I've done just over 6k miles and was thinking about maybe changing the oil & filter (halfway between services) - I intend to keep this car for quite a while and have heard that it's one of the best things you can do to help maintain the engine. Does anyone else on here do that? Does anyone thing there is any point?

The car gets driven quite hard & does mainly trips of 20 miles on fast A roads (to & from work).

If I change the oil myself is it just straight forward or are there any Stilo quirks to look out for?

Also, a Fiat dealer near to where I work is doing Selenia 20K oil for just £14-odd for 5ltr (they tell me they got a big bulk discount from Fiat, "overstocked" in other words!).

Cheers all[8)]

Stilo MY04 1.6 Active Sport
Met. Black

Do it! Despite FIAT's recommendation to change oils every 20000 km a change every 10000 km will help keeping your engine in a good condition.

Grigoris

3-Door Black Stilo 1.8 Dynamic, 17" Alloys, Dual Zone Climate Control, Spoiler

In my opinion this is like throwing your money to the street.

These oils are made to mantain its properties to 20k km in good conditions. Sintetic oils can support higger temperatures, without "frying", than mineral ones. Plus at high speeds car refrigeration is better than in slow speeds and thus wont overheat.

The only time my car had the temperature needle passing the middle was last summer with 40º at about 150-160km/h, and by slowing to about 120km/h the needle backed up to its normal position.

Originally posted by jed
In my opinion this is like throwing your money to the street.

These oils are made to mantain its properties to 20k km in good conditions. Sintetic oils can support higger temperatures, without "frying", than mineral ones. Plus at high speeds car refrigeration is better than in slow speeds and thus wont overheat.

The only time my car had the temperature needle passing the middle was last summer with 40º at about 150-160km/h, and by slowing to about 120km/h the needle backed up to its normal position.

Click to expand...

The fact that the oils are designed to last for long does not mean that is not better to change them often if you can afford it. On the top of that engines of new cars contain remainings (shrapnel) of iron as a result of the construction process. Experienced engineers recommend to change oils after 1000-2000 km when you first buy a car, and then at 5000 and 10000 km and then every 5000-10000 km if you wish to preserve your engine at a perfect state. The first oil changes are essential since the help you to remove the iron shrapnel that could damage the cylinders.

Grigoris

3-Door Black Stilo 1.8 Dynamic, 17" Alloys, Dual Zone Climate Control, Spoiler

Thanks lads, anyone else? two very different opinions here.

Has anyone changed the oil & filter themselves yet? I know it should be simple, but - it's a Stilo, are there any pitfalls or any quirks to watch out for?

What about oil, Selenia 20k, or any other quality juice? I'm tempted to stick with the Selenia.

Out of interest I discovered that a big Fiat dealership (not the one I use) near where I work uses Shell Helix during service - and only uses Selenia if the customer requests it.

Stilo MY04 1.6 Active Sport
Met. Black

Well about the shrapnel resulting from the construction process, this no problem since engine parts usually are polish to remove them, as manufactures could not afford engines to blow up because of this. And if by some reason a few of them survive the treatment they should be retained by the oil filter, since this is his function.

About changing your oil i would advise NOT to. Remember your warranty will void if you do so, although you can do it if anybody don't find it out...

do you mean by changing the "type" of oil (ie. Shell rather than Selenia) I would be invalidating my warranty, or by changing it myself I would be invalidating it?

Does anyone know if changing the oil & filter yourself between services buggers yer warranty?

I would use Selenia + a filter bought from a dealership.
[?]


Stilo MY04 1.6 Active Sport
Met. Black

I'm sorry, I would meant changing the brand or type of the oil. Basically you have to use the same in order to wont get in trouble if anything goes wrong.
I believe the same happens with the oil filter.

About changing it yourself there is no problem with it.

thanks Jed

Stilo MY04 1.6 Active Sport
Met. Black

Originally posted by jed
I'm sorry, I would meant changing the brand or type of the oil. Basically you have to use the same in order to wont get in trouble if anything goes wrong.
I believe the same happens with the oil filter.

About changing it yourself there is no problem with it.

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I don't think that using another make of oil would invalidate the guarantee. First of all they can't know what type of oil is in And then, at least here in Switzerland, the FIAT dealers use Shell and not Selenia... They only thing that is important is not the make but they type (synthetic oils 10w or 5w must be used).

Grigoris

3-Door Black Stilo 1.8 Dynamic, 17" Alloys, Dual Zone Climate Control, Spoiler

Thanks Grigoris,
I'm sure any quality oil of the correct specification would be OK (shell, castrol etc..). I will stick with Selenia for now (especially with the good price I can get it for at the moment).

Mick

Stilo MY04 1.6 Active Sport
Met. Black