(G) does the 1.2 have a variator

does the 1.2 have a variator?

No. Just the1.4 used in the GP Starjet and the Bravo Starjet.

The 1.4 in the stilo is the same as the 1.4 in the mk2b Punto Sporting and very similar to the 100hp.

relief its not that.

but oh cock- whats making the deisel like noise for 5-10 seconds on a warm start up (where needle is 1/2 way betwen C and the middle of the gauge)

Checked your oil level level ?

Recently changed the oil (as in changed the spec) ?

it was fully serviced in may, going checking oil now

oil level- plenty in, if anything it maybe slightly over the top of the dipstick marker, its hard to tell.

water level is fine with no evidence of contamination, and also the oil shows no contamination either.

it does sound mechanical, and increases with revs, so im wondering if its a water pump. I never get chance to drive it when making the noise as it goes before i can move the car.

less seriously could be a timing issue that the ECU doesnt flag up as an engine fault, but im not paying £70 to fiat to tell me that theres no codes on there

(apart from when i drove to halfords with a tail light cluster off last week as their bloody bulbs for the rear are listed wrong as well)

i got mine outa their no problems, one listed. just b weiry whether it was double fillament brake light or single filament tail

What is the oil spec?

doesnt say in the handbook- just looking through it now.

its full of useful stuff like if oil level is low, top it up- with what?

i think it should be 10w-40 but i have no idea what fiat put in the car

I think a slight knocking at cold start up is normal isnt it? My old 1.2 8v Punto did that, and my Stilo does it a little when really cold. All were/are serviced correctly and I use good quality oils. But when its warm?? Strange!

its not when it starts cold, its when its been up to temp and cooling down.

It a bit pointless saying what should be in the engine

What counts is what's in it now!

I'm a bit surprised at your indifference to what oil your garage uses as it's one of the most important considerations in servicing

they're a main fiat dealer so one would presume they could get it right

I agree but for all you know they may have changed type of oil used/stored since last service.

Even a main dealer is extremely unlikely to use the best oil available which is why I would always ask what they intended to use.