testarossa oil residue on engine block

The cylinders themselves are internal, so all you can see externally is the block, or lets say, engine housing, though it has a cast in appearance of cylinders. Because the cylinders are horizontal, the left and right side cylinder heads, which includes the camshafts and valves and outer cam covers, mounts to both sides of the block horizontally, and run laterally fore and aft. The cam covers are what the idividual spark plug leads go through to reach the plugs, and are usually painted red. The grey pipes your speaking of, I assume are the individual exhaust header (primary) pipes you see underneath the engine looking up. If so, each side of the engine should collect into two groups and collect, then follow into the muffler. On the top, you should see other individual pipes (assuming its injected) going into the air box/manifold plenum, and these are the air intakes.

At the front (forward end) of the engine, at the front end of the cam covers, are where the two camshafts protrude, and each have sprockets for the timing belt drive. These should be under a cover and difficult to see. Its not uncommon or even that harmful to have minor oil seepage along gasket seams or around the seals at the fronts of the cam covers. But any oil leaks should be investigated to find thier source and fully see the extent of the leak. If oil soaks your timing belts, even just getting them wet a bit, you could be in serious trouble.

My own cars, others ive seen first hand, and all the pictures I have ever seen posted of any Ferrari's getting the engine out for major service have all been extremely dirty and oily. 308's, 348's, 355's, Dino's, old 250 V-12's, they all get really dirty. So while you right to be concerned, there is no need to panic until you find the cause and determine if its bad enough to warrant fixing. A thin film that collects under the engine block would not concern me. Oil drips that start dripping on the ground and soaking parts of the engine would be, and anything near the belts would have me extremely concerned.

 

so what is the best technic for cleaning the engine for a show...steamin it or using Simple Green and some light water to wash it???

 

WD-40 by far the best
Rgds,
Vince

 

I try to use mineral spirits as much as possible, but cans of engine degreaser work well too. Sometimes you really have to get in there with rags or brushes to rub it all off though. I would be careful with high pressure washers as it could blow through a gasket or seal, and would try not to use anything caustic. Brake parts cleaner works well, but could damage paint.