Help a new DB9 owner understand their fluid levels?

[Calcifer33]

Hi everyone,

Just took ownership of a 2005 with 5700 miles on it. The car is very well taken care of, but I checked the fluid levels today and noticed two things. I think my oil levels are too high. The oil level goes all the way to the end of the MAX lettering. Can someone more experienced with these vehicles chime in? Note that I wiped and reinserted the dipstick three times and I'm on level ground. This is also the corrected "AC" dipstick.





Also, for my power steering, it says to fill between the MIN and MAX lines, but there are no markings on my indicator for either. Can you tell me how this is reading?

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[ian448]

Oil level does look a little high , just ensure your checking the level with the car on perfectly level ground . I’ve found that even with the engine canted over by a few degrees has a drastic effect on the oil level . The road were I live looks perfectly level but I get totally different oil level readings from when I park on either the near side or offside due to the ever so slight camber on the road . The power steering level should be between the two indented marks

[paulrog1]

Oil level does look high, maybe drain off 1litre and check again.

Maybe its been overfilled because the PCV valves are passing oil down to the airfilters, i would check for any oil contamination.

[8Tech]

Your engine oil level is a little high. Have you run he engine before checking to make sure the oil filter is full?

The power steering is just below minimum on your dipstick.

[Calcifer33]

Thanks for the replies everyone and sorry for the delay responding. These levels were taken cold. When running the engine to temp and waiting 5 minutes to check, the level went down to the M on the MAX wording, so still a little high.

I used a Mityvac to evacuate some of the oil and honestly it didn't take very much at all, but now it sits at the correct MAX level on a warm level check.

Regarding the PS fluid, I don't know what type of fluid is in there but I hear we should convert to CHS 11S. Since I don't know what's it there I expect I should do a full change. I'm going to put that on my list and welcome any suggestions.

Edited by Calcifer33 on Monday 17th June 20:05

[F1NDW]

Get your dipstick checked for length. Early DB9's had a problem with the dip stick being too short and therefore too little oil in the sump.Yours has hardly ever left the garage so it could have been missed.

[8Tech]

F1NDW said:

Get your dipstick checked for length. Early DB9's had a problem with the dip stick being too short and therefore too little oil in the sump.Yours has hardly ever left the garage so it could have been missed.

Wrong way round.

The dipstick was too long so the oil level showed as OK although the dipstick sat too low in the sump. later dipsticks are shorter so it takes more oil to get to the max mark.

[Hart-SE65]

New/short/white dipstick vs old/long dipstick.

Edited by Hart-SE65 on Tuesday 18th June 18:14

[Calcifer33]

Just in case anyone hadn't read it in the original post, I have the corrected dipstick that ends in "AC."

[Hart-SE65]

Sorry, you are right. A bit too much oil in your car then

[Hart-SE65]

Regarding PS fluid. My 2005 db9 has 65000 miles. It had some unpleseant stiffnes in the steering, steering would not return to straight after bends and so on. Decided to change PS fluid by extracting and adding new fluid. Did not work well, because the amount you can extract from the reservoir is very little. I was just mixing new fluid with old fluid like for ever. I bought a new reservoir/filter instead, connected the return hose to another hose and further to a collecting bottle. With the car on jackstands turning steering from from full left to right and back (engine off) I was able to pump out the old fluid and replace it with new without much mixing. With engine on the PS pump empties the reservoir in seconds and it is very difficult to fill the reservoir to avoid air getting in the system. I used Pentosine CHF 11 S and topped off with some BMW Lubrizol. The steering feels great again.