This morning I did a service on my Stilo Abarth, and she seems to be running sweeter than ever:

• Fiat 71736159 oil filter, which has 14 flats around the top, so I can remove it easily using my (cool!) Laser filter tool
• Crossland A20338 air filter
• Crossland C40161C cabin filter
• Fiat sump plug washer

I've made a couple of changes this time too...

• NGK BKR6EIX spark plugs, gapped to 0.9mm. Previously I was running BKR5EIX, but I've gone up one notch on the temperature scale, as there was just a little evidence of the plugs running a touch hot. The '6' rated iridium plugs seem to make the engine a bit smoother at mid/high revs and high speed, and a little punchier too.
  
• Fuchs Titan SuperSyn 10W60 fully synthetic which specifically meets Fiat's engine oil spec for our cars (Fiat 9.55535-H3) and - like the Selenia - has a max 20k change interval. I'd been using (very expensive) Redline 10W40 but am hoping the 10W60 will reduce oil consumption, although mine wasn't especially high even with the 10W40.

I know there are people on this forum who use 10W40 and others who use 10W60, so I'll be interested to see how my 10W60 'experiment' goes. Anyway, took it out for a run this afternoon and it feel's super-smooth and gutsy...

Caltex edge is readily available here and Caltex recommend 10/60 so I have used that for 3 years. Oil consumption reduced.

Nice thorough service OP. I've run 0W-40 Mobil 1 in my 2.4 for 60+K miles with no issues...

For filter removal I've tried (but failed) using a 14 flat tool you sent the link to. Not enough room to get in the ratchet to turn it. I now use a strap wrench with an extra-long handle.

Yellow Peril said:

....For filter removal I've tried (but failed) using a 14 flat tool you sent the link to. Not enough room to get in the ratchet to turn it. I now use a strap wrench with an extra-long handle.

Click to expand...

The 3/8" ratchet that I use is a pretty skinny one (also from Laser tools), and it does take a bit of fiddling to get it onto the Laser '14 flat' tool: I put the Laser tool on the filter first, then connect the ratchet and unwind the filter until loose, then remove ratchet and tool, then spin filter off by hand.

I'd like to meet the guy at Fiat who thought this was a sensible place to put an oil filter. Mind you, if I left out all the swear-words and expletives, I don't think I'd have anything left to say to him...

That's nothing; try on the Alfa 3.2 V6 (GTA / GT) - they're on the back of the V6 block and completely hindered by the lovely warm exhaust manifold and header pipes.


Form over function - it's the Italian way!

Artermis said:

That's nothing; try on the Alfa 3.2 V6 (GTA / GT) - they're on the back of the V6 block and completely hindered by the lovely warm exhaust manifold and header pipes.

Form over function - it's the Italian way!

Click to expand...

Artermis, you're right. But don't underestimate Fiat's attention to detail when they were working out how to make the Stilo Abarth's oil filter a nightmare: they've cleverly positioned the first catalytic converter so it cooks your hand as you unscrew the filter.

I've now done four oil changes on my Stilo, and it's only this last one that didn't result in a badly blistered hand.

Still, everything that doesn't kill me makes me stronger....:bang: