Creative 328 Coolant Change Methods? | FerrariChat
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Creative 328 Coolant Change Methods?

Discussion in '308/328' started by tiredtom, Jul 26, 2014.

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  1. tiredtom

    tiredtom Karting

    Feb 26, 2012
    85
    Monterey County, CA
    Full Name:
    86 328 GTS
    #1 tiredtom, Jul 26, 2014
    The coolant is 4 years old - well overdue. I've done searches through this exceptional chat, and have seen the addition of drain cocks, bleeders, and the like, but I'm not sure if that's necessary for my situation. I REALLY wish there was a way to use a shop vac at one end and a fresh coolant source at the other. Or, use an elevated tank to utilize gravity to displace the old coolant, allowing the old to vent somewhere high in the system. My goals:

    1. Minimize or avoid opening a currently leak free system
    2. Avoid air introduction

    I don't mind a "partial" replacement that might have to be performed a couple of times after a drive, if it avoids #1, 2 above. BTW, I don't have a lift, so a floor jack will have to do.

    Recommendations?
     
  2. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,566
    San Carlos, CA
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    Mitchell Le
    #2 yelcab, Jul 26, 2014
    The 328 is not particularly hard to drain, fill, and bleed. Why reinvent the wheel?

    jack it up, disconnect the heater hose drain at the front underneath the battery. Reconnect the hose, fill, and bleed at the top of the thermostat.
     
  3. tiredtom

    tiredtom Karting

    Feb 26, 2012
    85
    Monterey County, CA
    Full Name:
    86 328 GTS
    #3 tiredtom, Jul 27, 2014
    If it is really that simple, I'll do it tomorrow. I understood that were air entrapment issues that were of concern.
     
  4. bentrm

    bentrm Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    596
    Pittsburgh, PA
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    Rob
    #4 bentrm, Jul 27, 2014
  5. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
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    Mike 996
    #5 mike996, Jul 27, 2014
    What Yelcab said!

    Can't speak for a 308 but on a 328 it IS that easy.
     
  6. tiredtom

    tiredtom Karting

    Feb 26, 2012
    85
    Monterey County, CA
    Full Name:
    86 328 GTS
    #6 tiredtom, Jul 27, 2014
    Went well. Jacked up the car (higher in the rear), and drained the coolant with open heater settings, thermostat and radiator bleeders open. Got 3 1/2 gallons out. Refilled with bleeders open until coolant dribbled from both. Got 3 1/2 gallons back in. Will check the expansion tank after a drive. Since this is not the total capacity of the system (5.8 gallons), I will repeat in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the guidance.
     
  7. bentrm

    bentrm Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    596
    Pittsburgh, PA
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    Rob
    #7 bentrm, Jul 27, 2014
    I need to do mine. I have no heat in the cockpit. I bleed and bleed. Suspect a tiny leak somewhere but cannot find it as nothing on the garage floor or anywhere. Air is getting in because it burps when I bleed. Gonna try some rad flush. Hopefully it does something.

    Incidentally, the car runs cool. Fans come on in traffic but doesn't overheat. Guage barely climbs over 195 degrees.
     
  8. Ehamilton

    Ehamilton F1 Rookie
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    Jun 13, 2010
    2,638
    Durham, NC; USA
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    Eric Hamilton
    #8 Ehamilton, Jul 27, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2014
    There are an altogether amazing number of tubing/pipe joints that can develop small leaks in the 308 cooling system. A few tens of bucks at Harbor Freight will get you a hand-pumped radiator system pressure tester that will find them all.... pressurize system to 10 psi, check every few hours for new drops of water appearing in unexpected new places. In my case, tightening clamps was all it took just about everywhere. The only leak that involved replacing parts turned out to be the draincock in the engine block, which wasn't closing. I replaced it with a new one from Superformance.

    With all the leaks taken care of, I haven't had to add coolant and bleeding doesn't find any air.
     
  9. bentrm

    bentrm Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    596
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    Rob
    #9 bentrm, Jul 27, 2014
    I've been thinking about one of those pumps. Might just pop on one. I do like the idea of pressurizing the system and letting it sit. I appreciate the advise. Gonna get one and give this a try.
     
  10. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
    Twin Cities
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    Tim Keseluk
    #10 2NA, Jul 27, 2014
    Possible that you have either a blockage in the line to the heater or a stuck heater valve. Ferrari heaters don't get much use and corrosion takes its toll.
     
  11. bentrm

    bentrm Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    596
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    Rob
    #11 bentrm, Jul 27, 2014
    A blockage is definitely a possibility. The valves move fine so I suspect they are fine. Maybe the rad flush will help. If not, gotta pull the cores and get a visual. Come on flush! Do work!
     
  12. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

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    Mike 996
    #12 mike996, Jul 27, 2014
    As has been noted, if the system needs bleeding after the system has been drained/filled/bled as per normal procedures, then there is a leak allowing air to re-enter the system.
     
  13. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Jun 8, 2007
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    Mark W.R.
    #13 mwr4440, Jul 27, 2014
    Just turn the car upside down.

    All the fluids will come out.


    How hard is this??????????????



    :D
     
  14. craiggo

    craiggo Formula Junior
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    Nov 9, 2012
    416
    Redwood City
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    Craig
    #14 craiggo, Jul 28, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This is from the bottom of my heater hose where it connects to the engine block. It was dripping down and evaporating. I could smell it but never see it and I never noticed a drop in water level as odd as that sounds.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     

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