Hello anybody knows how to change and bleed the coolant system on a 550 Maranello, thanks
Maranello has three drain plugs, the drain under the radiator has easy access and it will drain only one and half gallon of coolant which is in the radiator, the rest which is three and half gallons remain inside the engine block. The engine has two drain plugs one on each side behind the motor mounts. Reaching them is very difficult. The one on the right side block is easy but the one on the left is blocked by exhust pipes and is hard to reach. I think if we drain right side block then apply coolant pressure by 15 PSI as the tester, we should be able to push the rest of the coolant out through the right side.
Thanks for your response, but how do I bleed the system after the coolant has drain completely, thanks David
IIRC there is a bleed screw on the water hose neck on top of the engine. Run engine and unscrew slightly to bleed air.
I did it but it keeps coming air then water in a regular pattern water-air-water-air..... I suppouse you have to let the screw open until only water came out...? or do you have to do something different...? thanks
I did this a few years ago, but I remember it took quite some time for all the air to bleed off. In fact I think after a week I topped up the overflow tank a bit and bled it again and got some more air out of the system.
Apparently you got lots of air in the system, run the engine to normal operating tempreture then turn the heather valve open blowing hot air, then turn off the engine. give few minutes to air bubeles to get to the highest point of the engine which is under the screw. then open the screw slowley as soon as you see coolant close the screw.then try again. You might have to do it few days in a row to get all air out. remember each time have the heater on. By the way tell me how did you drain the engine block coolant.
thanks for your help, I did not take the coolant yet, because I was trying to learn how to bleed the system first, (the engine overheat two days ago and it is 80% water...), so I will drain it today, by the way do you know wich coolant works Ok with the 550, DEX-COOL Havoline is OK....? if somebody knows it realy helps, and thanks all for all your help...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Buy some shell coolant from a Ferrari dealer, open the radiator drain, pressureize the system to get coolant from the block, fill the system, with the t/stat bleed screw out, with the defrost on high, run the engine until the thermostat opens, put the cap and plug back in and hold the rpm's up (i use 1500rpm) until you feel full heat from the vents, leave the engine running, carfully open the cap, releasing the pressure, and top off the coolant level. Drive the car, let cool and retest coolant level. The coolant does not circulate fully unitl it is under pressure, so this is an important step. Hope this helps. It take experiance to know when the system is fully bled, buy watching the temp gauge and feeling the temp of heated air, but this is the fool proof way for a "home" mechanic.
Question for ferrari tech. How much pressure you apply and how. to get the block coolant out. Is this more satisfactory technique than draning the blocks.
So there is no need to reach the drain plugs on the block....thats a good news... To apply pressure to the system I will use a universal radiator adapter kit with a manual pump (I buy it from sears craftsman and I used once for a leak on a VW), it realy helps all the info, thanks by tha way 15 psi pressure is good enough..?
Dear Ferrari tech, thanks for your response on the chat for my trouble bleeding a maranello 550 coolant, I did step by step your instructions but I have to be doing something wrong because after I felt heat on the air vents inside the car I open the expansion tank with the engine turn on (no filling required was ok) I closed then I go for a ride for 10 minutes...(sometimes hard drive high rpms no speed limit in my country.....soo....maybe thats was the problem...? ) and when I got the temperature on 90 degrees I go back to my house and stop the car... I guess what, the car is like overheat and trow out a lot of wather and starts rumbling on the expansion tank... I did it three times in a row and got the same result, do you have any idea what is happening? I realy appreciate al your help, thanks a lot in advance PD: I am using just destilled water no coolant, because I already trow away a lot of coolant... and want to learn bleed the car before I put back the coolant again, thanks David
What do you do..? did you live inside the hood....jejejeje Sorry I was impress with the perfect cleaning, and yes I did know about the bleeding screw, What I realy don't know is when do I have to pulled out and when not... I mean the correct bleeding process.... thanks for your response, nice engine again I am very impress......
Owner of that car is a clean freek. The car comes in that clean. Open the screw then start putting in the coolant. as the coolant rises through the engine it will push the air out. Dont be afraid to put the coolant in slowly, no need to rush this process. By the way I also have to work on Ferrari's that look like this when they come in !! so dont think for a minute that all is surgical !! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Remove upper radiator hose and fill radiator.then fill engine though hose that is off radiator,expansion tank cap is off.Fill until you see coolant flow out of tank.reconnect rad.hose turn on heater blower on low so the engine will heat a little sooner.also leave bleed screw open during the fill stage.Start engine until thermostat opens and cooling fans come on, also crack bleed screw open if tank level starts to rise up keep opening and closeing bleeder until normal op temp. After bleeding is done make sure you pressure test your work (15psi) and test drive. Later when car is cool recheck level add as needed(air bubbles always get trapped). hope that helps
Dear Friends, I have bleed the system in every way possible, but after doing the tiara4300 way (last bleeding instructions) I start driving for 5 minutes on a test ride I stop at the gas station and after 5 minutes the engine starts climbing from 80 degrees to 90 and 95 I turn on the heater it goes to 90 again I shut off engine for Gas and Voila! water is coming from the shaking expansion tank....I am starting to think that something else is wrong but engine is ok, radiator too (no leaks), both radiator fans turn on ok, the thermostat looks ok..? what else....????? if anyone got a clue I will be very happy to hear it, thanks David I am starting to get a lot appreciation of my porsche 996, it is a truck!
Keep it simple. Let it cool. Remove the filler cap and remove the bleed screw. Fill the tank until water comes out of the bleed hole. Install the bleed screw and gently tighten. Continue to fill the tank until it is full and install cap. Warm up the motor and watch the gauge. The first few heat cycles it will spit out a little water until the level arrives at where it needs to be. If the cooling system does not work correctly at this point something is wrong. 550's have no tricks to make the cooling system work. There are no tricks to filling them or bleeding them. If this does not work stop before you hurt the motor and bring the car to a mechanic. The question that remains to be asked, why did it stop working to start with?
Thanks Rifledriver, I will try this way, and here in my country there are only two aftermarket mechanics from ferrari, and beleive me, both of them know less about bleeding this car, than me right now......welcome to South America......jejejeje
