F8 Exhaust Controller for F8

I am not 100% certain about this, but I have been told that the F8 Tributo uses electric motor activated valves for the exhaust system. This is similar to the Portofino. Other Ferrari's have always utilized vacuum activated valves.

With an electric motor flapper valve, the control is not typically a simple On/Off, as it is with vacuum control. These electric motor activated valves use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to vary the voltage. This allows the valves to be fully closed (0v) or fully open (+12v) or something in between. This gives the car's design engineers the ability to vary the degree of closure (or opening if you prefer) to adapt to various thresholds of throttle position, vehicle speed and engine RPM.

Although more expensive than vacuum actuated valves, I fully expect that Ferrari is going to be using electric motor actuated valves on all future models. The advantages for meeting ever stricter emissions (both chemical and aural) outweigh the cost difference and there are no vacuum lines to route to the exhaust system.

Now, the reason I bring this up is that Novitech indicates they have an exhaust controller for the F8, yet, their web site shows a controller with electrical connectors that do not appear to match the connectors on the car. For example, the electrical connectors for the vacuum control valves for the 360, F430, 458, etc. are simple two-pin JPT connectors. The connector for the Portifino's electric motor exhaust valve is a five-pin electrical connector. I am expecting the electrical connector on the F8 is similar. Certainly not a two-pin connector.

One thing for certain, one is not going to be able to simply disconnect a vacuum line to keep the valves always open. Disconnecting the electrical connector is sure to throw a check engine light.

Wondering if Novitech's intent is that their controller is for use with Novitech's proprietary exhaust system for the F8 and not for the factory exhaust system?

Capristo does not show availability for an exhaust controller for the F8. They do have one for the Portofino though.

Forza does not offer exhaust controllers for cars with electric motor exhaust valve actuators with the exception of the Camaro Gen6 or Corvette C7.

Any factory techs here that could confirm the electrical connector for the F8? Maybe an F8 owner could confirm?

Regards,

Steve

 

The Pista uses vacuum activated valves same general system and layout as the 488GTB. Although the F8 and Pista share the same engine, it appears that the F8 uses the electric motor method for controlling the exhaust flapper valves.

 

I do not have any firm updates. The feedback I received from a tech at a local Ferrari dealer is that the F8, the Portifino use electric actuators on the exhaust bypass valves. I fully expect that all Ferrari's that are going to be produced going forward will utilize electric actuators. Really do not see this going back to vacuum actuators.

 

Just FYI ... the F8 Tributo uses pneumatic controlled bypass valves. Same as the 488 Pista.

 

The F8 Tributo has pneumatic actuators for the exhaust bypass valves. Same as most other Ferrari’s. And as in all pneumatic actuators the vacuum is controlled by a solenoid valve, which is an electrical mechanical device. The vacuum lines are connected to the vacuum solenoid valves which either pass the vacuum to the pneumatic actuators (closed) or vent those actuators to atmosphere (open).

The Portofino and Roma utilize servo motor actuators rather than pneumatic actuators. I believe that is also true with the SF90. These cars have no vacuum lines to the actuators on the bypass valves. An electrical connector is attached directly to the actuator servo motor.

 

The vendors I am aware of are marketing the same controller for the Pista and F8 that they sell for the 458 and 488 GTB. Those controllers connect to the existing solenoid valves and intercept the control signal. Works fine with the 458 and 488. But starting with the Pista the engineers in Maranello programmed the ECU to sense if the valves are open when they should be closed and vice versa. By trying to control the original valves, a situation is potentially setup where conflicts exists and the ECU throws a code.

At Forza we recognized this potential conflict and rather than trying to circumvent this conflict, it was much more logical to segregate the controller from the car’s electronics. The Forza kit for the Pista and F8 has two additional solenoid valves which are controlled via a completely separate control circuit to eliminate any potential conflicts. These two solenoid valves control the vacuum output from the car’s original solenoid valves. The original valves function quite normally as Maranello intended while the supplemental valves are managed by the controller. In this manner, the car’s ECU is not aware that the vacuum application may not be as intended as the ECU is only aware of the original valve’ s electrical position.

 

I received a phone call today asking if I was sure that the F8 has pneumatically controlled exhaust bypass valves. Here is an illustration of the parts for the F8 ... the Tributo and Spider are the same ...

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The vacuum solenoid valve is the same solenoid valve that is used many Ferrari's and you can see that the exhaust bypass valves are clearly the pneumatic actuator type.

Here is an illustration of the SF90 exhaust system. Note the difference with the actuators ... the SF90, Portofino and Roma employ servo motor actuators for the exhaust bypass valves ...

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In case you were wondering, the canister looking objects with the SF90 exhaust system that are immediately upstream of the silencer (which include the bypass valves) are the gasoline particulate filters. You don't want to know how much those bad boys cost.

 

The Forza controller obtains its power from a 12v power source. On the 488 Pista, the kit includes a fuse tap so that you can use the cigarette lighter fuse location in the fuse box located behind the left seat. The fuses are different on the F8. Using a fuse tap with the F8 is more difficult as the left-side fuse panel does not contain a fuse labeled "cigarette lighter". One needs to determine a fuse location that is switched to ignition. Otherwise, one needs to tap into a 12 volt power source elsewhere that is switched to the ignition.

Several Forza kits have been delivered to F8 customers in the US, Europe and Australia and I have heard of only one installation where the technician expressed problems with the Forza kit.