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Help: Testarossa dumped oil!

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by jungathart, Mar 5, 2006.

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  1. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

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    #1 jungathart, Mar 5, 2006
    During a spirited drive yesterday I reached my turn around point and slowed down enough to notice a haze on the rear window. I first thought it was water from melting snow from an overpass but then recognized that it was oil. At that moment I also noticed white smoke billowing out from the engine compartment and immediately pulled over and noticed my oil pressure gauge was all the way left. Importantly, I did not hear any catastrophic noise from the engine prior to, or right after, any of this. Also, I routinely monitor the gauges and did not see any red flags raised until the incident.

    I opened the engine deck and saw that the engine wasn't on fire. The white smoke dissipated after only a couple of minutes, and there was alot of motor oil under the car.

    While waiting for the tow truck I did my best to inspect the engine bay and didn't see anything obvious.
    I called my long-distance Ferrari mechanic [Bryan Vignale @ Independent Motorworks in Short Hills, NJ :)] and after a brief discription told me it could be something with the oil filter gasket, or something non engine- related. He explained that a weak point with the TR engine is at the oil filter attachment, and that it is not unusual for the filter to blow.

    Would you please share your input as to what else this could be so I can share the info with my local mechanic: who is, btw excellent but just not Ferrari savy.

    Thanks a bunch in advance!
     
  2. Shamile

    Shamile F1 Veteran

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    #2 Shamile, Mar 5, 2006
    Dear Ferraristi,


    White smoke? That sounds more like a coolant issue. Ok, the gauge is telling you different. This maybe a broken or loose oil line. The oil lines run from the oil tank to the front of the engine pretty well under the rear window. I would jack up the car and look up between the engine and the fuel tanks. ( the belts area ) Look from underneath as that's where the oil lines run.

    Hope this helps. :)

    Shamile


    Freeze....Miami Vice!
     
  3. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

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    #3 jungathart, Mar 5, 2006
    Thanks Shamile.

    btw, how do you like your TR? :)
     
  4. Perfusion

    Perfusion F1 Rookie

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    #4 Perfusion, Mar 5, 2006
    PM Brian Crall ("Rifledriver" on FChat) - he's our resident Bay Area TR guru...

    Aaron
     
  5. J.P.Sarti

    J.P.Sarti Guest

    May 23, 2005
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    #5 J.P.Sarti, Mar 5, 2006
    If you dumped all the oil out due to a oil sealing failure its important the motor didn't get hot as well, was the water temp normal?

    White smoke can be oil burning on hot engine parts, it also has a stench too, hopefully nothing major is damaged such as a head gasket or oil starvation issue causing bearing failures. I'd drain the oil if any is left from the sump on the motor and examine the sump plug for any metal bits.
     
  6. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

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    #6 jungathart, Mar 5, 2006
    Will do.
     
  7. ^@#&

    ^@#& F1 World Champ
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    #7 ^@#&, Mar 5, 2006
    dump some vineager in there and make yourself a salad :D. In all seriousness, I really hope that you get it fix. That car is soo pretty.
     
  8. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

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    #8 jungathart, Mar 5, 2006
    Water temp was normal. I do recall the stench of burning oil.
     
  9. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

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    #9 jungathart, Mar 5, 2006
    I think she'll be OK.
     
  10. J.P.Sarti

    J.P.Sarti Guest

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    #10 J.P.Sarti, Mar 5, 2006

    It will probably be okay boxer motors are tough, close call though.
     
  11. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

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    #11 jungathart, Mar 5, 2006
    I'll let you know. I see that you have a 512BB: I am so jealous!! I think it is one of Ferrari's most sensual shapes.:)
     
  12. Motob

    Motob Formula 3
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    #12 Motob, Mar 5, 2006
    How cold was it outside? Revving a motor with cold thick engine oil can cause the oil pressure to be so high that it will blow the seal out on the oil filter.
    You could switch to synthetic oil if you aren't already using it, or wait until the engine oil temperature comes up before revving the engine hard.

    Did you notice how high the oil pressure gauge was reading before the white smoke started?

