Potentially stupid question, extending drain interval

[thetricky]

Of course a couple of months doesn't matter. I would never use a boutique brand oil in an expensive car engine, because they won't pay on an oil claim. That means redline, amsoile, hpl are out. If your car qualifies on a major US oil co. warranty, I'd use their oil. The main thing is: don't short trip the car, don't keep moving it from one side of the garage to the other. The 4.9 l tipo f-113 12 cylinder engine is not durable, by it's very nature as a ferrari. It must be babied with bulletproof maintenance.

Absolute crazy talk! HPL even makes an oil called, you guessed it, SUPERCAR! Not to mention their offerings for race oils and that’s not even touching on Amsoil, redline, Schaefer’s, etc.

 

[kschachn]

I actually ran M1 15w50 my last interval. However, I was concerned it was a little too thick in the winter. The car has two large oil coolers without thermostats, so when the temperature is below 50F it’s hard to get the oil up to temp. The oil pressure was running a bit high on cold days.

On the other hand a thicker oil will warm up faster than a thinner one.

 

[Tifosi]

Owners manual in my 88 calls for 10w50. However, the very next year Ferrari started recommending 10w40, mainly because I believe they switched oil partnerships and the new company didn’t offer a 10w50.

I have been using M1 FS 0W-40 for the past 20+ years and before that was Agip SINT 2000 10W-40. I think M1 FS 5W-50 will be a great choice as well. Ferrari was with Agip for the longest time until the Schumacher era (1996) and both 10W-50 and 10W-40 are from Agip. Anyway, I don't know about the 10W-50 but the SINT 2000 10W-40 was a synthetic blend and not fully synthetic.

 

[Threeofnine]

Besides the viscosity grade, what else does the owner's manual say about the engine oil?

For example, was there a limitation or a spec that would rule out conventional oil in 1988?

I don’t believe it says anything else. I could be mistaken, but I believe the factory fill was conventional.

 

[Threeofnine]

On the other hand a thicker oil will warm up faster than a thinner one.

Another potentially dumb question. Would the thicker oil on cold days not effectively squeeze into tight clearance and cause more wear until it reached operating temperature?

 

[kschachn]

Another potentially dumb question. Would the thicker oil on cold days not effectively squeeze into tight clearance and cause more wear until it reached operating temperature?

No. All oil grades are very thick on cold days. Use a grade that has an appropriate winter rating and it will squeeze in just fine.

 

[Threeofnine]

I have been using M1 FS 0W-40 for the past 20+ years and before that was Agip SINT 2000 10W-40. I think M1 FS 5W-50 will be a great choice as well. Ferrari was with Agip for the longest time until the Schumacher era (1996) and both 10W-50 and 10W-40 are from Agip. Anyway, I don't know about the 10W-50 but the SINT 2000 10W-40 was a synthetic blend and not fully synthetic.

I use Pennzoil Euro 5w40 in my 85 Mondial with the 2.9, but I’m under the, perhaps mistaken, impression that the flat 12 does better with a heavier oil if you drive hard. M1 5w50 might be a good choice, but I have heard it sheers down quickly.

 

[kschachn]

A popular Internet thought because of the wide grade spread, but shear (not sheer) of the VM is highly dependent on engine design. In this case where you are using a 50-grade to start with it's pretty irrelevant anyway. It's not going to lose viscosity any faster than the Pennzoil product. Exxon-Mobil does not use inferior VII.

 

[OilUzer]

I don’t believe it says anything else. I could be mistaken, but I believe the factory fill was conventional.

If the factory fill was dino, you would think any syn-blend or full syn these days should be better than a 1988 dino. No?
Unless it requires some specific kind of oil for example like a high ZDDP or something, then you have to be more selective.

Where are you taking your car for the "major service"? Is it the Ferrari dealership and curious what kind of engine oil do they (dealership) use or recommend if they were going to change the oil?

Anyway, that's how I approach it if it was my car. You already have a very short OCI. Does the owner's manual talk about oil change intervals. Back then I am guessing 3000 miles.

 

[We're Metals]

If it aint broke, dont fix. Redline 10w-50.

Post some Pics!

 

[Threeofnine]

If the factory fill was dino, you would think any syn-blend or full syn these days should be better than a 1988 dino. No?
Unless it requires some specific kind of oil for example like a high ZDDP or something, then you have to be more selective.

Where are you taking your car for the "major service"? Is it the Ferrari dealership and curious what kind of engine oil do they (dealership) use or recommend if they were going to change the oil?

Anyway, that's how I approach it if it was my car. You already have a very short OCI. Does the owner's manual talk about oil change intervals. Back then I am guessing 3000 miles.

I am taking it to an independent mechanic in a neighboring state. The majority of dealerships do not have old enough techs to be experienced with the classic cars. As for what oil do they use, I have actually asked 3 different techs and received 3 different answers. 1 recommended whichever 10w40 or 50 synthetic was on sale, another recommended Pennzoil Euro 5w40 and the last one recommended Valvoline zr1 20w50 conventional racing oil. I tend to drive hard, by hard I mean fast. I am often over 120 mph, occasionally even breaking 180 mph, where rpms are in the 5-6+k so I think I might do better with a 50 weight oil.

 

[Threeofnine]

If it aint broke, dont fix. Redline 10w-50.

Post some Pics!

 

[RevvCats]

I am often over 120 mph, occasionally even breaking 180 mph, where rpms are in the 5-6+k so I think I might do better with a 50 weight oil.

Where do you have the miles of straight road needed to hit 180?

 

[Threeofnine]

Where do you have the miles of straight road needed to hit 180?

I need about 3 miles, I have a secret spot that is suitable after midnight.

 

[OilUzer]

I need about 3 miles, I have a secret spot that is suitable after midnight.

Is it the Wal-Mart parking lot? J/K

I would use a track. It's more important than OCI & viscosity grade.

All sorts of small and/or big critters after dark besides other issues!

 

[wpod]

The Testarosa is my favorite Ferrari.

 

[BrendanC]

View attachment 240924

let’s see that GMT400

 

[Threeofnine]

let’s see that GMT400

That GMT400 was my first vehicle as a teenager. My dad bought it new and it got passed down to me. I sold it like an idiot in the mid 2000s but was able to track it down and buy it back. It was in pretty rough shape but luckily I was able to restore it before it ended up in the junkyard.

Here is a pic of the condition it was in when I bought it back. It was being used by a trailer park to haul off junk.

 

[Threeofnine]

Is it the Wal-Mart parking lot? J/K

I would use a track. It's more important than OCI & viscosity grade.

All sorts of small and/or big critters after dark besides other issues!

I would love to use a track. Unfortunately there are no suitable tracks in my area that are available to the public. Me and a friend are in active negotiations currently with a small airport. We would like to rent it for a few hours once a month and host an event similar to this https://www.omegamotorsport.com/copy-of-noflyzone-arizona

Not sure anything will come out of it, but we’re trying.