Flushing and Changing Coolant on Late Model Ferraris | FerrariChat
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Flushing and Changing Coolant on Late Model Ferraris

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by tazandjan, Nov 10, 2008.

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  1. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,315
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #1 tazandjan, Nov 10, 2008
    I have noted the owners' manual and workshop manual for the 575M show no interval for flushing and changing coolant, only checking level and topping off. Are modern coolants so good they do not require periodic changes? Considering other requirements on changing transaxle, power steering, and brake/clutch fluids, rarely changed on most modern cars, this seems rather strange to me.

    Any comments from the pros out there?

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  2. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,288
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    #2 Rifledriver, Nov 11, 2008
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2008
    We do coolant every 2 years and all other fluids every year.

    You are correct about the service interval. Our local dealers seem to follow it because I have serviced many of their former customers cars that are several years old and still have factory coolant and many with bad radiators.

    Every late model radiator we have had to replace has been for corrosion internally. Due to the core design the V12 radiators cannot be properly recored and none of the local shops will touch the 355 radiators. We have not yet had a problem with 360 or newer radiators. If you have never priced a new 550 or 456 radiator you are in for a really big surprise. They are very expensive. The 550 and 456 have very small and very efficient radiators. The design of the tubes I am told is a big reason but does prevent rodding out and according to several local shops nothing that has the cooling capacity of those cores is available to them.

    One of the problems with the radiator industry and the lack of much of the modern design repair components is that brand new radiators for mainstream cars are so cheap there is little incentive to build high quality modern components. Industrial equipment that keeps the industry alive is still using old fashioned stuff because size and weight are not an issue.

    We did do a custom build for a 456 but I will never go through that again.

    Flush them every 2 years and the radiator should last a long time.
     
  3. dwilliams

    dwilliams Karting

    Jan 20, 2005
    54
    Altadena, CA
    Full Name:
    Dennis E. Williams
    #3 dwilliams, Jan 10, 2010
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2010
    Could someone please provide a "step-by-step" procedure for 550 Maranello:

    1) Draining coolant from the radiator, engine block and other places coolant is stored.
    a. (includes the function of the plastic (drain?) screw on the bottom of the radiator,
    b. Do I need to drain the block using the block plugs -- or...
    c. Pressurizing the cooling system to force all the old coolant out.
    HOW IS THIS DONE?

    2) Flushing the system to ensure that the new coolant added doesn't "gel" with the old.
    a. How many times do I flush and with what? (pure water?)
    b. When do I stop flushing, what do I look for?


    3) Adding new coolant.
    a. What is a good substitute for Ferrari's recommendation of Shell Glycoshell? Where can I buy the replacement?
    b. Is it better to by the 50% - 50% mix or the full strength and dilute to 50-50 with distilled water?
    b. Procedure for adding new coolant. Do I leave the bleed screw out? Do I need to "tilt" the car on an angle with the front down?
    c. Do I need the engine running with the heater blowers on full blast?
    d. How do I know when to stop adding coolant?

    Thanking all of you in advance,



    Dennis
     

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