Properly starting a 348

348 Owners: Do you follow these steps when starting your 348?

"It's a three stage process. First, turn the key to run, not start, then fasten your seat belts. Engage the parking brake, clutch, and shift to Neutral. Your 348 has now had time to energize relays and various electrics. Next, turn the ignition key to Start the car. Verify that you have oil pressure (first quarter mark). Let it idle only briefly until your ABS light, BRAKE light, Check engine lights (non-Euro 348's), and Slow Down lights (if any) turn off. At this point, your idle should be down below 1100 RPMs and stable. That's Stage 1. Release the parking brake.

Now begin driving, but initially keep your RPMs well below redline (except, be sure to shift *above* 4100 rpms to go cleanly into 2nd gear when cold). This may be a good point to mention that many, but not all (typically due to wear), models of 348's require the driver to push DOWN on the gear shift in order to shift into Reverse (say, to back out of your driveway after Starting the car per the above steps). Soon you should notice that when you return to idle, that your idle is 1000 RPMs on the money, that you have oil pressure on the first quarter mark on the oil temperature gauge at idle and at mid point by or before 4,000 RPMs. When your oil temperature also reaches the first quarter mark, then Stage 2 has ended (your mainshaft inside your transmission is now warm enough to avoid cold-tranny gear damage from hard shifts).

With good oil pressure, good oil temperature, and good water temperature, then so long as you have no caution lights on your dash, you are now good for maximum RPMs and full spirited driving.

Welcome to Stage Three. Drive on!"

348 Owners: Do you follow these steps when starting your 348?

 

No. I get in, buckle up, turn the key, and then let the car idle for about 10-15 seconds. Then I'm off!!! It takes me about 4-5 minutes to go through my neighborhood. By the time I am exiting onto the main road the oil temp has started coming up and I can feel free to rev the engine as I see fit.

BT

 

Pretty much. I don't put my seatbelt on until I'm ready to drive, but I do pause for a few seconds between turning the key to "on" and starting the engine.

Some folks like to let the engine idle for an extended period (10 minutes or so) before driving to let warm everything up. I've always been a believer in the best way to warm up a car is by driving it, albeit gently, until everything is up to temp.

- Eric

 

I turn the key to run (not start) and then wait for the fuel pump to finish its job before starting the car. I then let the idle for about 2-3 minutes (maybe 5 minutes if it is really cold outside) before driving it gently <3K rpm. When the oil temp gets to the first mark, I then open it up and drive normal.

 

Is this a joke? This is common sense stuff. If one were to actually keep all this at the forefront all the time, you would never actually get out of the driveway!

 

In addition, Ferrari recommends to keep the clutch pedal engaged when starting the car. Especially useful during hot starts.

 

I always get in my cars (at least the Ferraris/Lotus) and turn the key until the fuel pump comes on. I let it build pressure for a few seconds and then start the car. Then I let it warm up until the Water Temp gauge is at or pretty close to normal operating temperatures.

In the 6 years or so of owning Ferraris (and the Lotus) I have never had a major issue with any of my cars.

IMO, letting the car warm up slowly at around 1000 RPMs causes the least amount of wear on the cylinders/piston rings along with putting the least amount of stress on the seals before they have had a chance to warm up and presumably expand to the position they have become used to.

Just one guy's opinion. Maybe paranoia. But the warm up period allows me to walk around it and listen to it from outside the car, in addition to making sure I have any bit of dust removed from the car and that the thing is free of my little guy's fingerprints. ;-)

 

apparently not. Not sure what credentials the person that wrote the article has but I wanted to ask you guys.

I do not drive my car until it has warmed up to idle. Not a fan of driving cold engine.

 

When the engine is cold and the oil temp hasn't moved any, I always shift under 3000rpm until the oil temp starts to move. Also pushing the clutch in while starting is a good idea.

 

I follow it to a "T". I think of it as foreplay before the fun begins...

 

What is the significance of shifting into second gear above 4100 rpm when the transmission is cold? I've never heard of that before, and I can't think of any reason that it would make a difference.

 

+1

I just skip 2nd until the car is all warmed up.

Kai

 

I agree with HuskerBill that the "warm up" period gives you a few minutes to brush off any garage dust before heading out for a drive. I figure it this way, we men are always in a rush and you have to let a good woman warm up a little for a better ride. ;-)

 

I follow at least the turning the key to run first and letting all of the electrical issues and fuel pump take care of things before I start, and I never start a standard car without depressing the clutch.

Jeff, I think the idea about shifting above 4100 is that if you don't and your gearbox doesn't like shifting into second when it is cold anyway, it just works better. I am not a mechanic (I think you are so if you don't know I surely won't) but it works better when my car is cold to do that. I just skip 2nd anyway until it is warm, but just my .02

MB

 

Mmh, me thinks I don't want to rev that high until my oil is warmed up...

Kai

 

Let me ask a related question about this. So if you go somewhere and get the car valet parked, is there a possible issue with the valet attendant restarting the car when you come back to pick it up? My wife and I typically spend 3-3 1/2 hours at a nice restaurant for an evening out. So after that much time, is that a worry when the valet retrieves that car?

 

I think this whole deal of "properly starting" your 348 is really just for fun. The 348 is modern enough that you can just get in, turn the key, and go. The Motronic system can deal with it. Hopefully the valet driver isn't planning to redline it anyway.

 

I did not think you could start a manual transmission (stock/oem) with out initiating the clutch?

My 6spd has an auto start and the clutch is bi-passed but I added that so no clutch engagement necessary to start.

 

does the Ferrari owner's manual specify how to start the car, other than obviously turning the key and going?

 

Ahhhh ok. Thanks. While I wouldn't expect him to redline it, I was starting to get the impression that it was a problem for someone like the valet to jump in and pull it out.

 

I believe I read somewhere that Ferrari recommends NOT depressing the clutch while starting, otherwise you will prematurely wear out the throw out bearing.

 

Well, thats not what's printed in my Owners manual..

"Starting a cold engine

Make sure that the gearshift lever is in neutral.

Depress the clutch pedal and turn the key to position III to start the engine.

Do not press the accelerator pedal.

Release the key as soon as the engine fires..."

 

+1

 

I do the whole procedure to a T the exact same way everytime making sure it takes about 5 minutes in total.. It just adds to the mystic and also scares my wife enough not to joy ride it while I'm not home. I have her convinced that if you get even one part of it out of order the whole thing will explode :')

 

Yup - I do it exactly as NoDoubt says to - makes sense. I like the idea of going from 1st to 3rd too as it doesn't matter at what RPM - it grinds going into second until its really warm. My brake, ABS lights take a few minutes to come off and brakes to build up - not sure if that's a quirk - anybody else have that issue?