Running hot? | FerrariChat

Running hot?

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by tohubohu, Jul 7, 2008.

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  1. tohubohu

    tohubohu Karting

    Jun 23, 2008
    85
    NY NY
    Full Name:
    John Ford
    I just drove up from south Jersey in a 97 550 I bought down there. The car ran very close to red in heavy traffic, stopped, or slogging along at idle on a hot day. Once the car got up to 10 or 20, the gauge settled right back. Anyone seeing the same? Suggestions?
     
  2. Jsuit

    Jsuit Formula 3

    Jul 12, 2005
    1,178
    East Coast
    Full Name:
    John
    Get a set of spal usa (Ferrari OEM supplier) 3000cfn fans you will never run hot again. Mention it is a 550 and they will send you the correct adapter.

    John
     
  3. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran

    could be a couple of things also:

    Just cooling the temp doesn't always solve the problem, just make you think so.

    1. IF you have a head or other engine gasket leak, you may be slowly bleeding into the coolant: check the coolant chemical makeup or other areas.

    2. Your radiator may just be clogging over time. I believe you have the Aluminium one, which were more solved than earlier 12 cyl. models, which had thinner tube diameters, but do get clogged over time anyway. You should check in that area, and if yours is possible to get it unclogged, do so. My experience is with the 456, so, 550/575 had better solutions...heck the 456M was better.

    last resort: Redline water wetter but still only keeps temp down. Not a total solution to what may be causing the problem.

    You probably wouldn't notice the high temp until > 80 mph, on a hot day, when ambient is > 80F outside, and your running strong, for a length of time....then probably would notice a big rise...ESPECIALLY when you come to a slow down in traffic. I'm bettin' on that scenario for your observations.

    IF only in slow traffic on a moderate day: you got problems.
    r
     
  4. mwhitesell

    mwhitesell Formula 3

    Sep 17, 2006
    1,083
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Mark
    It could be that the fans aren't coming on. I would check all the fuses since you just bought it.
     
  5. bundas

    bundas F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Dec 31, 2005
    7,090
    lexington ky usa
    Full Name:
    mitchell barnes
    a noise of squeak for ten min. maybe then stopped. water temp rose quickly above center. as soon as car moved temp. dropped. drove 250 miles home, no other problem? maybe! think bearing in idler pulley for water pump belt failed. will look at the problem later.
     
  6. henryr

    henryr Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 10, 2003
    22,329
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Juan Sánchez Villa-L
    did u get the car PPI'd ?
     
  7. dahecht

    dahecht Rookie

    Jun 18, 2008
    24
    I took my 98 550 up to Ojai on a very hot day,105+, we got stuck in traffic on the 101 and it was stop and go never over 5 mph. The very close to the red, I didn't want to take a chance and got off and went over one of the canyons to Pacific Coast Hwy, never had a problem after that
     
  8. dersark_painclinic

    dersark_painclinic Formula Junior

    Mar 8, 2005
    981
    Glendale, CA
    Full Name:
    Lazik Der Sarkissian
    By any chance you have any information on them.
    Thanks, Sark
     
  9. tohubohu

    tohubohu Karting

    Jun 23, 2008
    85
    NY NY
    Full Name:
    John Ford
    and no. I had an experienced mechanic in the region, recommended by the Ferrari club, ready to check it out. He called the dealer, knew the dealer, knew the car, knew the previous owner, knew the service history, and said I'd be wasting my money and his time if I sent him down. I went on his word, and I still think it was good, although I expect to get much flak. The car is otherwise better than advertised and I'm glad to see (another thread) that someone else has had the same experience. It was VERY hot and a VERY long tie up--hours. Best advice so far, I think, is to get the core flushed if it happens again. Thanks to everyone.
     

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