Checked the oil level when it was cold

Oil level should be checked with the engine hot. If your current oil foams that badly, it's time for a different oil. The factory procedures work just fine. Deviating from them, particularly determining the oil level with the engine not a operating temps ensures an overfilled condition.

 

It makes a BIG difference to check the level cold versus warmed up. If it appears full when cold, you are overfilled.

 

I use Pennzoil Platinum Euro SAE 5W-40 in my 355's and have no issue with foaming. As the 355 is a dry sump, I check oil (hot) at idle.

 

Switch to Redline oil, I switched from the Shell...night and day.

You can check the oil level after a spirited long drive...no foam at all.

 

I don't believe Tim is suggesting the foaming has anything to do with the amount of oil. He is just saying that you need to check it when hot and not cold.

 

Use a turkey baster to draw the oil out.

 

+1. There is a lot of variance between checking the oil cold and after it expands as it gets up to full temperature. Dry sump motors hold a lot of oil so the variance can be measured in quarts. You don't want the car overfilled as it can lead to other issues!!

Get a siphon and hose, start up the car cold and start pulling out some oil as the motor warms up and the oil thins a little- this only takes a minute or two (if you do it when the oil is too hot it will be more challenging, standing between the hot exhausts, pulling hot oil and trying not to spill any on the motor/engine compartment).

When you want to check the oil, loosen the oil cap so it's not super tight, drive the car up to full operating temperature, park the car on a level surface and check the level at idle. Use a rag as the oil dipstick and knob itself get very hot.

Aim to get the oil level somewhere between min and max at fully warmed up idle vs at the max line.

My guess is you can pull out 1-2 quarts of oil from your car, and then measure- if you are at the min line, add say 1/2 quart and see where that leads you. Even at min there is a lot of oil in the car so it wont cause an issue (of course I wouldn't recommend being at min or below then going on a banked race track or anything )

The whole process is a pain in the butt I know (especially since you car sounds like it is overfilled), but it is what it is. My aircooled 911s (also dry sump motors) were much easier to maintain- there is even an oil level gauge in the aircooled 911s that was pretty accurate to what was on the dipstick. With a fully warmed up 911 you can do an oil check at a stop light after the car was at idle for about 10 seconds by simply looking at the gauge!! I wish the dry sump ferraris had this gauge...

 

The problem with foaming is that it makes it difficult to ascertain where the level actually is. I am not familiar with Spectro; good, bad or indifferent.
So, excessive foaming could mean an oil issue of simply that you are way overfull. Personally, I would drain the sump (both drain plugs), cooler lines, etc. and add 10 quarts of either RedLine 5W-40 or Pennzoil Euro. Let the car get warm and then check the oil level per the WSM. The procedure outlined should work just fine. 10 quarts should put you on the low side of the mid-range on the dip stick. Add from there, as needed.

 

I avoided this oil because I read that it foams but Dave is right. It does not and is recommended by Ferrari. Easy to mail order from Amazon too.

 

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My question is, since you're meant to check the oil when warm, I find the OIL cap to be really hot to the touch! Do you guys use gloves to screw it off?

 

Use gloves or a rag...

 

Redline 5-40 never an issue. Also, when doing oil changes, measure what comes out, replace and then check HOT. If you can hold the oil cap it is not hot enough!

 

I just did some calculations using numbers randomly scrounged on the internet.

Assuming the numbers are right, if the stick shows full at cold it will be a little more than half a quart high at hot.

 

Penzoil w/ the Ferrari Logo on it, foamed up on me quite a lot.....so, back to Redline...no foam : much easier to read level again.

 

"Full" is between the marks when at operating temperature. It is not necessary or even a good idea to fill to the top mark.

Remember that it has 10 quarts of oil in it. It's better to be a little bit low than overfilled.

 

Exactly. Too full will often lead to blue smoke out the pipes when getting on the car. When I got one of mine it was filled to high and had this problem. Proper oil change with proper fill level resolved it. Good advice, Tim.

 

Too full can do more than just blue smoke.

 

Inquiring mind would like to know??? I've never overfilled oil so never considered any possible issues.

 

Besides making the whole intake system a mess, the MAFs don't like oil.

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The MAF's are way forward of the throttle bodies and oil scavaging pipes it must make a lot of plowpast to mist oil on the MAF wire that is facing the air filters.