oil level check in 550

My car takes approx 1 litre (not quart) between Min and Max. If you are just reaching the tip of the dipstick, I would suggest you start with the 1 1/2 quarts you have left. The procedure to check the level, as has been pointed out here already, is to check the level immediately after stopping the motor, after the oil has been brought up to temperature.
Good luck

P.S. Make sure the car is on level ground!

 

I owned that same 550 and now own the Maranello 575. Put in the other 1 1/2 qts. And the "system" holds MORE than 3 1/2 gallons. I am not sure where those numbers in the manual come from but they are not right.

I suppose that if you only change the external oil tank and do not change the filters then maybe the replacement oil would only end up as 10.65 qts. This I can see. If you leave the drain plug in the engine and leave the oil filters on then 10.65 qts. seems correct.

The difference between the low and high marks on the oil stick is 2 qts.

aehaas

 

The simple answer is yes: add more than the 10.65 quarts.

--Dan

 

'Driver side of block at the lower cylinder level. there is nothing else there that is a hex bolt. Sorry, no pictures.

aehaas

 

I did not get to a plug on the passenger side as there is the starter there and no way to get to a plug if it does exist.

On the driver side I do not remember exactly but it seems to have been in about the middle, lower cylinder level. Again, there is nothing else there to confuse with it. If you get there and are confused then take a picture and PM me, I'll point it out.

aehaas

 

Am I missing something here????????Do you have an Owner's Manual?

If you do have a manualm then you need to go back and read your manual. It clearly states 10 liters or 2.2 gallons which equates to 10.57 US qts. It also clearly states that the bottom mark to the top mark takes 2 liters. No where in either 550/575 owners or shop manual does it state 2.65 gallons.

You also do not need to disconnect hoses from the oil cooler as the lines are at the bottom and it drains into the oil tank at the bottom as well. Just make sure the engine is warm and the oil will come out like a Texas Gusher.

Fill it with 8 liters and it should be at the bottom of the stick. Then engine then needs to warm up and you can add to the right level. You don't have to have it shut down like the manual says and it ain't going to bite you. The dip stick just measures a point a little above 1/2 in the tank, which is what "any" dry sump system design correctly is prescribed to have in it to breath properly. Shutting it off and checking imediately works fine if you want to follow the manual to the letter.....and you don't have it splashing, but I like to see it with a flashlight while it's warming up.....but that's just because I'm a racer and race cars don't have dipsticks in their dry sumps.

The owner's manual has all kinds of good info if you just take the time to read it.

d

 

Oh, one more thing. I've found most Ferrari's will blow out 1/2 quart to quart in short order if you fill them the entire way if you do any type of track or hard performance driving. Right in between the (2) marks seems to do the trick.

d

 

If you drain the oil hoses as I do you will find the system will take 16 qts of oil.

I have the 575 owners manual in my hand right now. Here are some quotes:
Engine system capacity - 2.64 US Gall. (10 L), Quantity between Min. and Max. - 0.53 US Gall. (2 L). Oil consumption 0.26 to 0.53 US Gall./600 miles.

These are directly from the manual in my hand right now.

aehaas

One more thing. I have run 0W-20 Mobil 1 oil for over 6,000 miles on the last oil change and 1,000 miles of the current oil and have not added a drop of make up oil. My used oil chemical analyses show this oil to have less wear particles in it than running less miles with the 5W-40 Shell recommended oil.

 

interesting, isn't it? I have the OEM Ferrari shop manuals that require the Ferrari Hardlock key just like the dealers and it has in print 10 liters (2.2 gal)

But do the math and 10 liter equals 2.65 gallons not 2.2 so go figure. I never pay attention to "gallons" just liters as I know they are just shy of qts and that's how all our Mobil 1 products come. The Shell Helix we stock and sell at more than twice the price of Mobil 1 comes in liters.

BTW, I looked it up in 550 shop and owners as well as 575 shop and owners just to double check before I wrote this too.

However the facts are that who measures by the gallon unless anyhow......10 liters is 10.56 qts, not 12.

10.5 qts does an oil change on a 550 including changing the filters. The dealer is not disconnecting oil lines to change oil, so if you can get 16 qts, that means the oil cooler is holding 6qts of oil? I did not know or see a check valve in the parts manual to hold that from draining out of the tank. Six quarts is no small amount, I'm going to have to look further into this.

 

D Moore is right, the shop manual does say 10 L (2.20 gal.) but take my experience in doing this many times, it takes 12 qts. to fill the tank for a normal oil change (with filter) and 15 to 16 qts if you take down ALL the oil lines, not just the ones to the oil cooler. These lines seem as though their internal diameters are an inch or more.

aehaas