Cain74

Can I just change the oil filter on the W12 without draining the oil? I usually change the oil filter every 5k and the oil every 15k (I use amsoil, they say you can go 25k between oil changes, but I'm more comfortable with 15k)

MP4.2+6.0

On most motors the filter sits up higher on or off the side of the block. On those (like my C5 4.2) you can pull the filter independent of the oil drain. But on the W12 it's all the way down and along side the lower pan. There is then the whole intermediate pan/oil area that probably has the main bearing caps. Since there are 13 quarts of oil in there, I suspect the oil level may be above the filter center line. A guess is the lower pan you see underneath may only have the first several quarts. Once you unscrew the oil canister housing, you have to pull the filter out and put in the new one. If it was a simple spin on metal filter, I might be able to do the change in 30 ish seconds if easily accessible. But the filter in canister design and the related mess means it probably takes 5 minutes plus from my experience.

Net, if the oil level is as high as I suspect relative to the filter element and housing, it's probably not practical.

You could try it during an oil change and see. Just be prepared for some mess and fast oil flow.

Cain74

Mp4 how often do you change your filter?

mishar

You can change filter more often than oil without any problem but there is absolutely no need for that.

MP4.2+6.0

every approx. 10K miles.

Brozee

I change my M1 0w40 on both my W12 and 4.2 at 10k intervals, with the filter at the same time.

Prospeeder

Just so you guys know, these are dry sump engines, and theres no 10 quarts of oil sitting in the bottom of the engine, theres no "oil pan" so to speak, its all in a reservoir. Like a Porsche. These W12 engines are just so amazingly glorious.

JohnnyJ A6Q

It's amazing... I have always heard and read that my W12 has a dry sump and I never looked into until you just posted your thoughts, So I thought wait a minute, if it had a dry sump why does it have a dip stick and filler tube right on the engine instead of same being located on a reservoir tank like a dry sump setup would have, why ? because my W12 has a wet sump...
My D3 W12 has the dip stick right into the block, and the filler neck is of the driver's side valve cover, there is not a reservoir tank with it's own dip stick nor a filler tube.

So YES there are 13.2 quarts of oil sitting there in the pan and filter...

"The 6.3l W12 FSI engine employs a lubrication system with conventional oil intake from an oil pan. As is the case with the 6.0l W12 engine on the Audi A8 ’01, dry sump lubrication* has been dispensed with. An aluminium oil pan is located on the underside of the engine.
To ensure a reliable supply of oil even during high transverse and longitudinal acceleration, baffle plates have been fitted at the oil pan intake (see figure in page 16).
By eliminating dry-sump lubrication, it was possible to design the overall oil circulation system more simply. It was also possible to employ a single-stage oil pump."

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...50165853,d.dmg


"The W12 engine lubrication system in the
2005 A8L is a wet sump system. Earlier W12
engines used a dry sump system.
The oil pump is mounted in the sump and is
chain driven by the crankshaft"

http://www.audiklub.org/data/files/W12D3L.pdf

MP4.2+6.0

The D3 W12 is a wet sump. The earlier D2 first generation W12 (only in Europe) was apparently a dry sump. Some of the early press on it was erroneous, in case your info comes from there. There is an oil pan, and there are 13 quarts (not 10) absolutely sitting in it. No external reservoir, let alone even the space under hood for it. I've changed the oil on it a few times...as have others on the board by the ages of D3's.

Prospeeder

aw darn, I have yet to really have one of these things come through the shop. I read the tech manual online on the W12 and it showed it being dry sump. I looked on alldata and they are just traditional wet sump. Now thats not as cool lol