This is a heads up concerning a not so obvious issue. A few weeks ago I noticed a puddle of anti freeze under the car. It was about 1.5 inches across. Its source was the surge tank which I could hear fizzling at the edges joining the halves together. As these tanks are pricey I pulled mine out. There is a mounting bolt not accessable from above but easy from below on a hoist. Then I took it to a radiator shop. Once cleaned out the tank was found to be riddled with pin holes about to become leaks. Three patches, two coats of some interior liner chemical, and $96.00 US later, it is good as new. One tow truck ride has been averted. It might pay to have a good look at yours. Greg
Greg You obviously are set up in the "correct" configuration with the non-pressure / vacuum cap on the radiator and the pressure cap on the surge tank. I ran my car for 4 years with the caps reversed; the car came that way and I only learned the "correct" way via this forum. If you fill the radiator per the shop manual all of the expansion takes place in the top of the radiator (it has a large top tank) and the surge tank should only get some condensation. I switched my caps and still fill radiator correctly. I now have some level in the surge tank and will keep a look out for tank leaks. One can always let it cool down and switch caps and carry on. It works! Ken
Hi - Can either of you post a pic of the caps in situ regarding the above? Thanks for any assistance -
Mine is still apart so I can't take a photo. But I did go look for you. The caps look identical to me. However, the surge tank cap has 0.90 written on it. This agrees with the manual which refers to 0.90 for that tank. Greg
The cap with the 0.90 is the pressure release cap. The 0.90 is the number of "bar" (atmospheres) with 1 bar equal to the atmospheric pressure at sea level. With the pressure release rating of 0.90 bar and since 1 bar = 14.5 lbs., that means that it is a 13 lb. cap, which is what the manual recommends. BTW, a surge tank from a Jaguar (XJ6 I think) is a very good replacement for the Ferrari version and it costs only about $300 compared to over $600 for the Ferrari part. I'm all for originality with Ferrari parts but only up to a point, and that point is radiator surge tanks.
Thanks for the expertise - Seller replaced the Ferrari Cap w/ a lever one that's gotta be set just right to avoid leakage - I'm recovering the original Ferrari Cap in the am - Here's some pics of the red lever cap and another related? cap I've no idea about...(-* Thanks, Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
these tanks should be replaced, we install new tanks on all models. These tanks have been know to explode, they can't last forever. Most ferrari parts dealers have them in stock (we do)
anytime. if the tank is bad the rad won't be too far behind. Have the rad recored properly and you'll have one less worry.
