motor oil for Testarossa

My TR went 115k miles on Castrol GTX.

 

Rene -- What is your reference for 10W50? (My TR OMs call for 10W40). I also have just been using Castrol GTX 10W40.

 

Rene:

I have a 1985 Ferrari 308QV and a 1990 Alfa Spider. Both cars require Agip 10W-50 as per the owners manuals and stickers in the engine compartment. Agip has not made 10W-50 for serveral years. They now make 10W-40 SINT 2000 or (SYNT 2000 - same stuff but one is made in Europe and one is made in the USA) and this is the oil recommended by Agip, my local Ferrari dealer, and my mechanic. The stuff is hard to find, so you may want to call Agip (www.americanagip.com) and have them ship you several cases.

Ken

 

I wouldn't consider anything but synthetic, and Castrol now makes a 5W50, which I like as the lower starting weight provides better protection at startup. I use synthetic in the transaxle of my 308 as well.

 

Here in the UK we use Shell Helix Ultra 5W/40, this has been specially "blended" by Shell for Ferrari

MW

 

If you have any extreme use, and/or very high ambient temperatures, use a 10w60.

Malcolm, the 360 Challenges turn the shell to gnats pi55 here in Oz. The datalogging shows spikes of huge oil temp and pressure loss using shell.

Michelotto use 10w60 in the 360 GT cars, in all conditions.

I find Castrol R synthetic 10w60 bombproof in all cases, but pricy.

 

Phil,

To clarify we only use the Shell Helux 5W/40 in road cars, we still use Shell in our Challange cars, it's the same viscocity as you are useing being 10W/60

MW

 

I would not just add a liter every 500-600 miles, always check first as every engine is different than the manual. I would suggest waiting a minute or so after shut down and read the dipstick

 

Rene - be carefull how long you wait after stopping the engine before checking the oil level, the longer you wait the more chance you have of overfilling - the best way is to check the level as soon as you have stopped the engine.

MW

 

A tip=If you aren't used to watching your oil pressure guage, start doing it. When mine is properly filled, it goes directly to the TDC of the pressure guage and doesn't drop at idle but a hair. You can tell if your oil is low or needs checking. Then you don't have to really worry about letting it get too low.

 

Ferrari changes the spec on the recommended oil based on their favored supplier, and what that supplier makes. There is a service bulletin dated 6-15-88 #00-25 stating that the new preferred oil is now Agip Sint 2000 10w-40 and that the recommendation switched, based on 10w-50 no longer being made by Agip.

I am certain if you were to ask, they would recommend that you use the current Shell Helix 5w-40 synthetic, which is likely to be fully compatible with you car.

Personally, I would just find something that suits you, they are all probably fine. Mobil 1 5w-40 or 0w-40 is probably much cheaper than the Shell Helix, and just as good, if not better.

Check the threads on oil pressure and oil "weight" both on the new and old site. Great info by Ali Haas on the subject.

 

Dave:

Where did you get the info regarding the service bulletin? Is there a source to obtain the service bulletins of Ferraris either on the Internet or privately?

Ken

 

Ken,
go here: http://ferrari.stevejenkins.com/books/

I got the info from the link for the 328 tech specs, etc...it has some of the relevant TSB and service bulletins and some apply to other models of Ferraris at the time. I know of no comprehensive list of TSB's or serivce bulletins available any where specific on the net or available for purchase.

 

I agree with Dave and that is my understanding as well. I believe Ferrari went from Agip to Shell in 1996, for both their F1 team and road cars. My understanding is that as long as you stay within the same oil weight recommended for your car and for the climate you are in, you will be fine. I would however, use synethics oil instead of conventional oil as they tend to provide better range of protection.