Checking oil level in the FF | FerrariChat
Buy

Checking oil level in the FF

Discussion in 'FF/Lusso' started by Noblesse Oblige, Jan 19, 2014.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
    Three Places
    #1 Noblesse Oblige, Jan 19, 2014
    So I have taken delivery of my white FF (H/T to Fritz d'Orey) and am just getting to know this remarkable car (no pix yet; they will come). I belong to the category of owners called "Owner's Manual Readers," so I have started on the 300 page manual. What caught my eye right away is the ritual for measuring the oil level:
    --After warming the oil, let the engine idle for at least 4 minutes (OK)
    --Then run the engine between 4000 and 4500 RPM for 1 minute (OK)
    --Idle it again for another 2 minutes (This is getting complicated)
    --Before the 3rd minute elapses, measure the oil level. (huh?)

    The book goes on to say that if you do add oil and wish to recheck the level, you must recheck at the precise same time as the first measurement. That is, if you measured at 2:30 after the 4000-4500 run for the first check, you must measure it again at the 2:30 mark when you recheck the oil.

    My first reaction to this was, "You gotta be kidding." Yes, oil level measurements in dry sump engines have to be done right but this is beyond my experience.

    Does anyone have any knowledge or experience on whether this level measurement procedure is really that sensitive?

    Also can anyone shed light on how much oil consumption they had during the break in period?
     
  2. RickLederman

    RickLederman F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 18, 2007
    2,836
    Swanton Ohio
    Full Name:
    Rick Lederman
    #2 RickLederman, Jan 19, 2014
    I've had my FF since October 2012 and I now have 30,000+ miles on it. A bit before the first oil change at 12,500 miles I needed to put in one quart.

    Checking the oil is not like checking a Beemer or a Chevy because the FF has a dry sump, oil does not stay in a tank under the crankshaft called the oil pan on those cars, it is pumped to a tank in the upper rear corner of the engine compartment, where you will find the dipstick.

    To check the oil drive the car around for a while until the oil temperature comes up to normal operating temperature then park the car wherever you are going to check it. Do not shut the engine off. Get your hands on a paper towel to wipe oil on and a common screwdriver (or a nickel) to pop the two screws on the panel where the dipstick is, along with finding a stopwatch to keep track of your time, your cell phone has a stopwatch in it.

    Start the stopwatch and bring your rpm up to 4,000-4,500 and hold it there for one minute. It will NOT hurt the engine! After one minute take your foot off your gas.

    Now get out of your car, pull the panel off that hides the dipstick. At the three minute mark (total of one minute at 4,000 rpm plus two minutes of idling) pull the dipstick out, wipe it off with your paper towel, put it back in the tank and pull it out again (take your time) and look at the oil level. I try to target sticking it in and pulling it right back out at the 3 minute 30 second mark.

    If it is within the good area, even if it is at the bottom of the good area do NOT add any!

    Do not get your oil from anyone other than your Ferrari dealer!!!! and ! I had my dealer send me a couple quarts and in 30,000 miles I have only used one quart.

    Again, drive around five or eight miles to warm it up. Get your screwdriver, paper towel, and cell phone ready.
    Start your stopwatch and hold the rpm to 4,000 for one minute
    Engine to idle
    Gain access to your dipstick if the panel is not already off
    Wait until your stopwatch says 3 minutes 20 seconds then pull the dipstick, wipe it down, put it back in and pull it right out.
    Look where the oil level is
    Put the dipstick back and if all is well put your panel back on.

    There is one final step, drive the dickens out of your FF. It will take it:)

    Rick
     
    NGooding likes this.
  3. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
    Three Places
    #3 Noblesse Oblige, Jan 19, 2014
    Thanks Rick...this is very informative. I will play by the rules. I think the difference between the FF and the V8 Ferraris is that my V8s (458 and F430) have an oil tank just behind the engine and set fairly low so that filling it properly to get a good measurement is not such a sensitive proposition.
     
