Is this coolant leak normal? | FerrariChat

Is this coolant leak normal?

Discussion in '348/355' started by butcher, Feb 16, 2010.

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  1. butcher

    butcher Formula 3

    Oct 19, 2008
    2,339
    Castro Valley, CA
    Full Name:
    Albert
    Last Saturday morning, after driving the F355 with other F-car owners pretty spiritedly for approximately 2 hours, we stopped to have an hour long breakfast. After breakfast, while pulling out of my parking space, another driver noted a 1 foot X 1 foot pool of green liquid that had apparently leaked from my car. I noticed that after starting up my car, it was idling strangely for about a minute or so and then the engine behaved normally. Along with the group, I drove in slow traffic for about 15 minutes to another destination and did not notice any overheating, as the oil and water temp guages remained within normal limits. After stopping at the next destination, a car dealership for approximately 1 hour, I started my car up again and did not notice any coolant leak or strange idle. I then drove home on the freeway for about 30 minutes with no problem. After checking my coolant level the next day with the car cold, I noticed the level to not be low (only about 1 inch below the filler cap). I just had my yearly fluid service less than 2 months ago. Is it normal for coolant to leak spontaneously after driving the car as I've outlined above. And if there was a significant coolant leak, How come my coolant level does not appear to be low. I've had the car for more than a year and never had this happen before. Is this something to worry about?
     
  2. ronrob

    ronrob Formula Junior

    Jan 15, 2007
    395
    Var, S.E. France
    Full Name:
    Ronald Brown
    There are 11 litres (= 2.9 US gallons = 2.42 Imperial gallons) of coolant so there's a fair difference in volume between a cold and hot (355 hot!) engine. In my case (measuring from the TOP of the screwed filler neck to the liquid level) when cold, there's almost a 2 inch distance when things have cooled down after a run. This corresponds well with the owners manual which says that the distance "must not fall below 2.8 to 3.1 inches (6 to 8 cm) below the filler cap".

    So, if you only lost some coolant once (and a foot square patch ain't much especially if it's a non-absorbant surface) I would say that you have nothing to worry about. Simply check that the level stays the same (within the range above) after a few runs and don't be tempted to fill it up!
     
  3. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    100,232
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    Sounds like your coolant cap may be on its way out Albert. :):)
     
  4. tech4ferrari

    tech4ferrari Karting
    Professional Ferrari Technician

    Jan 22, 2010
    234
    Mt Airy N,C
    Full Name:
    casey johnson
    I WOULD THINK YOU GOT A LITTLE OVERFILLED LAST SERVICE AND ONCE THE CAR GOT GOOD AND HOT IT PUSHED EXCESS OUT OF THE OVERFILL TUBE, YOU SHOULD BE GOOD NOW!
     
  5. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,785
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    I thought it was 20 litres?
     
  6. Europeanroadandracing

    Europeanroadandracing South Carolina
    Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 19, 2003
    2,228
    Isle of Palms, SC
    Full Name:
    Karl Troy
    As someone alraedy mentioned, sounds like the coolant level just equalized itself after it was overfilled.
    All perfectly normal as long as you don't lose any more.
     

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