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550 coolant leak

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by Mon the fish, Sep 24, 2014.

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  1. Mon the fish

    Mon the fish Karting

    Dec 27, 2013
    116
    #1 Mon the fish, Sep 24, 2014
    My 550 appears to have sprung a coolant leak at the front of the engine, only when warm. Coolant has splashed onto the cam covers, and down to the undertray.

    I've not had a chance to get it up to temp again and investigate, but is there anywhere i should start looking as a likely source?
     
  2. mswiek

    mswiek Formula Junior

    Jan 5, 2004
    330
    #2 mswiek, Sep 24, 2014
    The hoses are all fairly visible and should provide a clue. One of the prime candidates is the small diameter hops that goes from the top center of the radiator back to the coolant expansion tank. frequently these will develop a split near the clamp at the radiator end and spurt when under pressure and warm.
     
  3. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Dec 7, 2003
    16,453
    Winston Salem, NC
    #3 Ricambi America, Sep 24, 2014
    181599 is a common point of failure if your 550 has the older rubber style, instead of the new multi-layer silicone.
     
  4. Mon the fish

    Mon the fish Karting

    Dec 27, 2013
    116
    #4 Mon the fish, Sep 24, 2014
    I'm taking the radiator shroud off tonight for a better look
     
  5. dersark_painclinic

    dersark_painclinic Formula Junior

    Mar 8, 2005
    981
    Glendale, CA
    Full Name:
    Lazik Der Sarkissian
    #5 dersark_painclinic, Sep 24, 2014
    Do coolant pressure test before you take any thing down
     
  6. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,189
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #6 tazandjan, Sep 24, 2014
    Plenum hoses are a big weakness of the 456 and 550. The 575M upgraded three of the five plenum hoses to silicone. If one of those is leaking, will require removal of the intake manifold to replace.
     
  7. Mon the fish

    Mon the fish Karting

    Dec 27, 2013
    116
    #7 Mon the fish, Sep 25, 2014
    Worked out it's hose 171668, thin one from the top centre of the radiator to the expansion tank.

    Do I need the specific Ferrari part, or will a generic coolant hose of the same size do?
     
  8. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,189
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #8 tazandjan, Sep 25, 2014
    I would actually recommend the ones made by Scuderia Rampante Innovations (SRI). Will be the last time you replace that hose. If the other plenum hoses have not been upgraded, might be time to do it with SRI hoses or the 575M hoses if one of the three silicone upgrades.
     
  9. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 19, 2006
    4,273
    Northern Virginia
    #9 dsd, Sep 25, 2014
    Agreed. The SRI hoses are expensive but so is the labor to replace the hoses. Also, consequences of a break are severe. Wish I had done SRI hoses when mine let go this spring.
     
  10. 300GW/RO

    300GW/RO Formula 3

    Nov 7, 2010
    1,033
    east end LI
    Full Name:
    Jack
    #10 300GW/RO, Sep 25, 2014
    This was the case on my barchetta....coolant from phlenum hoses, bit of labor $$ to RR...and yet what pisses me most is that I do not recall what they were replaced with ! Yet, seem to recall SRI notation on invoice.

    Thanks for specing-out hose quality,

    Jack
     
  11. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 19, 2006
    4,273
    Northern Virginia
    #11 dsd, Sep 25, 2014
    If memory recalls, it was like $2200 total, including short distance tow, to replace the hoses from the dealer (with Ferrari parts). I think the SRI hoses are like 2K.

    -dsd
     
  12. Mon the fish

    Mon the fish Karting

    Dec 27, 2013
    116
    #12 Mon the fish, Sep 26, 2014
    I've only had the car since January, so I'm not sure what hoses I have.

    It's getting serviced in 5 weeks, but the nearest specialist is 130 miles from me so I need my (trusted, but not specialist) local garage to replace the hose.

    I will be getting them all upgraded if need be, but I need the car driveable to get there!

    I've got no problem paying for the part if needed, but if it's just a generic 13mm (approx) hose I'm happy to replace it with standard hose for now.

    For info, it's leaking right under the small jubilee clip where it attaches to the radiator
     
  13. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 19, 2006
    4,273
    Northern Virginia
    #13 dsd, Sep 26, 2014
    Honestly, I'm not sure which hoses are which on this and which one I lost completely. The Ferrari standard part is like $200 vs $2k for the SRI. The Issue I had was it was around $1800 in labor to remove stuff to get to the hoses, so really only do it once.
     
  14. craterface

    craterface Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2011
    622
    Sanibel Island, FL
    #14 craterface, Sep 26, 2014
    The price of the kit is 1,006 dollars on the Ricambi America site. Plus a ton of labor.
     
  15. Konadog06

    Konadog06 Formula Junior

    Aug 22, 2007
    963
    Daytona Beach, Florida
    Full Name:
    Bill
    #15 Konadog06, Sep 26, 2014
    Try Russ at Ferrparts. Sells same kit for less.
    Bill
    FL
     
  16. Mon the fish

    Mon the fish Karting

    Dec 27, 2013
    116
    #16 Mon the fish, Sep 27, 2014
    Replaced the knackered hose for the grand total of £35 including labour. Definitely the cheapest bill I'll ever get for the car
     
  17. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,189
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #17 tazandjan, Sep 27, 2014
    I love a happy ending. Consider yourself lucky the leaking hose was in a position to be easily changed.
     
  18. Mon the fish

    Mon the fish Karting

    Dec 27, 2013
    116
    #18 Mon the fish, Sep 27, 2014
    I know - it's only held in place by the 2 jubilee clips at either end!

    Never expected my lowest bill at my local garage to be my Ferrari...
     

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