2012 C63 Coupe Edition 1 - Track Day - Is the engine overheating?
The GT Porsches are the only fast cars that come to mind that will survive continual track abuse bone stock. That is why they are such "great track cars." Not because they are the fastest thing out there (they're not), but because they can keep going, and going, and going...
The GT Porsches are the only fast cars that come to mind that will survive continual track abuse bone stock. That is why they are such "great track cars." Not because they are the fastest thing out there (they're not), but because they can keep going, and going, and going...
Porsche GT2 are great. They can go continuously. The 458 can take on 10 laps too before the brakes gets too hot. R8s are fine (R8 LMS are superb).
I first drove the car in S+. The S+ program kept the revs very high and the transmission spent most of its time in 2nd and 3rd.
After 20 minutes or so the oil temp touched a bit over 140C and the car started limiting RPM. I immediately switched to C for half a lap and cooled down a bit to about 130C and the car worked again.
On subsequent sessions I used M mode and made sure to short shift so most of the lap was in 3rd and 4th, 2nd only briefly in one turn. Thus always keeping the oil temp below 135C.
Speeds were equivalent.
My guess is that having the car work close to red line for extended periods overheats the oil. As a workaround, keeping the revs down a bit by selecting a higher gear did not impeded performance as there is plenty of torque available.
Lesson learned.
The stock brakes were fine as were the OEM Continentals on my first outing.
I have a new spare set of Mich PSS on OEM rims for future track days and I will most likely go with a set of Carbotech XP10 for pads and better brake fluid.
The car worked great and the key to watch is managing the oil temperature by cooling down for half a lap every so often and reducing RPM by short shifting here and there.
I miss the heads up display of my now sold C6 Corvette, it was easy to keep an eye on temperature without focusing on the dash.
BTW, my son`s C5 Z06 also suffers from high oil temps and needs a cool down lap every so often.
One important thing I noticed during the AMG Driving Academy in Lime Rock, all the C63 were parked on the tracked with an external blower at full blast. After each session, we were directed to stop the C63 besides the blower. The other AMG's were parked without those blowers.

I also wonder if the stock tune has the car running lean at WOT for emissions? A richer tune might bring down temps.




I also wonder if the stock tune has the car running lean at WOT for emissions? A richer tune might bring down temps.
Last edited by bmoney12; May 23, 2012 at 07:50 PM.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Any upgrades that we can do that will keep our warranty? Seems like vented hood and dtm bumper helps w/o affected warranty...
I flushed and changed the transmission fluid at about 6,000 miles (just before my first track day) and run the heater wide open when on track. The people I have noticed with this issue tend to have their A/C on (I assume they are also listening to LRB on the radio).
I also have not had any serious brake issues (some minor fading) - I use OEM pads/rotors, with teflon/SS lines and ATE Super Blue fluid. I also have some slotted Evosport rotors (not cross-drilled) in the garage that I will install when I am back in the US.
Oil Temp that was reaching 280F and not the water temp.
Took her in 2 days ago to the dealer and I was told that this is an issue with these cars and pretty much "it is what it is". I told them that is extremely dissapointing since I was sold on the "AMG experience" and that should not happen to an AMG engine shortly after you drive it the way MB advertises it is built for.
I understand these cars are not the "extreme tracking mobiles" but you should be at least able to run those engines reasonably hard without having to end the fun in less than 5 minutes.
I am not sure if I can do anything else about it...
If a cooler could just keep you below 280 you should be good.
Oil cooling is an easy problem to solve for the $40K price savings from a BS.
Last edited by lunarx; Jun 7, 2012 at 05:16 AM.
I picked up my car a few days ago and, after a long conversation with the service advisor, he advised me to voice my opinion to AMG so they can make note of the many people who are having problems with their cars. He advised me to call and write a letter to AMG.
Did any of you write or call AMG? Should we try to reach out to them?
I picked up my car a few days ago and, after a long conversation with the service advisor, he advised me to voice my opinion to AMG so they can make note of the many people who are having problems with their cars. He advised me to call and write a letter to AMG.
Did any of you write or call AMG? Should we try to reach out to them?
If we don't speak up they will get soft again.




So AMG is actually going to make a new oil cooler just for your car?? Is this a second cooler or a replacement of original? Where are they going to put it? This is fascinating. Could you keep us updated on this.
I could not even drive 1 lap before this happend.
I went home to Flensburg and wrote following mail to AMG:
Hello AMG
RE. C63 AMG 2012 COUPE
Do you have any idea why the oil tempreture of the engine is reaching
140c ?
The engine than goes into restricted performance.
I found out this problem when I drive on the Nordschleife
I bought the the car approx. 3 weeks ago from Mercedes Klaus K. in
Flensburg and the milage is 4.000 km.
I had not this problem with my earlier car, a 2011 C63 AMG saloon car, it
workt perfectly.
Awaiting your reply....
With best regards
AMG answered 2 days later as follows:
Hello,
please got to you Mercedes - Garage. We need a short test from your car via TIPS Case, then can we check this problem.
Thanks and best regards,
Frank Lang
After Sales AMG-Technik
Mercedes-AMG GmbH
W601 - QP/QA
Daimlerstr. 1
71563 Affalterbach/ Germany
I made a copy of the e-mail from AMG and went to my local Mercedes garage/dealer in Flensburg and explained the problem. They sad something is defenetly is wrong with the car. You can leave the car today and we will look into the problem. 3 days later the garage called me and said the have spoken with AMG and a additional oilcooler was going to be added. It would take AMG 2 weeks to deliver the new oilcooler. I don't know if AMG were out of stock or if they had to manufacture a modified new oilcooler. A good thing though is that the the garage gave me a C63 from the showroom as a replacement car (free of charge) until my car is repared,
A short video of my car


