In caring for your Aston Martin V8 Vantage, it is easy to overlook some lesser-known parts. Lack of maintenance can eventually cause serious problems that could affect your sports car’s overall function. The oil cooler is one of these essential components that helps to keep your engine’s temperature regulated.
Due to several factors, such as wear, collision, and road damage, it could experience a leak. This could have detrimental effects on your Vantage’s engine. Recognizing early signs of an oil cooler fault can help you get ahead of the issue. This article serves as a guide to understanding the oil cooler in your Vantage so you can identify the problem and bring your Aston Martin to us for service.
Oil Cooler Functions in a Car
The main purpose of an oil cooler in your Aston Martin is to cool your engine’s oil and ensure that its temperature is regulated. The engine oil serves two main functions—lubricating moving engine parts, and cooling the engine. However, because the engine’s functions generate a lot of heat, the engine oil could also get too hot and fail to lubricate the engine parts and regulate its temperature.
This is why the oil cooler was developed to cool down the oil so it can continue its function in keeping the engine at its optimum temperature. A damage to the oil cooler could cause it to leak either oil or coolant, depending on the cooler type.
Why does this happen in a Vantage?
Some common causes of oil cooler leaks in a car are:
- Natural degradation: The older your car is, the higher the chances of wear and damage to its parts which could cause a leakage. Because a car has been working for a long time, parts like seals and gaskets could wear out, leading to a leak.
- Lack of Maintenance: As mentioned earlier, lack of maintenance could lead to a series of problems in your car’s engine and an engine oil cooler leak is one of the problems. If you follow a strict maintenance routine, you can easily catch early warning signs in the cooler before it becomes a major problem that could cause a leak.
- Physical Damage: Another common cause of leaks in a car’s engine oil cooler is physical damage. Since the cooler is on the exterior part of your Aston Martin, it can be easily affected by the impact of road debris or even a slight collision with a curb or pole. Once the body of the oil cooler is damaged, there is a possibility that that part could start to leak.
How to Recognize an Oil Cooler Leakage
Knowing the signs of a problem in your car’s parts can help your male quick actions before serious complications occur. Hence, here are the common signs of an oil cooler leak in an Aston Martin:
- Low Oil Levels: If you notice that your Vantage’s engine oil level is always on the low end, even after a recent refill, then it is clear that there could be a leak. The oil cooler could be the culprit, and you must have it inspected to preserve your engine’s temperature.
- Engine Overheating: Another sign that could point to a leak in your car’s oil cooler is an overheating engine. The oil cooler exists to keep the engine oil cool, which in turn keeps the engine cool. However, when this cooler is damaged and begins to leak oil, then it could fail to regulate the engine’s temperature, leading to overheating and an expensive fix.
- Oil Pools Under Car: This is an obvious sign that your car’s engine is leaking oil. However, an oil leak can be from various parts of the engine, including the oil cooler. So, if you notice a puddle of oil underneath your Vantage, it’s time to bring it in for a proper inspection.
The Best Auto Service Center in Atlanta for your Aston Martin’s Oil Cooler Issues
It is important to fix any issue with your Aston Martin as soon as you notice the first sign of a fault as this will help improve your car’s condition and save you some repair costs. You should also ensure that you choose a professional mechanic who specializes in Aston Martin models for all your repairs and service.
European Service Center is a leading automobile service shop in Texas. We know all about European car models, and we have the best hands that can fix any sort of issue with your car. We proudly serve clients in Alpharetta, Chamblee, Cumming, Norcross, Duluth, Dunwoody, Buckhead, Roswell, and Atlanta GA so give us a call today.
* Aston Martin V8 Vantage Car image credit goes to: chekyfoto.