Checking Oil Level on a V12VS

[CSK1]

When I bought my car, my dealer told me to follow this procedure to check the oil level on my car: start the engine when cold, let it run at 2,000 RPM for about 15 seconds, turn ignition off, check oil level.
I have been doing this but I don't think it mentions this procedure in the owner's guide. I thought this procedure was only for dry-sumped cars so the V8V and not the V12 as it is wet-sumped.
Any ideas, V12V/V12VS owners: how do you check your car's oil level?
Do you have to top up often (I haven't since I bought the car last month and about a 1,000 miles which includes a trip across France).

[CSK1]

Thanks Hashluck and Ian. I thought the procedure would be different for the dry-sumped V8 and wet-sumped V12 but apparently it is the same. Strange indeed there's no mention of it in the owner's guide.
Ian, what is your oil consumption like?

[CSK1]

Thanks. Yes indeed my dealer also told me to check oil level when the engine is cold but he also said you need to rev the engine from cold at a constant 2,000 RPM for about 15 seconds, turn off ignition and then check oil level (the engine will still be cold).

[CSK1]

As Ian said, the advised procedure is not mentioned in the owner's guide.

[CSK1]

Hi Ian, thanks for the useful info. Could you scan and pm me a copy of your procedure you received on paper please? Thanks.

[CSK1]

This is all quite confusing as we have Gaydon, my Dutch dealer and Grange advising a different procedure than the one Works is apparently advising.
I've just asked the French dealer and he says not to run the engine before checking and sent me a scan of the page explaining the procedure in the latest V12VS owner's guide which also states check with a cold engine. No mention of running the engine before.
French dealer also says that if you need to check the oil after having run the engine, you need to wait at least 10 to 15 minutes to allow the oil to flow back to the sump before checking. Seems all logical to me but someone is surely wrong here! Very confusing indeed, this could lead to an expensive mistake if we don't do it correctly!

[CSK1]

Sure everyone agrees about the engine needing to be completely cold. Views are differing if we let the engine run for about 15 secs at about 2,000 RPM prior to checking the level or not.

[CSK1]

Well, I must say the guy who did the handover seemed very much in the know and took a lot of time to explain every feature of the car in detail. He probably spent at least an hour and a half explaining the entire car before going on a test drive. He told me about everything: satnav, battery conditioner, every button's function, how to jump start the car showing me where to connect the cables, he seemed extremely knowledgeable and helpful, an enthusiast, not just a salesman, he had just sold a DB6 and he knew everything about that car too so not the average salesperson.
The dealer is also one of the oldest overseas AM dealers.

Edited by CSK1 on Monday 23 November 19:32

[CSK1]

Just had confirmation from Aston Martin Works that the oil level should be checked when the engine is cold, the engine should NOT be started prior to checking level as opposed to the dry-sumped V8.
I think we can trust Works, can't we?
They said it is the same for V12 and V12S.
@Alscar: Enjoying the car immensely, thanks. I was worried I wouldn't like Sportshift but as has been said before on here, as long as you treat it as a manual, which it is, it is great! I love this car, probably one of the last analog Aston Martins.

[CSK1]

Are you going to change your way of checking the oil level on your V12VSR Ian? Just checking if you are now convinced it is the same for V12S and V12. Strange how some dealers are misinformed about this and spread this wrong message out!

[CSK1]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

IanV12VR said:

All I know is that when I checked it with the engine cold the oil level was very low for a car that had done so few miles and then when I followed the procedure outlined to me it was fine.

C'mon, how is that even possible? You need to try it once again.

For me it is the opposite. Been checking running the engine before checking and it was lower than when I checked it today without running the engine. Seems logical. Sorry to be a bore! We'll get to four pages shortly I'm sure!

[CSK1]

Phil74891 said:

I guess the moral of this story is that the warning light seems to come on while there is still sufficient oil in the engine, thereby giving you a chance to rectify the issue before your engine explodes.

I think the warning light is for low oil pressure, not low oil level in the engine.

[CSK1]

We might even make it to 5 pages! :-)

[CSK1]

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.

[CSK1]

Thanks DB9VolanteDriver, very good detailed info I was looking for. I spoke to my misinformed dealer today and he acknowledged he gave me the wrong info and apologised.

[CSK1]

Never thought my original post would make it to nearly 6 pages !
I would rather trust the dipstick than onboard electronics so wouldn't follow your dealer's advice to add oil and check again.
If the level is OK (checking when the engine is completely cold) I wouldn't add any oil.
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