Technical Panda oil
- Thread starter MLW
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Technical Panda oil
I use 5W30 and ignore any recommendation FIAT makes.
For the record, our recently sold Seicento (which uses the 1.1 engine) recorded 36000 miles with no oil or filter change. I was curious. It was still running lovely when sold.
For the record, our recently sold Seicento (which uses the 1.1 engine) recorded 36000 miles with no oil or filter change. I was curious. It was still running lovely when sold.
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It's a fairly old fashioned engine.
The basic block and head of the FIRE have been around since the mid '80's, at which time oil was dug up out of the ground rather than made in a lab!
It wasn't until around 2010 that they revised it slightly (dropped the 1.1 54hp and 1.2 60hp) and went with a variable cam operation (1.2 69hp), which I gather is when the oil specs may have altered.
We ran our old Active on 10w40 for years, no problem and I gather 5w40 is ok, if a little dearer to buy.
Good news is, your daughters engine (1.1 54hp) is non interference, so if the cam belt does let go, the valves won't hit the pistons (unlike the 69hp engines) and smash the engine.
It's also incredibly hardy and easy to service, one of Fiats best.
The basic block and head of the FIRE have been around since the mid '80's, at which time oil was dug up out of the ground rather than made in a lab!
It wasn't until around 2010 that they revised it slightly (dropped the 1.1 54hp and 1.2 60hp) and went with a variable cam operation (1.2 69hp), which I gather is when the oil specs may have altered.
We ran our old Active on 10w40 for years, no problem and I gather 5w40 is ok, if a little dearer to buy.
Good news is, your daughters engine (1.1 54hp) is non interference, so if the cam belt does let go, the valves won't hit the pistons (unlike the 69hp engines) and smash the engine.
It's also incredibly hardy and easy to service, one of Fiats best.
GeorgeDamper
Established member
I use 10/40 semi in my 2004 Panda 1.2 (86,000 on the clock).
I always used 15/40 mineral in my 1.1 Sei Sporting. I sold it on the forum last year. Still going strong with about 140k on the clock iirc
My thinking is to go for the thicker spec oil if you have higher mileage.
I always used 15/40 mineral in my 1.1 Sei Sporting. I sold it on the forum last year. Still going strong with about 140k on the clock iirc
My thinking is to go for the thicker spec oil if you have higher mileage.
Actually it is a 2006 with 6 service stamps because it was a mobility vehicle. It has done 22K. It seems to be a great first car. I've done 60 miles in it and it is first class.
In the past I used 5w-40 on a 1992 Mercedes. Always fully synthetic even though everyone said it was not necessary. At the end the engine had done 148,000 and was sweet as a nut.
I like this oil as it is 5w when it is cold, but 40 when hot on a French motorway in August. As Europarts do 5w-40 fully synthetic oil at SN standard why would you not use it at 5 litres for £20ish?
In the past I used 5w-40 on a 1992 Mercedes. Always fully synthetic even though everyone said it was not necessary. At the end the engine had done 148,000 and was sweet as a nut.
I like this oil as it is 5w when it is cold, but 40 when hot on a French motorway in August. As Europarts do 5w-40 fully synthetic oil at SN standard why would you not use it at 5 litres for £20ish?
I agree. All the factors recommend 5W40 fully synth for my 2007 1.2 4x4 (I expected 10w40 semi), and the handbook says either.
Try carparts4less I bought the Triple QX 5W40 fully synth from Eurocarparts (about £18 discounted in the shop ) and was going to order more until I stumbled on carparts4less online at £12.49 delivered for 5L
Come on 5L of fully synth for £12??!! I've read the online reviews and they are positive for this brand.Mine has just hit 112k and I put it in at 110k. Checked yesterday after 2000 miles (including lots of motorway work and some fairly taxing green laning) my Panda hasn't used a drop (I wondered if it might use a bit being thinner) - it's looking a bit grubbier than when it went in, but it replaced some pretty black looking "oil" & has probably cleaned things up. Anyway as you need about £7.50 worth, it's easy to change it again soon!
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I agree. All the factors recommend 5W40 fully synth for my 2007 1.2 4x4 (I expected 10w40 semi), and the handbook says either.
Try carparts4less I bought the Triple QX 5W40 fully synth from Eurocarparts (about £18 discounted in the shop ) and was going to order more until I stumbled on carparts4less online at £12.49 delivered for 5L
Mine has just hit 112k and I put it in at 110k. Checked yesterday after 2000 miles (including lots of motorway work and some fairly taxing green laning) my Panda hasn't used a drop (I wondered if it might use a bit being thinner) - it's looking a bit grubbier than when it went in, but it replaced some pretty black looking "oil" & has probably cleaned things up. Anyway as you need about £7.50 worth, it's easy to change it again soon!
2000 miles - almost becoming a daily runner for you Gavin!
2000 miles - almost becoming a daily runner for you Gavin!
Did nearly 300 miles for the NEC weekend! I really like the mk3 - much more than I expected actually - yes 2000 miles in 2.5 months!!
Not much for normal people I know, but my mileage does get spread around a bit!
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Did nearly 300 miles for the NEC weekend! I really like the mk3 - much more than I expected actually - yes 2000 miles in 2.5 months!!
Bah, that's nothing, I've done 1800 miles in just over a month
Bah, that's nothing, I've done 1800 miles in just over a month
Yes but as I said I'm not a normal person. This isn't a 1st car - or 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc, etc......
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Yes but as I said I'm not a normal person. This isn't a 1st car - or 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc, etc......
How many cars do you own?
2000 miles in 2.5 months is decent enough.
I do 180 miles almost on a daily basis.
How many cars do you own?
2000 miles in 2.5 months is decent enough.
I do 180 miles almost on a daily basis.
I don't usually answer that directly! I only have 1 x mk3 Panda though.... The older ones are on a classic policy, so it's a bit too easy to add another! It's been in double figures for a while.....
How many cars do you own?
2000 miles in 2.5 months is decent enough.
I do 180 miles almost on a daily basis.
I don't usually answer that directly! I only have 1 x mk3 Panda though.... The older ones are on a classic policy, so it's a bit too easy to add another! It's been in double figures for a while.....
He's in denial over his Fiat addiction
if he doesn't say it out loud it doesn't exist However it does mean that I can indulge my addiction to driving classic cars on a regular basis. :thumbup:
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I don't usually answer that directly! I only have 1 x mk3 Panda though.... The older ones are on a classic policy, so it's a bit too easy to add another! It's been in double figures for a while.....
I just noticed your signature, interesting collection
My dad's second car was a 1.050cc 127.
