In the WSM it only calls for a check and top-off.

Has anyone been replacing the E-Diff/F1 hydraulic oil as part of regular service?

If so, how have you been performing the flush?

http://www.ferrarilife.com/forums/modern-v8s-360-f430/26041-f1-fluid-cap.html

I have seen the procedure to top it off.

Welcome to Ferrari Life. In order to change the F1 fluid in an F430, you must be able to bleed the system afterwards and that requires an SD3 to do the bleeding procedure. In older Ferraris, there was no recommended change interval for the F1 fluid, and that led to problems with the actuators and lines from gunk building up in places you did not want it.

By the time the 599 came out, Ferrari had seen the light and recommended changing the F1 fluid every 3 years. See below.

No SD2/3 near me, so my techs change out half the fluid every year to attempt to keep the fluids fresh. They have a fluid fill/drain tool that looks like a big hypodermic needle with a rubber hose that will pull about half the fluid out without letting air into the system. If you are near a dealer, I would just have them change the fluid every 3 years or so and bleed the system. Best way to insure a trouble-free F1 system.

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@tasandjan, thank you for the welcome and the info.

Is that service schedule for the F430? If so, do you know why it's different than this one?

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File Type: pdf

Service Time Schedule F430.pdf (71.2 KB, 466 views)

No, it is from the 599, the first F1 Ferrari to recommend an F1 fluid change interval, even though all of them should have the F1 fluid regularly changed. On most Ferraris, there is no recommended coolant change interval, either, and that will wreak havoc with the cooling system over time.

Funny thing is, they have you change the power steering fluid every 2 years, and both that and F1 fluid are synthetic ATF, with the F1 fluid leading a more rigorous life.

The service schedule for the 430 says replace coolant every 6250 miles and no time restriction. However the F1 fluid is for life (or at least according to the manual).

I plan to drain the coolant and draw out as much F1 fluid as I can annually.

Using Pentosin 11S as a replacement for the F1 fluid.

They finally caught up with the coolant change on the F430, but none of the earlier cars, like my 575M, have a coolant change interval recommended.

Pentosin 11S will work fine and is the synthetic ATF recommended by some Swedish manufacturers for power steering systems because it works well at very low temperatures.

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File Type: pdf

Power Steering Fluid Pentosin_CHF11S.pdf (209.5 KB, 410 views)