Serrare Forte? | FerrariChat

Serrare Forte?

Discussion in '308/328' started by tinterow, Apr 4, 2015.

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  1. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2014
    1,339
    Houston, Tx
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    Chaya Tinterow
    SERRARE FORTE... SVITARE LENTAMETE...IPRA...0.9

    These are the words on my original radiator cap for my 1980 308 GTSi. So, what does it mean and why is a 16 lb. cap recommended when the car came with a 13?
     
  2. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    25,038
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
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    Steve Magnusson
    Recommended by who? Shouldn't the Recommender be providing the the reasons/justification/engineering logic?
     
  3. F430-Scuderia

    F430-Scuderia Karting

    Feb 22, 2015
    67
    Italy
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    Manny
    "Serrare forte" is the Italian for "Tighten (with force)"
    "Svitare lentamente" is the Italian for "Unscrew slowly"
    IPRA stands for I(ndustria) P(iemontese) R(adiatori) per A(utomobili)
    HTH
    Cheers
    anny
     
  4. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2011
    11,968
    FRANCE
    I would have translated "serrare forte" by "tighten strongly", but I am nitpicking here, as I am inclined to...
    Rgds
     
  5. F430-Scuderia

    F430-Scuderia Karting

    Feb 22, 2015
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    Italy
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    Manny
    Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss....I live in Italy and I think that my Italian is worlds better than my English,which unfortunately is getting rustier with every passing year!
    That said "Serrare forte" in fact means "Tighten strongly"...."tighten with force" or even "Please see to that that you'll exert enough torque in order to make sure that the cap is tightened properly"!
    I think that all our friend needs to know is that "serrare" means "tighten" and "svitare" is the Italian for "unscrew" while "svitare lentamente" roughly translated into English means "Try to avoid ending up like an Irish Stew"!
    Best
    Manny
     
  6. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2014
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    Ok...thanks for the translation...now...what about 13 vs 16 lb. Pressure?
     
  7. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2014
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    Steve, on the Dr. Tommy radiator thread they all mention 16lbs.
     
  8. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2011
    11,968
    FRANCE
    Just one précision: are we talking about the radiator cap, or about the expansion tank cap?

    Rgds
     
  9. dpospres

    dpospres Formula Junior

    Jun 29, 2005
    275
    Expansion tank cap.....there is no radiator cap
     
  10. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2014
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    Thanks dpospres...duhhhh...expansion/radiator cap! My bad! :( NOT!
     
  11. Formula Uno

    Formula Uno F1 Veteran

    Oct 8, 2008
    6,659
    New York City


    Manny, Il Tuo Inglese e' meglio che Italiano mio!
     
  12. jmaz

    jmaz Formula Junior

    Jun 27, 2011
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    Jim
    A previous owner of my 328 had problems with coolant escaping from the overflow tube on the coolant reservoir , which Ferrari of Denver eventually solved by using a BMW radiator/expansion tank cap. The time frame for this was about 1996. The only numerical information on the cap is a "140". Might this be kilopascals, which converts to about 20 PSI?

    The owner didn't know why the BMW cap solved the problem, but perhaps it's simply that it was able to maintain a higher pressure. This would be consistent with using a 16-lb cap vs 13-lb cap.
     
  13. jmaz

    jmaz Formula Junior

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    Jim
  14. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2014
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    #14 tinterow, Apr 4, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2015
    I have been all over the radiator cap thread...wait...there is no radiator cap...that thread is fraudulent...there is only an expansion tank...but wait...that's incorrect also...my tank doesn't expand...the coolant expands...ok...just kidding to show how stupid it is to try and differentiate what kind of cap it is :)

    Now back to the point...no where in that thread does anyone say "why" they use a 16lb. :(

    P.S. The cap we are referring to should be called the thing that looks like a common radiator cap but isn't because it sits atop the expansion tank that doesn't expand thingy :)
     
  15. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2014
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    Ok...we finally got to it. As I mentioned, there seemed to be no concern of putting a stonger cap on in the other thread. In reality it will put unnecessary stress on all components of your cooling system...case closed...give me a 13 pounder :)
     
  16. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2011
    11,968
    FRANCE
    Ah; I'm sorry I didn't understood more quickly That it was the 0,9 vs 1,1 debate. My metric brain switches easily for weights or lengths or speeds, but for pressures it Is more difficult.
    You have the answer already: some people choose to put 1,1 caps, some others prefer to stay with the OEM recommandation of 0,9.
    Sorry for not having connected immediately, I've got fooled by 16 vs 13; must work on the équivalence with metrics again
    Rgds
     
  17. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

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    Thanks Nero!
     
  18. Albert-LP

    Albert-LP F1 Veteran
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    Sep 1, 2010
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    I would recomend to stay with the standard 0.9 bar expansion tank cap. Replace the cap at least each ten years.

    ciao
     
  19. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    Ferrari has been telling us since the early 90's to use the 1.1 cap when they started to be used in production. They have proven to be a real benefit to the QVs with the marginal cooling system and it also reduces the chance of cavitation which can do a great deal of damage.
     
  20. tinterow

    tinterow Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2014
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    Brian...cavitation...nice use of vocabulary! Leave it to us Texans. Thanks for the tip. :)
     

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