Newbie question -2013 458 - checking engine oil level

Yes, with running engine

 

Almost all dry sump engines require the engine to be running when checking the oil. Not sure of the exact reason why.

 

Check the engine with the oil hot, that means driving the car 10 miles or so. Let it idle on a level surface. Get some good mechanics gloves, as the cap on the dipstick will be hot enough to burn your hands. Pull it out, wipe it off. Insert the stick so that the cap sits flush on the top of the reservoir. Pull it out and check the level. It should be between min and max. If it is low to middle that is great. Do not try to top it off to the max level. Too high an oil level can cause many expensive problems.

 

The engine needs to be running so that the oil is circulating through the dry sump system

 

Dry sump motors essentially have at least 2 oil pumps as well as 2 areas where the oil is stored. The storage areas are the oil pan and an external oil tank. The advantages are that since the pan can be smaller, the engine can sit lower. The first pump is from the pan to the external storage and the second pump (or more) is to the engine itself. This way there is no oil starvation in high g situations as the oil sloshes around the pan since the engine is actually "fed" from the external tank which is then "topped off" by the pump in the pan. You need to check oil level when engine is running because the system needs to be equalized.

Most cars have a wet sump system where the oil is in the oil pan and there is a single pump which sucks the oil out of the pan to pressurize the system. Here, running the engine results in churning of the oil in the pan and this can cause falsely high or low levels on the dip stick. In regards to performance, there can be g force induced oil starvation as the oil goes away from the pickup. Lost the engine in my Cayman on turn 1 and Mid Ohio which is a high speed sweeping left hander. New engine has a deeper pan as well as internal baffling to prevent the oil from pooling and to increase oil capacity by 2 quarts.

 

Yes, with the motor running. Ironically, it's easy to miss the part in red in the manual (where it's a bit more clear), especially if you are super focused on reading the procedure section just below it

Ray
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When you open the oil cap there is a column and two small holes. Does the oil have to be on any of them
Forgive me guys I am a new owner of ferrari 458 as well....

Sent from my SM-N9500 using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

Not sure what you are asking, but if by "column" you mean dipstick (the piece of metal hanging down from the cap when you take it off), then yes, there are two holes in it. The bottom hole is the "low level" and the top hole is the "high level". The oil should wind up between the two holes. Fill slowly, DON'T OVER FILL!!!
If I misunderstood the question, sorry.

 

You can either follow the specific directions in the owners manual - or you can kinda wing it when the motor is cold also. Usually if the oil is to the correct level, then when the motor is cold, check the dipstick and you'll see a little bit of oil on the tip - about half way between the two dots as I recall. That's not the official method as outlined in the manual, but it will basically let you know if the oil level is up to par. Checking the oil level when the motor is hot and with everything running is a hassle, especially if you don't happen to have welding gloves with you

Ray

 

check this sultan

Ever checked your OIL LEVEL ?
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/ever-checked-your-oil-level.441295/


Oil change by pictures
http://www.diagnostichaus.com/2016/01/ferrari-458-oil-change.html

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The second link is amazing! Thank you

 

Ha, was just reading the manual and thought: that can't be right, nobody checks fluids on a running engine!?
Lo and behold, found this thread. No wonder there are gloves in the toolkit