PPI Today

I would have it done by someone who knows what they are doing, a trained ferrari tech. I failed to follow this advice myself and now am having to shell out some $$$ to fix a leakdown issue.

 

You want someone to do your leakdown test who:
A. knows the difference between a wet and dry leakdown test
B. knows to do a leakdown test when your engine is hot


You generally want similar numbers. One cylinder or one bank of cylinders out of whack would indicate specific problems.

 

What model year is it? late '98's and '99's had upgraded valve guides and I've never heard a first hand case of them failing. I know some may disagree...but personally I'd skip it on a late model car, especially with low miles. Depends on your comfort level with the documentation, etc. I had it done at a dealer, and quite honestly I'm not sure the guy who did it knew what he was doing.

For the many experts here - what are the chances that a car even with 'bad' valve guides would have a bad leakdown after only 5k miles?? Under a certain mileage is it not worth it?

 

Personal preference is to have the guides changed on an earlier car or budget for the work. We've discussed that there is a greater likelihood that the guides will be an issue on lower mileage early cars due to the lack of proper use. Heresay, true, but some of this comes from mechanics and I think Brian/rifledriver (CA Bay Area Ferrari mechanic) expressed this same concern.

 

+1.... that is always a possibility.....

That is if the 5k mile claim is accurate.....although I am no expert.......... odo rollbacks are not as rare as I previously thought.... I put that many miles on my 355 in the first 8 months of ownership...

+100 ....

 

You're going to get a bad leakdown if your cam belts are mistimed because that opens valves at the wrong time (tough to have a good seal when you've got open valves!).

You're going to get a bad leakdown if you have carbon buildup that prevents valves from fully closing/sealing.

Spark plugs aren't screwed down far enough? Air can leak through there, too.

Burned valve? Broken/bent valve? Bent valve guide? Those things could be detected in many/some cases by the leakdown test.

It's an inexpensive test. Budget two hours of your time and $150 to buy a leakdown test kit if you want to do it yourself fora bit of peace-o-mind on an $80k or so purchase. The kit's reusable, too.

 

Darryl

 

Explain this to me. How is it cam timing will effect leakdown, done when the valves are closed? GEEZ!
Think it through before you type.

Dave

 

Thanks for the correction. Sorry about that.

 

Is the car in Florida??? If so use Tim Stanford. He is the man down there!