What F1 Oil are you using?

Check what color is in there - sometimes PO change to a hydraulic fluid ( green)

If red .. you can use Mobil 1 Syn ATF

 

Ferrari uses Shell Donax in its F1 and you should use the same, but I think Shell replaced it with Shell Spirax S4 HDX. This fluid is similar to ATF but it's low in acidity so it doesn't chew the seals inside the actuator. Do not use ATF fluid if you want your actuator work properly for longer time. I've seen what ATF fluid does to seals and it's no good.

 

What level in the tank with system pressurised ? Dont overfill it

 

I use the Tutela CS, available from Amazon. Have had no issues but I bleed all of it out every year. Probably overkill but it’s relatively inexpensive and helps me sleep better at night.

Check your lower F1 fluid lines to see if you have a leak at one of the banjo fittings at the actuator. Mine was leaking.

 

I use Ravenol GHA. A lot cheaper than Tutela. I got it on Amazon, but a recent check shows that they aren't selling it now.

https://www.ravenolamerica.com/passenger-car-products/gear-oil-gearbox-hydraulic-actuator-fluid-ravenol-gha-f/

 

I was advised by a major contributor of this forum this is what is used in their authorized ferrrari retailer service department...I have been using this for the last four years with annual servicing of F1 system with zero issues. Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

It should have 18 mm or 3/4 inch when pressurised- use a joiners flexible measuring tape to dip it. If it gets too low you will get air in the system and then you do have problems

 

I flushed and bled my F1 system with Liqui Moly ... Why they specify ATF for a purely hydraulic system is beyond me ...

 

ATF will have a bunch of stuff (anti-wear, anti foaming etc.) in it thats not needed in a hydraulic system, but whats important is the compatibility with the seals. Generic ATF is just cheap and easy to get hold of, hence why people use it rather than the specific products listed by ferrari.

 

we use Royal puple Power steering fluid for the F-1 sytem and their transmission fluid in the transmission and believe it shifts better . it has been in there for about a year . it was recomended by a petrolium engineer who said it has a superlative formula is well balanced , will NOT harm seals and has their proprietary additive "synerlec " ? It is a synthetic fluid .
when we converted we had our indie tech flush out the system as he has the computer that can turn on and off the pump w/ out harming anything ! it was about an hour and a half labor $ well, spent i brought a lot of bottles of the PS fluid , he used most of them !