  4. jacinto jardine

    jacinto jardine Formula Junior

    Jan 16, 2011
    522
    australia
    Full Name:
    Fly 458
    #4 jacinto jardine, Jan 20, 2014
    Congrats on your latest Ferrari member, the FF ticks so many boxes, what about that engine and sound.
    Look forward to the photos soon.
    Enjoy!!


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
     
  5. RickLederman

    RickLederman F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 18, 2007
    2,836
    Swanton Ohio
    Full Name:
    Rick Lederman
    #5 RickLederman, Jan 20, 2014
    Something tells me that there have been other Ferraris that have similar oil checking routines. The California was my first Ferrari and it does not have a dry sump so it was easy to check compared to the FF. But the FF is easy the second time you do it:).

    Rick
     
  6. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
    Three Places
    #6 Noblesse Oblige, Jan 20, 2014
    I forgot that the California has a wet sump. The 458 is dry.

    BTW I took a look under the hood. The screws are now thumbscrews, no equipment needed. :)
     
  7. jumpinjohn

    jumpinjohn F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 22, 2013
    7,481
    Texas
    Full Name:
    John
    #7 jumpinjohn, Jan 20, 2014
    I have to get this down, since my dad recently purchased an FF. It is really pretty hilarious - like you expect the end to say "now click your heels three times and repeat..." I do not understand all the technicalities of dry sump, but I can't help thinking there must be an easier way...

    Anyhow, thanks Rick for the clear steps!
    John
     
  8. Kaivball

    Kaivball Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jan 11, 2007
    35,997
    Kalifornia
    #8 Kaivball, Jan 20, 2014
    What a bone headed procedure. You'd think by now Ferrari can do electric oil level measurements like BMW or Mercedes. This is just a silly and cumbersome procedure.

    Kai
     
  9. ChannelFF

    ChannelFF Rookie

    Nov 7, 2012
    34
    Offshore
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #9 ChannelFF, Jan 20, 2014
    Yeh I remember looking at that in the book and thinking I can't be bothered! Without going out to the garage to check, does the FF have a "check oil level" warning light??
     
  10. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
    Three Places
    #10 Noblesse Oblige, Jan 20, 2014
    I found a reference to a "low oil level" signal on the top of page 259 of my book. It says it comes on in the left TFT display. Also by all accounts including Rick's, the engine doesn't use much if any oil. So you are probably OK.
     
  11. NYC Fred

    NYC Fred F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 28, 2010
    15,454
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Full Name:
    Fred C
    #11 NYC Fred, Jan 20, 2014
    As long as you trust it with your $350K Ferrari.

    If I owned one, I'd do the dance with the dipstick...LOL
     
  12. London John

    London John Formula Junior

    Sep 7, 2010
    560
    London & Melbourne
    Full Name:
    John
    #12 London John, Jan 20, 2014
    Not so different to the 599 procedure, as revised.
     
  13. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
    Three Places
    #13 Noblesse Oblige, Jan 20, 2014
    I assume that the process is tuned to accommodate the location of the oil tank, which must be filled properly to get an accurate reading. The V8 458 has the tank just behind the engine and does not require any special run up or timing.
     
  14. London John

    London John Formula Junior

    Sep 7, 2010
    560
    London & Melbourne
    Full Name:
    John
    #14 London John, Jan 21, 2014
    Was referring to the oil level being tested at high engine temperature.
     
  15. Caeruleus11

    Caeruleus11 F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 11, 2013
    11,488
    #15 Caeruleus11, Jan 21, 2014
    Congratulations. Looking forward to the pictures!
     
  16. RickLederman

    RickLederman F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 18, 2007
    2,836
    Swanton Ohio
    Full Name:
    Rick Lederman
    #16 RickLederman, Jan 21, 2014
    Or Porsche, and as I remember a friend's Porsche that level went all over the place.

    The FF procedure really is easy ... the second time you do it:D

    By the way, I have learned to never bother to check it at all unless I start smelling hot oil from the area above the oil tank. I had that for a while and it was getting strong smelling in my garage after a drive and found the level low. I put a quart in and the hot oil smell went away ... maybe THAT should be in the manual too? :) ... A little hot oil smell is no problem.

    Rick
     

Share This Page