355 service + f1 gearbox questions | FerrariChat

355 service + f1 gearbox questions

Discussion in '348/355' started by Steve Harkness, Dec 2, 2012.

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  1. Steve Harkness

    Steve Harkness Formula Junior

    Jul 28, 2012
    448
    perth Australia
    Full Name:
    steve Harkness
    Hi there everyone i hope you guys can help!! My car is due its 6000mile service and was looking info on what exactly is required. Before it was shipped from the UK to Australia it had its major cambelt service new ht leads air filters spark plugs etc. I am considering doing it myself so a breakdown of what needs to be changed would be great. Also the car has the f1 transmission and regarding checking the oil level do you run the car to prime the system and then check? Do you screw the dipstick in full or not to check the level ? Finally there is a small breather pipe for the transmission which runs down beside the gearbox actuator underneath the car and when the car sits for a week or so i always have a small puddle of transmission oil on the garage floor (approx 10 to 20 ml of fluid) is this normal or do i have a potential gearbox issue. Straight honest advice would be appreciated as sometimes when i read the forum regarding potential problems its always doom and gloom and mega bucks
    to fix!!!

    Cheers Steve
     
  2. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,639
    South East
    Full Name:
    Jimmie
    Details of the service schedule are in the owners handbook

    If you don't have one that and the workshop manual are at www.ferraridatabase.com
     
  3. Steve Harkness

    Steve Harkness Formula Junior

    Jul 28, 2012
    448
    perth Australia
    Full Name:
    steve Harkness
    Thanks jimmy i will have a look on that site later
     
  4. J. Salmon

    J. Salmon F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 27, 2005
    4,367
    VA
    My car does not drip a drop of anything.

    There is no need to check the F1 fluid if you have no issues. If you overfill it, it will spill over when the system primes. I remember chasing this thinking I had a leak and all I had was a case of miss-placed concern!
     
  5. WATSON

    WATSON Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 9, 2010
    23,564
    WI
    That puddle is most likely from the actuator itself. It has it's own little breather tube. That issue has been reported here a few times. Usually occurs when the car is kept in a cold environment for a period of time and I never have heard a resolution to it.

    The actuator fluid is easy to check and the tank has a small dipstick in it that tells the status. As mentioned, do not over fill and do not check or fill with the car running.

    While I suspect it says you are supposed to warm up the gear box before checking the oil, I have done it primary cold. Way too tight quarters to have everything hot. I spin the cap in until snug and remove it and check the level. I have no idea if that is right or wrong....but that's how I have done it and the car has not blown up yet. :)
     
  6. Extreme

    Extreme F1 Rookie

    May 26, 2010
    2,515
    Northern Utah
    Full Name:
    Erick
    Agreed... You are probably getting a small drip from the pressure relief tube off the actuator. This for some reason only happens to mine and others cars when the temperature falls below a certain degree. For me it seems to be anything below about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It isn't a big enough issue that I have felt compelled to do anything about it since my F1 transmission works fantastic.

    This is the theory I got from another fchatter; when the temperature drops the pressure spring contracts just enough to let fluid leak. This could be overcome with a higher pressure relief valve installed just after the outlet of the actuator in line with the relief tube.
    Would be an easy and cheap solution although I think it's easier for now to just make sure the fluid is topped off every spring when driving season begins.
     
  7. Steve Harkness

    Steve Harkness Formula Junior

    Jul 28, 2012
    448
    perth Australia
    Full Name:
    steve Harkness
    Ok thanks for all the info its probably a case of me over filling with transmission fluid and not cold weather and also the car is driven every week without fail as i dont like things sitting around. I have read the owners manual front to back and there is nothing regarding how to check the oil level correctly but i will go with spinning the top on to check and go from there
     
  8. Extreme

    Extreme F1 Rookie

    May 26, 2010
    2,515
    Northern Utah
    Full Name:
    Erick
    I over filled my F1 reservoir when I first got my 355, I filled it to the top of the dipstick and then when I drove it she overflowed. You can easily tell rather the fluid is coming out the cap or the actuator under the car.
     

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