348 Marking Territory and the 348 (oil leaks)

no.

where are the drips? front of engine? rear of engine? all over?

sjd

 

Mine does not leak, it used to and it got worse and worse. Alternator was covered. It's good now.
I mentioned for you to call me before your guy started service to go over and pass on all the issues before tackling assembly again.

Anyhow, 100% it coming from the from cam seal area. It's generrally not the actual cam seals like everyone thinks. Assuming the cam seal housings are clocked right (often not when not done by Ferrari shop) then the issue is likely the cam housing o rings. The valve cover and block are razor sharp where they pinch the ring. You need to clearance the valve cover and block with a small file. When you put the valve cover on, use honda bond dab in the corners to seal it. Also make sure the valve cover gasket does not touch the o-ring.

If you pull the valve cover and spin the o-ring I bet you see abrasion where it gets pinched when clamped down.

There is actually a tsb on this. The oil will kill the alttwrnator also. I made a heat shield for it that protects from oil lean and heat, both mine leaked badly starting few hundred miles after service. When I did my own engine I checked my oringgggs and sure enough slight abrasion and pinch at the block and valve cover junction, it takes almost nothing for oil to get by. The valve cover at that oring junction is literally razor sharp.

It's easy to solve but it takes attention and of course being aware of the issue, it's why amazing mechanics who never did one of these engines miss it almost always. Once you see it and are aware it's so obvious you wonder why you never realized it.

Simple issue to resolve. Ohh and it really should be honda bond on clean oil free surface, not another permatex equivalent.

 

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/alternator-shield-diy.604393/

 

Ohh and many places sell orings in majo kits or as a sepwrrrater part but Ricambi sells the right one that is full depth of the oring groove and they are more durable than typical oring nitrile rubber. I think they are button. It's almost 2x as thick as typical black nitrile ones places sell.

I have like 3 different ones I bought from several places over the years. Most I would never put on. Only ones I ever got that were good is from Ricambi

 

Other link there are many.
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/348-cam-housing-leak-and-orings.513414/

There is also a jig to drill the 1-4 bank that has the head oil drain hole in the wrong place. Number of places that fail to clock the cam seal housings with drttain geoovcve to the oil drain holes is probably very high if not familiar with the engines no matter how amazing the mechanic is.

 

The cam seal housing in silver aluminum along the valve cover seam in red, run your finger 180 degrees under, you should feel some oil, it always looks like the cam seals weeping (if you stick a bore scope there and look) but the o ring tends to leak and oil runs along those surfaces to the bottom then drips. Typically can feel oil shortly after stopping when engine it at operating temps. It easier to do with bank 4-8 I find, you can also use a inspection mirror look.

It's not a car problem btw its a mechanic problem, it just seems like a car problem because it happens a lot and almost always when service is not done by an Ferrari only Indy shop which was done these before. Just one of those details specific to these that there is no way of knowing unless you encountered it.

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I assume your car has the newer housings with the drain channel but pretty sure the block oil drain hole for 1-4 is still in the wrong spot.
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What happens.

 

if its leaking on both sides then its not the clocking of the housing, you still have the issue of the 1-4 oil hole being in the wrong spot its at like 4 o'clock instead of 6.
But if its leaking both side its almost 100% the cam o-ring pinched or the head gasket is touching the o ring which will also cut it.

You can fix/replace those o-rings while the engine is in the car. Cut the o-ring, pull it out, cut new Ricambi o-ring and slide it down and around with the cut at 12 o'clock where there is no oil. Clearance the block and valve cover, its it literally as sharp as a razor, no joke.