Hey Guys, Just joined toinight. I've been lurking for a while and have gotten a great deal of GREAT information on this Forum. Now I've got a problem. I've done the requisite search and couldn't come up with a definitive answer to my question. Although I'm not new to the world of Ferraris, I made a newbie mistake tonight. I wanted to take a hard ride in my 03 spider, and decided to check the oil first. I was in a hurry to drive and probably ran the car for only 5 minutes before checking the level. It just came up to the very bottom tip of my dipstick, so I added a Qt, Checked again and the oil came right up to the max line. Took her out on the expressway, and really wound her out, getting up to about 135 MPH, and getting the RPM's up to about 7000. Then I had a thought. I pulled of the highway and pulled into a service station and checked the oil again. Oh S**T!!!! It was at least an inch over the max, and kinda bubbly. I looked into the filler cap with a flashlight, and saw the bubbles down there too. Now I know that oil expands with heat, and when I checked at home the temp was about 160, and when I checked after my ride it was up around 200. Does anyone have a thought. Would an extra Qt damage the car, and is there really an extra Qt in there. The manual is specific about checking the oil @ 160 degrees. I did that and all seemed well. I think my question is after a ride like I took, are the tiny bubbles, and the elevated level on the dipstick normal? thanks guys, Steve
One of the reassons Ferrari quotes the temperature for checking oil (which in the 550 manual states to check with temp OVER, not at, 158F) is to ensure that the thermostat to the oil cooler is open, not because of the expansion of the heated fluid. Check the oil level as per manual, oil temp over 158F, level surface, stop car and check immediately. If it is over, use a larg syringe or small syphon to remove the excess. AFAIK Ferrari's do not like running with excess oil.
Thank you, I understand what you're saying, yet I'm wondering whether it's normal for the dipstick to read at a higher level If the oil is hotter then the suggested manual temp of 160?
No need for a dealer, could be difficult at this time of the year anyway. Just syphon/drain the surplus oil.
Just siphoned a litre of oil out of the car using a turkey baster. I can't believe that worked!!! )) LOL All is normal on the dipstick again! Thanks for the info. Steve
