I'm not at all clear on what you are saying. Is this a customer selectable option (I have seen the V12VS options list and it was not there) or is it at factory discretion? If the latter, what determines whether a particular V12VS has the cooler fitted? Or are all V12VS past a certain build date now automatically fitted with the cooler?

 

Thanks
Found this that puts it very well

http://www.engineeredabrasives.com/b...t-peening.html

 

Yep its vague!
launch, press and early cars did not have it fitted, look through the grill in the rear bumper. no radiator = no oil cooler
A recent buyer of a V12VS has told me it was offered to him as an option but as you say does not appear in the literature

 

Lovely. Hardly reassuring, is it?

 

I read all this somewhat amazed that the oil cooler could even be contemplated for deletion, at least from from the V12...all that torque and power...

 

Thanks for the info, makes a lot of sense and it specifically says it's for gears as well so it appears you are using it for it's intended purpose.

I too am absolutely shocked they removed the oil cooler for (weight savings). Kinda makes me appreciate my early 4.3L gen Vantage even more!

 

Wish I new what the real motive/logic was for removing the cooler on Sportshift II cars. Especially when the 6-speed manual has always had it.

 

Maybe trying to cleverly cut costs? ... Only to realize it backfired

 

All 6-speeds have it, all 7-speeds don't. The 6-speeds are oil cooled and after research, Graziano realized the cooler didn't reduce the temps much being there is little heat transfer from the engine to the transmission, only heat transfer was from the exhaust pipes running parallel(there is no compression or combustion). The cooler is right behind the muffler, which during low speeds actually heated the oil more instead of reducing the temp(what speeds due most drive at). The pump also ate up 10bhp, to pump the oil through the cooler, remember it's a 70w weight, but still thinker than motor oil). Being the power loss and barely heat reduction, it was scrapped for the 7-speed plans.

The 7-speed was made and research by Graziano to be air-cooled, Aston then added a flap to there undertray to help direct air to the air cooled fins on the trans casing.

The deletion of the cooler were not Aston Martin's idea, it was a replacement of the 6-Speed trans by Graziano to a air cooled lighter/stronger/more efficient unit.

Hope this helps shed the light a bit..

 

Then why are there more premature failures? And also why did they end up putting it back on the later V12S transmissions if it infact was not necessary as you claim ?

Something does not add up

 

What failure is on a 7-speed internals? I just got 2 V12VS off the truck and both are decked out....no cooler, I'm sorry but I'm yet to see any proof off this cooler in a 7-speed..not saying it's B.S of an option, but don't see this option anywhere unless it's a Q design and fitment

 

I'm not disagreeing that the lack of an oil cooler is a potential worry. But nothing "adds up" in this whole conversation unless someone can actually provide hard numbers as to gearbox failures. Who says there are more premature failures? Do we actually have data to back up this statement?

 

If we have a vehicle with the ASM II, which is still under warranty, is there anything we can do to get it checked out to see if there are signs of premature failure before the warranty expires? Or are we just crossing our fingers and hoping it doesn't happen?

 

I've been asked that a few times!
Best thing you can do it ask the dealer to drop the oil and check for overheating or contamination. Get them to refill with new.
They will charge for it, but its worth doing for peace of mind.

 

Perfect! Thanks for the response. That is definitely something I will get done. May wait until a month or so before the warranty expires so that, if there is an issue, it will have more time to present itself.

Would love to know if anyone has had this done by thier dealer and what the results were.