Got my F355 Spiders test results back today. It's a 1997, Manual with 23,500 miles on it. 1 - 11.4 bar - 165.4 psi 2 - 10.9 bar - 158.1 psi 3 - 12.2 bar - 177 psi 4 - 13.2 bar - 191.5 psi 5 - 12.6 bar - 182.8 psi 6 - 13.1 bar - 190 psi 7 - 12.9 bar - 187.1 psi 8 - 12.9 bar - 187.1 psi Does this sound about right? The first two seem to be low in comparison. What do you think is the problem/can be done?
I wouldn't be wild about those numbers if I was a buyer but you already own it. Just drive it and deal with it when it becomes a problem.
Have a leakdown performed to see where exactly it is leaking. If its valves, might want to fix those before it gets so bad a valve drops into a cylinder and ruins the block. If its head gasket, watch it, and if it gets worse fix it. If its rings, well, probably like the valves. Eventually it could get bad enough to require more money to fix than it does now. Just my $.02
Since our cars are almost identical in age and mileage here are the numbers from mine for comparison: 1 - 13.0 bar 2 - 12.5 bar 3 - 12.9 bar 4 - 13.2 bar 5 - 13.2 bar 6 - 13.6 bar 7 - 12.9 bar 8 - 12.9 bar I'm not technically gifted enough to make any comments on what your numbers might say, I'm sure others can give you more guidance on that. Cheers Andy
The main dealer has told me that my figures are quite acceptable! I asked if I should have a leak down test or should I be worried about anything and he says no, 'your car is fine and well within tolerances.' Don't you think that if there was a problem then the dealer would tell me? If for no other reason than scoring a few pounds off me? I think it's worth a new post so people can put there compression test results up so it gives us all a better idea.
I would not suggest to someone to buy your car if I was doing a PPI on it because in that case we are trying to save the buyer from future problems. If you already own it and it runs OK with acceptable power and oil consumption I would not be selling you any work either. The difference between he and I is that in this country anyway when a 355 motor starts to lose compression they seem to go rather quickly and I would suggest that an eye be kept on it. Short of a tear down there is nothing to be done so just use it.
What would be the most probable cause do you think and what sort of job would be involved in fixing it?
355's have in some cases shown a history of valve, valve guide, ring and cylinder wall wear issues. Your situation is probably a combination of those. That sort of covers all the bases and only a leak down test will tell you any more. I will go back to my earlier position though that if the car is not symptomatic just drive it and enjoy it. It will at some point in the future need engine work and you will not know for certain how long in the future that will be until either it develops a miss, has a loss of power or starts consuming a lot of oil. I am going to die some day, I don't know what from. Until then I will try to take care of myself and hope for the best. Do the same for your car. If on the other hand you are headed to the grid at a race or hate the idea of having an imperfect car, rebuild the motor. Like the rest of us it is just getting tired.
Thanks for that. It makes more sense than folk getting me all worked up thinking that it was on the verge of dying on me.
I agree with the rifledriver school of thought on this one. I beleve there is such a thing as a ferrari hypercondriac owner, you know the one who is always looking for a problem. As for my self my 355 runs absolutely superb with bags of power and grunt and has never missed a beat, now if i was an hypercondriac owner, i know that if i did a compresion check,chances are (just becourse its me) the compresion readings will be all wrong and i would be stressing and worrying abouit big bills for a job that may not have need doing for a few more years. I doubt very much if all engines are tested at ferrari for compresion, maybe only a few made the perfect grade. Now if you compare a porsche engine with a ferrari engine now the results may be alot better, they know how to make an engines life last longer than 15,000miles.
Cheers Chaa - When I was researching F-Car ownership then F-Chat was invaluable - Now I own an F-Car, F-Chat is turning me into a hypercondriac owner.