    Brian
     
  13. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

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    #13 jungathart, Mar 6, 2006
    Outside temp was in the high 20s, and I let the engine warm up before starting the sustained high revs. I also use synthetic oil.
    As stated before, the gauges read normal before the incident.
     
  14. vincenzo

    vincenzo F1 Rookie

    Nov 2, 2003
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    #14 vincenzo, Mar 6, 2006
    Hopefully you've mearly been UFI'd.
    Check the filter seal.
    Quick reactions likely saved your bacon.
    Watch the oil vicosity/ temp & pressure.
    Make sure to torque your filter.
    I use 17ftlbs (if my memory is correct).
    Good Luck,
    Vince
     
  15. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

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    #15 jungathart, Mar 6, 2006
    Yes, good news I have [in Yoda voice]
    The gasket on the oil filter failed. I take it that this is being UFI-ed.
    I should be getting a new filter from T-Rutlands tomorrow.
    Even with proper torqueing, can this likely occur again??
     
  16. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 Steve Magnusson, Mar 6, 2006
    One thing that I've taking to doing (based on advice given here) is to reverse the D-ring gasket on the TR UFI oil filter so that the flat side is towards the flat engine flange and the curved side is towards the oil filter groove -- haven't had a problem (but then I don't have any long-term experence with the "normal" way to compare it to either).

    I thought there was also an audio "buzzer" to warn of no oil pressure -- but let me check that (I may be confusing it with some of the other myriad buzzers ;)).
     
  17. Prova85

    Prova85 Formula 3

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    #17 Prova85, Mar 6, 2006
    Huh ??? The last 2 UFI's I put on the gaskets were flat facing the engine. These were UFI # 23.192.02 perhaps the D-ring gaskets were on the older 23.192.00 models ?
     
  18. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #18 Steve Magnusson, Mar 6, 2006
    I'm not sure what the UFI part number is that I've used lately (and I tend to buy a couple~few at a time so my "last" one may not have been that fresh). It wouldn't surprise me at all if they've changed over to a more rectangular-shaped gasket (as they have on the UFI V8 oil filter) -- I'd almost prefer that since that's one less decision to make ;)
     
  19. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

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    #19 jungathart, Mar 6, 2006
    Steve,
    Thanks for the tip.
     
  20. FarmerDave

    FarmerDave F1 World Champ
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    #20 FarmerDave, Mar 6, 2006
    Anybody ever seen Escanaba in da Moonlight?

    This thread reminds me of that line,

    "My Chevy Chook a Chit"
     
  21. jungathart

    jungathart Guest

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    #21 jungathart, Mar 6, 2006
    Easy on the Cuervo there, cowboy! ;)
     
  22. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #22 Steve Magnusson, Mar 7, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I checked my records, and I've only ever used the 23 192 00 UFI oil filter so haven't seen the ...02 type yet -- I hope they have improved the seal design ;)

    Item 14 in this TR SPC illustration is described as:

    "Buzzer for lower oil pressure and exhaust high pressure"

    for the US and CH version TR. I'd bet most so-equipped TR have have had theirs disconnected due to flaky overtemp warning light ECU operation (mine was unplugged when I got it). Anyway, just an option to investigate if you'd like an additional, more-obvious, and quicker warning when/if an oil pressure problem occurs.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  23. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #23 Steve Magnusson, Mar 7, 2006
    Poor proofreading -- should be:

    "Buzzer for lower oil pressure and exhaust high temperature"
     
  24. Shamile

    Shamile F1 Veteran

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    #24 Shamile, Mar 13, 2006

    Dear Ferraristi,

    Glad to see it was just a filter seal !

    ...I really like the TR. I don't like anything beyond the TR series (TR, 512,M) of Ferrari. I really like the extravagant styling and wide back.

    I do hate that "engine out" servicing and stupid switches. My old 308 had such great solid toggle switches for everything.

    With this board's help, owning a TR is more of a pleasure than a headache. ( I know, which Ferrari isn't a headache :) )

    Shamile

    Freeze....Miami Vice !
     

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