Question for you 308 owners with gas struts on the engine cover | FerrariChat

Question for you 308 owners with gas struts on the engine cover

Discussion in '308/328' started by flyngti, Jun 7, 2025.

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  1. flyngti

    flyngti Formula 3

    Jul 16, 2009
    1,246
    Snohomish, WA
    Full Name:
    Eric L
    So I saw something odd at an event today. A 308 QV parks, the owner gets out and lifts the engine cover release. The cover then raises up on it's own.

    Is this normal for a car with the gas struts?

    My car has the center prop and it's an intentional act to pull the release lever and manually lift the cover. I guess I never paid attention to what happens on cars with the gas struts. I didn't have a chance to ask the owner about it but it just struck me as odd.
     
  2. ChevyDave

    ChevyDave Formula Junior

    Dec 21, 2019
    407
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Full Name:
    Dave W
    Not currently on my '83 US model, but then I haven't owned it from new. ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯
    - Dave
     
  3. Ehamilton

    Ehamilton F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 13, 2010
    2,633
    Durham, NC; USA
    Full Name:
    Eric Hamilton
    With new struts, lifted an inch or so on its own.
     
  4. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
    6,871
    Full Name:
    Mike 996
    Depends on the struts AND the outside air temp. On a warm summer day the (replacement) struts on my 328 will lift the hood once I raise it a few inches. In the winter they won't raise the hood at all. These were replacement struts I installed a couple of years ago - don't recall the brand but they were recommended here and I'm 4,893.37 miles from the car so I can't check. Yes, back in the old days I would have said, "I'm around 5000 miles from the car." Ain't Hi-tech great?
     
  5. Slow_Learner

    Slow_Learner Rookie

    Aug 24, 2024
    8
    Full Name:
    Wesley S Wilburn
    On my 84 with new struts from AW Italian, the lid goes all the way up when pulling the latch. I have to make sure it is not too high on the lift or it will hit the garage door.
     
  6. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,807
    Cerritos, CA.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    When I had my original hood strut repaired, I told the shop to add an extra pressure or gas then after I installed it as soon as I pull the lever or the latch, the hood will go all the way up by itself.
     
  7. Sergio Tavares

    Sergio Tavares Formula 3

    Nov 15, 2018
    1,304
    Full Name:
    Sergio Tavares
    lubricate the clevis pins too.
    My 328 does it but not when I bought it.
    I assumed both were bad so i ordered two as price was not bad. Found out one with FERRARI was still good so moved it to Drivers Side concours viewing better and installed new replacement on passengers side.

    BTW new struts are great but say STABILITANT but not Ferrari any more
     
  8. kcabpilot

    kcabpilot Formula 3

    Apr 17, 2014
    1,606
    California SF bay area
    Full Name:
    Paul
    Under the right environmental conditions if you had new struts and everything was lubed up and you only had one coat of paint and maybe a slight breeze happened by it's possible. But if you're just sitting in the car and your wife comes out of the store with thirty pounds of shopping bags and asks you to pop the trunk, don't count on it.
     
    mike996 likes this.
  9. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    36,420
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    I'm not certain I would want that type of pressure on those areas. Seems like it could be a potential problem unless you remember to close the cover by hand by pushing down ABOVE those struts and not at the edge of the lid.

    But I could be wrong.
     
  10. spirot

    spirot F1 World Champ

    Dec 12, 2005
    15,112
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Tom Spiro
    On my 328 about 10 years ago, I was at Roebling road for a track meet. I had checked oil etc., and apparently did not latch the hood.... drove out on course and the entire deck lid rose up ... and was balanced by the strut ( that were new ) and the wind resistance... they black flagged me....
     
  11. flyngti

    flyngti Formula 3

    Jul 16, 2009
    1,246
    Snohomish, WA
    Full Name:
    Eric L
    Thanks everyone for the replies. Sounds like automatically lifting upon release is not the typical behavior. Maybe he had more powerful struts than OEM. I'll be sure to ask the next time I see the owner
     
  12. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,776
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    The gas springs themselves may have a marking on them in the format of "XXXN" (XXX Newtons of force) to compare to the stock force level. These systems (mounting/linkages plus gas spring) are usually designed to be more of a counterweight in the down position (i.e., needs just a little force to raise it up when released) but has enough force to hold it up when in the up position -- rather than an actuator to lift it up when released.
     
  13. gdl203

    gdl203 Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 16, 2022
    292
    New York
    Full Name:
    Greg L
    I've had it happen a few times, less than 5% of the times I've pulled the latch lever. Can't explain why or when it happens but probably some atmospheric pressure conditions?
     
  14. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    36,420
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    Or when it's really hot back there.
     

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