Ferrari Dino: A cooling system that traps air and a water pump that wants rebuilding every 50,000 km
A cooling system that traps air and a water pump that wants rebuilding every 50,000 km is a common cooling fault on the Ferrari Dino on the 1969–1974 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,500 to $8,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 5 documented faults on the Ferrari Dino.
- Vehicle
- Ferrari Dino
- Years
- 1969–1974
- Fuel
- petrol
- Gearbox
- manual
- System
- Cooling
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The Dino's cooling system is its best-known mechanical weakness: the radiator is in the nose and the engine behind the seats, air gets trapped in the long coolant hoses and at the water pump inlet, and the car runs hot. Owners treat a needle around 90°C as normal and anything climbing past 105°C as a problem, and some rebuild the water pump with new seals and bearings every 50,000 km. The Australian guide puts it plainly — the complex cooling system needs constant maintenance, and a leak or a pump failure damages the engine.
What you would notice
- Temperature climbing in traffic or after a hard run
- Coolant weeping from the water pump or along the long hoses
- Temperature that swings, which is trapped air
- Coolant smell after a drive
How to check it
Where to look. Radiator in the nose; long coolant hoses through the sills; water pump on the engine behind the seats
Watch the temperature gauge through the whole drive, including some idling in traffic, and note whether it holds steady once warm or climbs and swings.
After the drive, look under the engine and along the coolant hoses that run the length of the car for weeping, and smell for coolant.
Ask when the water pump was last rebuilt, when the hoses were replaced, and whether the system has been bled properly after any work.
What it costs to put right
$1,500 to $8,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “When was the water pump last rebuilt and the hoses replaced?”
- “Does the temperature hold steady in traffic?”
Now check the Ferrari Dino you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- Hagerty — 'Your handy 1969–74 Dino 246 GT and GTS buyer's guide'
- Retro Rides — 'Top Tips for Buying a Used Ferrari Dino 246 GT and 246 GTS (1969-74)'
- Goodwood Classic Solutions — 'Dino 206 GT/246 GT Buyer's Guide'
Ferrari Dino buyer questions
Is a cooling system that traps air and a water pump that wants rebuilding every 50,000 km serious on a Ferrari Dino?
We rate it major and common on the Ferrari Dino. The Dino's cooling system is its best-known mechanical weakness: the radiator is in the nose and the engine behind the seats, air gets trapped in the long coolant hoses and at the water pump inlet, and the car runs hot. Owners treat a needle around 90°C as normal and anything climbing past 105°C as a problem, and some rebuild the water pump with new seals and bearings every 50,000 km. The Australian guide puts it plainly — the complex cooling system needs constant maintenance, and a leak or a pump failure damages the engine.
How much does it cost to fix on a Ferrari Dino?
$1,500 to $8,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Ferrari Dino years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 1969–1974 Ferrari Dino. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Watch the temperature gauge through the whole drive, including some idling in traffic, and note whether it holds steady once warm or climbs and swings. After the drive, look under the engine and along the coolant hoses that run the length of the car for weeping, and smell for coolant. Ask when the water pump was last rebuilt, when the hoses were replaced, and whether the system has been bled properly after any work. Look here: Radiator in the nose; long coolant hoses through the sills; water pump on the engine behind the seats