Is it true that the W12 in the Continental GT has to be taken out to change the oil?

No... And the seats do not need to come out to change the winshield wiper blades.

But you do have to remove the gas cap to put gas in it.

 

I can't imagine anyone making an engine that needs taken out for a simple oil change.

Oil goes in at the top and falls out at the bottom, as per usual.

 

Although in the A8 4.2L, the thermostat is behind the timing belt. $20 part, $600 labor.

 

LOL. Where did you even hear that?

Lexus dealer?

 

The W12 is probably more compact than you might think. I recall reading it is lighter than the 4.2L V8 (in non-turbo guise). Maybe the R8/RS4 spec 4.2 is different.

 

I was shop foreman in a dealer when their intro was delayed for about the forth time. It was because the Germans in evaluating the design discovered it was going to require removal of the engine to replace one of the head lights. The redesign for that delayed intro for several weeks.

 

Yeah, they were bad news when they first came out. Huge software updates taking many hours, rafts of other updates too. You DO have to take the engine out to change the starter motor though, which was a particularly ingenious piece of design work! Still, the training course for that car was brilliant, nearly four weeks long!

 

On the topic of ludicrous maintenance/urban legends file:

I heard that on one of the Porsche 928 models, the motor mount needed to be taken off and the engine slightly jacked up to change 1 or more spark plugs. Anyone know if this is true?

 

Definitely not engine out for oil change, but one thread says the rear windshield needs to come out if LED brakelight goes out ( $10,000).
I did have a window regulator go out. $1k.

 

Whatever happened to Keep It Simple Stupid - sheesh!!

 

Well the engine does have to be pulled along with the tranny to do replace a starter. We have one in my shop now, the book is allowing 40 hours in and out. We've already spent two days just getting the motor safely out, now have to start removing the turbos. Part is $580 and the dealer had 6 in stock, that should tell you something. The car was 3 months out of warranty and Bentley was less then helpful. They misdiagnosed the problem in June and changed the ignition switch and battery under warranty.

 

I've done one myself, it's far easier with the lovely adjustable engine table they give you if you are a dealer! It must have been tight getting it out without it.

 

10K for taking a rear window out?! That's incredibly inflated. Get two suction cups, take the window out, change the LED and put the window back on. Anyone who believes that costs 10K must be... (trying to not be offensive here!) simple.

 

Was never an issue for me on either an '83 S or an '87 S4... Can't imagine it would be any different for the GTS. Possibly the 4-valve US models of 85/86? Intake took up quite a bit of room there & might be easier to raise the engine a hair rather than pull part of the manifold for access?

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=138884100&postcount=2

 

How many have you done on this particular model?

 

Really? Don't they vac it out of the fill tube like everyone else?
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Not true

Since my 928 is supercharged I check my spark plugs on a regular basis, takes me about 10 minutes to check them all. Mine is an early 16V.
On the 32V motors (any year) it takes me about 15 minutes, using a swivel spark plug socket helps speed things up.


The clutch master cylinder is a real PIA on the 928.

Access to the 85/86 spark plugs is the same as S4/GT/GTS. The drawback to the 85/86 cars for maintenance is head studs that make removing the heads with the engine in the car almost impossible (some claim it is impossible). 1987 they switched to head bolts.

 

Must have been on one of the days you weren't drinking... It seems takes longer
after a few beers. Of course on mine, I have to remove the intake tube between the
supercharger and the intercooler to get to the plugs on the passenger side.

 

Score one for the 16V motor since my plugs are further inboard the supercharger plumbing does not interfere.

Plugs 4 & 8 are under the intercooler, makes that swivel plug socket useful.

 

I heard this really crazy one, about this car that needed to have the engine removed just to change the timing belts!

Can you believe it!

 

Um, if you took the engine out, what would you be putting the oil into? ;-)

 

A M E N!