's set at the factory, so leave it be. I had to replace that plug on my 348 when I first got it. The morons that owned it before me had totally mangled the plug. The plug is made out of brass, and is cupped on the inside so that the adjustment bolt can fit inside it once the plug is screwed in. If you get the plug from the dealer it is RETARDED expensive! If I remember correctly the dealer wanted $65 for the plug and $25 for the one time use crush washer. So your looking at $80 if you get it from the dealer.

 

I'm under the impression that plug "A" just turns unless you are holding it from the other side, so you may not have done any damage whatsoever if so.

 

Nope, not the case.
If it doesnt leak, leave it alone. They can be tight as hell and rounded off hex is not uncommon. Seems there are many that attempt to remove this plug.
Do not forget to drain the tank as well.
Do yourself a favor and get a service manual from Daniel before you proceed any further.

Dave

 

as Brian Crall (rifledriver) would say....

RTFM......!!

 

A WISE OLD MAN he is. In the last week I have had 3 people ask if Brians signature photo is one of him. Of Course it is, caught him at a weak moment.

Dave

 

By the way where the hell is Brian haven't heard from him here for a while. That pic of the look on his face looks like he stepped in a pile of Sh*t or passed to much gas or maybe its his WTF look, Hummm.. I guess I will have to ask him. LOL

 

weird, my bolt "a" was also mangled by a previous owner, and my car is prisitne and only serviced by f-dealer...could it be these get mangled by bottoming out..it is the only bolt that juts out from the bottom of the casing...or could even f-dealer be so poorly trained that they fall for trhe bolt "a" is the engine oil drain plug trap...

 

Depends on how it's mangled. If the top of it looks like it has bee ground down, then I would say it's from bottoming out. If the edges of the nut look rounded, or like they had a pair of pliers on it, then I would say it's the "f-dealer", the "f" being interpreted as you like.

 

Funny, I am leaving it alone...just did the motor oil and gear oil change and new plugs and air and oil filter as well as finally installing my st corsa upgraded vent (mondial t)...all went well thanks to this forum's previous threads, used stabilant were I could on the impt. conenctions