F355 Would you buy this car?

Antarctica · 10-19-2011, 01:39 PM

Hello, I have the following numbers on an F355 with 30000 mi and full, engine out belt (30k @ Ferrari Deaiership)1000 miles ago:
Cylinder Compression Leakdown %
#1 200 4%
#2 190 14%
#3 210 5%
#4 205 4%
#5 205 5%
#6 205 6%
#7 200 9%
#8 200 3%
The test was dry, up to temperature.
Is cylinder #2 a dealbreaker?
Thanks!!

il Capolino · 10-19-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antarctica

Hello, I have the following numbers on an F355 with 30000 mi and full, engine out belt (30k @ Ferrari Deaiership)1000 miles ago:
Cylinder Compression Leakdown %
#1 200 4%
#2 190 14%
#3 210 5%
#4 205 4%
#5 205 5%
#6 205 6%
#7 200 9%
#8 200 3%
The test was dry, up to temperature.
Is cylinder #2 a dealbreaker?
Thanks!!

Ask them to redo #2 compression test. Sometimes they don't get it right. Be present though.

Antarctica · 10-19-2011, 02:40 PM

Thanks for the reply.

We did it several times and 14 was best (last reading). First was 19%. Compression was stable.

The leakdown was intake.

The test was dry.

The opinion was that there was buildup on the valve...

plausible??

il Capolino · 10-19-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antarctica

Thanks for the reply.

We did it several times and 14 was best (last reading). First was 19%. Compression was stable.

The leakdown was intake.

The test was dry.

The opinion was that there was buildup on the valve...

plausible??

Build-up is normally on the exhaust side from the exposure of the the valve and valve seat sealing surfaces to the combusted gas flowing past at high temperatures. It is normally caused by unfinished combustion (imperfect carburation) which continues to combust after the exhaust valves have opened, damaging the fine sealing surfaces. It always worsens so a valve and valve seat grinding is needed (if it is a build-up). A build-up on the intake is not good at all. It means you're eventually shooting up combustion in the intake internals (fire and damage warning!).

I don't know how the valve design looks in detail on the 355 but bear in mind it has three intake valves so it is a little bit more complex. On the other hand it has hydraulically adjusted valves so valve play should be under control. Perhaps there has been something wrong on the hydraulic valve adjustment causing a valve or two to burn a build-up? Any Ferrari engineers/mechanics around to enlighten us?

Low compression can also come from blow-by meaning a piston ring can be damaged or broken.

355dreamer · 10-19-2011, 03:45 PM

What year is this car?

Antarctica · 10-19-2011, 03:55 PM

1996

il Capolino · 10-19-2011, 04:05 PM

It's a buyer's market, lots of opportunities out there. I say walk.

Antarctica · 10-19-2011, 04:17 PM

I appreciate the honesty!

Consensus?

I'm emotionally tied to getting an F355...but not tied to THIS car.

355dreamer · 10-19-2011, 05:21 PM

I think the numbers look pretty good. Is the car a GTB/S or a spider. That would have a big impact on pricing, with the latter being on the lower end.

Knowing the 355 market pretty well, I can't imagine that you will find a closed top car with better numbers for much less. Have the headers been replaced?

Antarctica · 10-19-2011, 05:36 PM

It's a spider that had a major within the last 1000 miles from a F-Dealership. Original headers and no records to support the valves were done...

...that #2 has me tentative...

...the car "looks" beautiful, of course.

355dreamer · 10-19-2011, 05:59 PM

1000 miles, but how long ago?

Antarctica · 10-19-2011, 06:20 PM

Sorry, earlier this year; April.

Sad to me Ferrari didn't address the issue then (if it was noticeable...)

Killer58 · 10-19-2011, 07:23 PM

I would want to know a bit more as to why it's low, but I don't think I'd disqualify the car based solely on the #2 cylinder's leakdown number.

Antarctica · 10-19-2011, 07:35 PM

that cylinder jumped around a bit.
started at 19%, bled down, stroked bled to 14.

a1exander · 10-19-2011, 07:56 PM

Difficult question to answer however I in your shoes knowing what I know now would walk away from it. These cars do suffer on the heads somewhat. As Capo says it is unlikely that there would be build up on the inlet side.

10-19-2011, 05:21 PM	#9
355dreamer Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: MAR Ferrari Life Posts: 693 Name: L.C.	I think the numbers look pretty good. Is the car a GTB/S or a spider. That would have a big impact on pricing, with the latter being on the lower end. Knowing the 355 market pretty well, I can't imagine that you will find a closed top car with better numbers for much less. Have the headers been replaced? Everything you have heard is true.

10-19-2011, 05:59 PM	#11
355dreamer Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: MAR Ferrari Life Posts: 693 Name: L.C.	1000 miles, but how long ago? Everything you have heard is true.

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10-19-2011, 01:39 PM	#1
Antarctica Join Date: Oct 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 7	Would you buy this car? Hello, I have the following numbers on an F355 with 30000 mi and full, engine out belt (30k @ Ferrari Deaiership)1000 miles ago: Cylinder Compression Leakdown % #1 200 4% #2 190 14% #3 210 5% #4 205 4% #5 205 5% #6 205 6% #7 200 9% #8 200 3% The test was dry, up to temperature. Is cylinder #2 a dealbreaker? Thanks!!

10-19-2011, 02:40 PM	#3
Antarctica Join Date: Oct 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 7	Thanks for the reply. We did it several times and 14 was best (last reading). First was 19%. Compression was stable. The leakdown was intake. The test was dry. The opinion was that there was buildup on the valve... plausible??

10-19-2011, 03:45 PM	#5
355dreamer Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: MAR Ferrari Life Posts: 693 Name: L.C.	What year is this car? Everything you have heard is true.

10-19-2011, 03:55 PM	#6
Antarctica Join Date: Oct 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 7	1996

10-19-2011, 04:05 PM	#7
il Capolino Owner Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Switzerland Ferrari Life Posts: 1,023 Name: Capo	It's a buyer's market, lots of opportunities out there. I say walk. Salve, Capo The bad news: Time flies The good news: I'm the pilot You cannot make life longer but you can make it wider and also much higher.

10-19-2011, 04:17 PM	#8
Antarctica Join Date: Oct 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 7	I appreciate the honesty! Consensus? I'm emotionally tied to getting an F355...but not tied to THIS car.

10-19-2011, 05:36 PM	#10
Antarctica Join Date: Oct 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 7	It's a spider that had a major within the last 1000 miles from a F-Dealership. Original headers and no records to support the valves were done... ...that #2 has me tentative... ...the car "looks" beautiful, of course.

10-19-2011, 06:20 PM	#12
Antarctica Join Date: Oct 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 7	Sorry, earlier this year; April. Sad to me Ferrari didn't address the issue then (if it was noticeable...)

10-19-2011, 07:23 PM	#13
Killer58 Owner Elite Member Join Date: May 2010 Ferrari Life Posts: 1,419 Name: David	I would want to know a bit more as to why it's low, but I don't think I'd disqualify the car based solely on the #2 cylinder's leakdown number.

10-19-2011, 07:35 PM	#14
Antarctica Join Date: Oct 2011 Ferrari Life Posts: 7	that cylinder jumped around a bit. started at 19%, bled down, stroked bled to 14.

10-19-2011, 07:56 PM	#15
a1exander Owner Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Johannesburg RSA Ferrari Life Posts: 768 Name: Peter	Difficult question to answer however I in your shoes knowing what I know now would walk away from it. These cars do suffer on the heads somewhat. As Capo says it is unlikely that there would be build up on the inlet side.