Checking Oil Level on a V12VS
Discussion
IanV12VR said:
Well, seems I was completely wrong so just as well I don't check my oil that often. I have had it confirmed by Customer Services at Gaydon that if the car has been left standing for more than 12 hours then it can be checked without starting the engine.
More bad info. You are now telling us that if the car has NOT been standing for more than 12 hours it should be started? Pure hogwash. You do NOT start a wet sump motor before checking the oil. Why is this seemingly so hard to understand?
DB9VolanteDriver said:
More bad info. You are now telling us that if the car has NOT been standing for more than 12 hours it should be started? Pure hogwash. You do NOT start a wet sump motor before checking the oil. Why is this seemingly so hard to understand?
My last contribution to this thread. I suggest you get a copy of the service bulletin dated 21 April 2015 entitled revised procedure to check engine oil level relating to MY2013 V12's. This covers checking the oil level unless the car has been stood for a prolonged period and you will find you are wrong. Hard to believe I know.
IanV12VR said:
... checking the oil level unless the car has been stood for a prolonged period ...
This sounds like the problem that I encountered (with the dry sump V8) and outlined earlier in this topic.
The handbook says, first check there is oil on the dipstick.
What the handbook did not say, was if the car has been stood for a prolonged period, you won't see any oil at all on the dipstick. The dipstick oil gradually drains down into the oil tank.
Obviously that does not apply to the V12 engines.
I think we are going around in circles now, rather like the oil.
I would like to thank:
- First of all my dealer who misinformed me as he originated this lengthy and interesting thread about a dipstick.
- All the contributors to this thread as I never thought this would be taking 4, nearly 5, pages
- Gaydon, Works, Auto Performance (French dealer) and some on here who have shown me the light
I am grateful to all of you.
- First of all my dealer who misinformed me as he originated this lengthy and interesting thread about a dipstick.
- All the contributors to this thread as I never thought this would be taking 4, nearly 5, pages
- Gaydon, Works, Auto Performance (French dealer) and some on here who have shown me the light
I am grateful to all of you.
DB9VolanteDriver said:
More bad info. You are now telling us that if the car has NOT been standing for more than 12 hours it should be started? Pure hogwash. You do NOT start a wet sump motor before checking the oil. Why is this seemingly so hard to understand?
Ouch a little sharp DB9 . Dont forget that Ian has two of these cars and i would tend to think he knows how to look after them!Any way i can not see a reason why this thread cant hit ten pages.
As recommended, I did read the SB. It applies to all V12 motors with the variable cam timing, not just the V12S. The reason for the revision is because the cam actuation system, relying on oil for actuation, causes the engine to retain a larger amount of oil in the upper engine, and smaller passages associated with the system means that it takes a long time to drain down into the sump, as compared to the older V12.
If the engine has been idle for 12 or more hours, then it is guaranteed that all the oil is in the sump, regardless of how it was previously run before its last shutdown. Since the dealer personnel are presumed to not know how long the engine was run prior to shutdown, if less than 12 hours they are instructed to run the engine for 20 minutes (not seconds) so that the engine is fully warmed up, then shut it down and wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain down to the sump to assure an accurate dipstick reading. If the oil is not fully warmed up, it will take much longer to drain down, hence the 12 hour period in the SB.
Clearly this is not the same thing as starting the engine, running for a minute or so, then shutting it down and checking the oil level. Also note that this is not an owner's manual change because it is only meant as a change to the workshop manual. As an owner, they assume that you are not doing something as daft as starting up your engine and then checking your oil level, but rather you are doing it after a drive and after having waited until the engine is cold (which is much longer than the SB required wait time of 15 minutes).
So, like all wet sump engines, the oil check is when it is cold, and no starting is required, unless you decide to check it after having started it and then having immediately shut it down just prior to the check.
The SB is 03-0399
If the engine has been idle for 12 or more hours, then it is guaranteed that all the oil is in the sump, regardless of how it was previously run before its last shutdown. Since the dealer personnel are presumed to not know how long the engine was run prior to shutdown, if less than 12 hours they are instructed to run the engine for 20 minutes (not seconds) so that the engine is fully warmed up, then shut it down and wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain down to the sump to assure an accurate dipstick reading. If the oil is not fully warmed up, it will take much longer to drain down, hence the 12 hour period in the SB.
Clearly this is not the same thing as starting the engine, running for a minute or so, then shutting it down and checking the oil level. Also note that this is not an owner's manual change because it is only meant as a change to the workshop manual. As an owner, they assume that you are not doing something as daft as starting up your engine and then checking your oil level, but rather you are doing it after a drive and after having waited until the engine is cold (which is much longer than the SB required wait time of 15 minutes).
So, like all wet sump engines, the oil check is when it is cold, and no starting is required, unless you decide to check it after having started it and then having immediately shut it down just prior to the check.
The SB is 03-0399
I've had a low oil message from my V12 Vantage (2012.5) when I've stopped for gasoline. The Aston service people at the dealership have told me that when refueling an oil level check is done. When I got the message the car was not on level ground. The next day I checked the oil when the car was cold and it it was right on the max line.
Henry
Henry
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff