Servicing your Ferrari on your own can always be a daunting challenge. Doing an oil service is not much of a challenge if you follow proper procedures and protocols. Please DO NOT do an oil service without the car on a 4-post lift, it’s just too problematic if you don’t. Jacking up the car on one side (or even worse, one corner) can potentially put some twist in your frame if left that way for an extended period.
The recommended oil change interval is 15,000 miles. The F512M burns approximately 0.4 gallons per 600 miles.
As with any work you do on your vehicle, please follow appropriate safety guidelines.
Tools & Parts Required
If you have access to a 4-post lift, put the car in the air and thoroughly check the underside for any apparent oil leaks. You will also need the following tools/parts to complete this task.
- 17mm socket for the oil drain plug
- 22mm socket for the oil drain plug
- Oil Filter Wrench or the socket that fits the Oil Filter (available from some aftermarket parts suppliers)
- The F512M oil service kit which includes one #148404 (UFI oil filter - 23 310 01) and the two copper crush washers (16mm ID, 22mm OD) which should be replaced on every oil service performed to provide a proper seal
- Absorbent rags (Yes, you WILL spill some oil)
- An oil catch-basin of some kind (a pig mat under it is also helpful (they absorb oil))
- A piece of cardboard or thin (hard not soft) plastic sheet that you can use to funnel the oil into the basin
- 12 quarts of oil, 10w40 weight (Ferrari uses AGIP brand)
Suggested Procedure
Follow this procedure as best you can for good results
- Start the car, let it run for 5 minutes or so to warm up and thin out the oil, so it will drain better. Having the engine run will also put some of the dirt that’s settled in the bottom of the tank in suspension, so it will drain out.
- Put the car up in the air, using a 4-post lift. The further to the right you can get the vehicle on the lift (while doing it safely), the easier access you will have to the drain plug.
- Remove the oil sump drain plug and let it drain until the flow is very slow or dripping. Re-install the drain plug with a NEW COPPER CRUSH WASHER. If the drain plug head has been compromised, consider replacing the drain plug.
- Remove the oil pan/tank drain plug, you will need to funnel/guide the oil to your catch-basin, or it WILL spill all over the place. Let it drain until its flow is very slow or dripping. Re-install the drain plug with a NEW COPPER CRUSH WASHER. If the drain plug head has been compromised, consider replacing the drain plug.
- Remove the old oil filter using either a filter wrench or an oil filter socket for this oil filter size; have a rag handy, the oil filter IS full of dirty oil.
- Install your new oil filter (part# 148404). Lubricate the seal on the oil filter with some new oil. Put some oil (1/3 of a quart, in the filter) Install the filter and hand tighten the filter as tight as you can BY HAND.
- Slowly and carefully begin adding oil to the engine. After 10-11 quarts, give it a few minutes and check the oil level. Add slowly from there and try to stay a bit under the max line.
- Start the car, let it run for a minute or so, then turn it off.
- Wait a minute or two and check the oil level, it will likely need some topping off to get it nearer to the max fill line.