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Black stains on the floor below the car

Discussion in 'California/Portofino/Roma' started by alfa4711, Nov 14, 2012.

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  1. alfa4711

    alfa4711 Rookie

    Jun 13, 2012
    21
    Spain
    #1 alfa4711, Nov 14, 2012
    Riding out of my garage I notice 4 black stains on the garage floor. Just below where the ashtray is located, between the front seats.
    3 were dry, (deduction= old ones) while one was still wet. I could feel the stains as not greasy. (sorry for poor explanation, english is not my mother language)

    Looked below the car with a lamp but couldn't see any drop still hanging from the car panels.

    Worried about the gearbox problems posts in this forum, I called my mechanic (official dealer)

    He told me that if it was engine oil, it shouldn't be there, (and not so black).
    As the gearbox is on the extreme back of the car ( 1.5 metres from that spot at least), it shouldn't be from there either. (car box is small so car stays always in the same place)

    He told me that they have found, on other cali's, condensation forming in that very same place when starting the engine in a humid air (like it is now where I keep the car), producing black drops falling then on the ground. The black color would come from the material used to isolate that particular spot.

    I have not been able to lift the car of go below it to check myself (too low).

    Is he right or wrong, I don't know. Will continue to monitor the issue.

    Btw the car and the gearbox work perfectly and the engine oil is till up to the max mark.

    ciao
     
  2. colonels

    colonels Formula Junior

    Aug 5, 2011
    867
    #2 colonels, Nov 14, 2012
    search the forum for black soot
    i have the same on my 2012 cali and was told it is normal due to rich fuel mixture and exhaust
     
  3. SVCalifornia

    SVCalifornia F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 28, 2011
    2,549
    Silicon Valley
    Full Name:
    Keith
    #3 SVCalifornia, Nov 14, 2012
    Yep. Normal for a Cali...

    SV
     
  4. hotbmwm3

    hotbmwm3 Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2006
    554
    Melbourne and London
    Full Name:
    Owner -09 California
    #4 hotbmwm3, Nov 14, 2012
    Is this normal for a Cali AFTER the exhaust manifolds are replaced and tge engine control units flashed with the matching update software?

    Can anyone with the update confirm it fixes the soot under the car pronlem
     
  5. colonels

    colonels Formula Junior

    Aug 5, 2011
    867
    #5 colonels, Nov 14, 2012
    well mine is a 2012 so i assume it has the newest manifolds and software and it still does it
     
  6. CC 10

    CC 10 Rookie

    Oct 20, 2012
    15
    St Louis
    Full Name:
    Jackie
    #6 CC 10, Nov 14, 2012
    My car is a 2010 and has not left any black marks anywhere.
     
  7. Cipohealey

    Cipohealey Rookie

    Dec 16, 2011
    38
    London
    #7 Cipohealey, Nov 15, 2012
    Mine is a 2009 and soot appears on the floor randomly. It's to do with the Cali having a direct engine and stainless steel exhaust. When the car is being driven the exhaust expands and as it cools condensation develops, runs down the inside of the exhaust collecting the engine soot and settles in the exhaust joints. When you next start the car the condensation gets blasted out.

    I'm no mechanic but this is what I was told by my dealer, hope it helps.
     
  8. Naplesgolfer

    Naplesgolfer Rookie

    Feb 19, 2011
    34
    Florida
    Full Name:
    Erik
    #8 Naplesgolfer, Nov 15, 2012
    My 2010 Cali left these soot spots on the floor of the garage. Can anyone tell me why a ferrari would do this and not other performance cars?
     
  9. not4one

    not4one Formula Junior

    May 23, 2010
    887
    CT, FL
    #9 not4one, Nov 15, 2012
    Mine did it before and after the manifold update.
     
  10. forgeahead

    forgeahead F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Sep 16, 2008
    4,408
    Rocky Mount, NC
    Full Name:
    Ray
    #10 forgeahead, Nov 15, 2012
    Common on the Cali.
    Nothing to worry about.
     
  11. ELP_JC

    ELP_JC Formula 3

    Dec 13, 2008
    1,264
    #11 ELP_JC, Nov 16, 2012
    Good news first. Oil doesn't dry out, so don't worry :D. 'Bad' news is most cars will leak a little bit of condensation from exhaust pipe joints when new (they plug themselves over time if very small, like most). But some mufflers and resonators have peep holes meant for exactly that. With those, you're stuck with dripping. Finally, ALL cars need to run rich when cold, so 'sooty' condensation is perfectly normal, direct injection or not. Enjoy your car.
     
  12. RickLederman

    RickLederman F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 18, 2007
    2,836
    Swanton Ohio
    Full Name:
    Rick Lederman
    #12 RickLederman, Nov 16, 2012
    This is normal. Did it on my 2010, does it on my 2012. It is carbon from exhaust, nothing else!

    Rick
     
  13. forgeahead

    forgeahead F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Sep 16, 2008
    4,408
    Rocky Mount, NC
    Full Name:
    Ray
    #13 forgeahead, Nov 17, 2012
    Rick, you still have your Cali? I figured you'd put her out to pasture since acquiring the FF!
    You'll always be the Cali King!
     

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