The strangest leak you probably have ever seen

I had a coolant leak in same area of my 83, I can’t remember how but I tightened up a couple nuts and it stopped

 

Take that plug out and put sealant on it. The only other possibility is porosity in the block but the water jacket only comes down to the top of that rib you see between the two head stud bosses.

 

I have seen similar. Maybe condensation??? Thought about drilling a small weep hole in the low spot.....

 

Isnt the motor supposed to be hot to do this pressure test ?

 

That plug could have sealed on it's own again. It is not uncommon for these aluminum plugs to develop leaks over time and leaks can cure when escaped cooling fluid crystallize etc. There are new plugs available from the usual vendors if you tear the threads during removal.

Best, Peter

 

Porosity is a known problem, but more for oil then water... But it does happen. Resin impregnation fixes that.
More likely that it's the plug. Personally if I couldn't track the leak back to a specific point, I'd strip the block all they way down, and get it checked for cracks... And since I'm at it.. Have it resin impregnated.

 

I have seen it too but to a much lesser extent also on 308. I can't remember is 2 or 4 valve. I can't remember if I have seen that on other motors cases. My guess from what I have seen in past is also condensation. Usually if the plug leaks there is a witness trail and you do not seem to have that.

 

As Michael above says, maybe it only leaks when hot. I found the plugs in brass, pm me your address if you want one.

 

Someone pressure cleaned the engine in the past and forced some water in there?

 

I had an oil leak from the starter bolt years ago and speculated it was the center allen plug copper washer. This was 1995 and the 328 was not that old. Out of warranty and the owner wasn't keen on having his engine pulled and torn apart for that. I measured, drilled a hole on the lower corner. A lot of oil poured out. I then measured again and used a hole saw to cut a hole where the allen plug was. Pulled the plug, changed the clearly leaking copper washer and put it all back together. Owner was happy. Leak was gone.
I think that corrosion could easily be condensation build up in a confined area. That aluminum plug is a bugger to get out and you will be replacing it as Ferrari never intended it to be reused. Best to you. These cars are always an adventure.
As I tell people all the time, the tough part about working on these cars is how many things you have to figure out and fix that you will never see again.

 

I had that on my QV as well. I just assumed it was leaking in from above somehow and didn't do anything to prevent it from recurring. I wonder what it looks like now...

 

Sorry if I'm not understanding correctly - you used a hole saw on the clutch housing cover, then fixed the leak. What does one use to patch up the hole on the cover, if anything?

 

We used a rubber plug to cover the hole. The cavity actually holds nothing, except escaped oil in this case. even if it were left open, there would be no issue. It is just empty space.

 

Do not recommend welding those... Bad idea.
The oil plug is meant to be removed for cleaning out the passages,esp after any kind of tank cleaning.

And there's also the real PITA of welding Ferrari castings... If the welder hasn't touched a Ferrari casting... Not the time to learn. Casting porosity is a real problem and makes welding all kinds of 'fun'.

Recommend remove and replace plugs. Oh and Ferrari used tapered metric threading, yeah it's a thing... Unusual but real.