endrop - for all your online needs

Technical Engine Oil For TwinAir.

Currently reading:
Technical Engine Oil For TwinAir.

Torsten S said:
In this thread you yourself provided evidence that you used the wrong oil and didn't adjust the uniair control parameters after the oil change - that's what I mean with "without the expertise". But I'm afraid you are in good company, as many Fiat garages don't know this and will happily tell you that all twin airs need any 5W40 and have no clue that there is another routine to be performed on the computer.
Click to expand...

Hi.
An eye opener indeed.
It is very worrying that there is a feeling the Fiat service engineers are not doing the job correctly. Do we have the evidence that they are not re-setting the parameters for the uni-air module after an oil change?
Does the ECU have stored details of how many times this re-setting is done, I know other vehicles log the number of accesses and what parameters were changed and stored.
If there is sufficient evidence that this wasn't reset then surely this could be taken further and the service department taken to task.

The other snag is there are still some like me that goes out and buys a clean low mileage used car with the intention of keeping it for some years, I have additionally rust proofed it on the rear beam, subframe and other obviously potential rust spots, I do an additional oil change every 6 months and use quality Iridium plugs and don't skimp on maintenance. So my point is if you are a TA owner and are unaware of this reset you need to do as no doubt a general garage is as well what harm are you doing to the engine and lets be honest is this another ploy for dealer only service work?
 
Its resets it self after the car is driven after the service.After speaking to my garage info he says new diesels need resetting to tell the ecu about the condition of the oil in percentage of use.
 
Phils panda said:
Its resets it self after the car is driven after the service.After speaking to my garage info he says new diesels need resetting to tell the ecu about the condition of the oil in percentage of use.
Click to expand...

Your garage is mistaken. How will it know to reset itself? Magic?

My own garage was convinced that a 2016 twin air needed 5W40 oil and did not know about the reset. So treat information given by a garage, even if it's a main dealer, with a pinch of salt.

That's why I said earlier that I'd rather do services myself.

I'll trust the information given by the manufacturer.

This may be a general problem with modern cars: You need an engineering and computer science degree to really understand them, and traditional garage wisdom (like the above) is obsolete.
 
Last edited:
Oil degrades as we know but it degrades differently dependent on what type of running a car has.
Starting a car up every morning and doing a lengthy motorway trip will impose different conditions to the car that does a two mile trip on every cold start.
Short runs cause the oils viscosity to increase due to a reaction between condensation and the oil, one reason I advocate a six monthly change for vehicles doing short runs. I'd suspect a TA would not be a good bet for short run usage. I'd also say a TA would be an ideal engine for motorway and high mileage.
Just my meanderings.
 
Well, I've bitten the bullet and changed the oil in our 2012 Panda to Selenia 0W-30. (this stuff almost pours like water!:eek:)

Based on the fact that the part number for a uniair module for a 2016+ Panda is exactly the same as for a 2012 model, I reckon that's going to be pretty safe. Also, doing it at these extreme ambient temperatures, I'll see immediately if there are going to be any other issues :eek:

On changing the oil, I reset the Uniar module in ECDS and , Unlike the previous occasions when using 5W-40 the engine immediately ran smoothly and continues to do so, much quieter and smoother than previously especially when cold.

I'll continue to monitor factors like Oil consumption closely especially in these 30+ degrees ambient temperatures but my immediate feeling is the Uniair is much happier running with this oil.

You never know, the always high Lambda figure may improve significantly at the next MOT (likely indicating that the inlet valves are closing faster now)?
 
Vic20 said:
Based on the fact that the part number for a uniair module for a 2016+ Panda is exactly the same as for a 2012 model, I reckon that's going to be pretty safe.
Click to expand...

Things aren't that simple. Even if the hardware is the same, the software controlling the operation of the uniair module may be different.

Read this post for a more detailed explanation.

Based on everything we know so far and in particular the INA Schaeffler technical document linked here, my recommendation is to use only the specific grade and specification (though not brand, provided it's the correct grade and spec) of oil recommended by Fiat for the particular year and model of your car. Experimentation could lead to engine damage, including uniair module failure, and is not recommended.

I'll leave the final words to the technical guys at the company which designed the uniair system.
 

Attachments

  • Capture.PNG
    Capture.PNG
    10.6 KB · Views: 114
Last edited:
jrkitching said:
Things aren't that simple. Even if the hardware is the same, the software controlling the operation of the uniair module may be different.

Well, perhaps I'm on level terms with things now, In trying to fix the failed indicator stalk recall which resulted in the headlights lights permanently on, the dealer said he also updated the engine management software to no avail in fixing the problem.

This car, at 6 years old is NEVER going back to a dealer now so it's my call!
Click to expand...
 
Having read this thread I told my mechanic to out 0w30 in my 2014 0.9 85hp twinair euro 6. He insisted he'd spoken with Fiat (he's a friend not a specialist) and they said he had to use 5w40. So I checked my car's manual and sure enough it said 5w40. So it seems the earlier euro 6 cars may still run on 5w40.
 
This thread has been a big help guys. Mine has had an oil change every year since new and sitting at 45k miles. No idea what will be in it now but will be going by the manual. The Selenia oil is expensive but if it's recommended I'll stick with it - it was the same story when I had my 500 Abarth Esseesse.

Basically in a nutshell, oil grade and manufacturer is important (e.g. 5W-40 and 9.55535-S2 for my 2013 Twinair 4x4)
 
Mouse1903 said:
This thread has been a big help guys. Mine has had an oil change every year since new and sitting at 45k miles. No idea what will be in it now but will be going by the manual. The Selenia oil is expensive but if it's recommended I'll stick with it - it was the same story when I had my 500 Abarth Esseesse.

Basically in a nutshell, oil grade and manufacturer is important (e.g. 5W-40 and 9.55535-S2 for my 2013 Twinair 4x4)
Click to expand...
It's an old thread but as a matter of interest after using various brands of oil I have settled on using Millers XF premium 5W40 C3. The engine runs smooth as butter on this stuff.
 
JTD_Liam said:
Fiat and oils are just blo*dy hopeless. They need to work out a reliable database that dealers can put the customers VIN or reg number into, and get accurate oil spec info, based on the vehicles build date. If they have one already clearly the dealers tend not to use it, because they never seem to know about oil. Either that or Fiat in Italy need to pick an oil spec and stick to it, instead of changing every year, especially with engines like the TwinAir/MultiAir, which are so damn fussy anyway.

Another massive bugbear of mine are the amount of dealers using other brands of oil to Selenia. Fiats service charges are pretty damned expensive for average car brand standards, so when you're paying what they charge, the least you expect is the exact oil recommended in the handbook. I recently had my Alfa MiTo serviced. The dealership was excellent, but even they used Shell Helix. Now, it might be better than Selenia, I've no idea, but if you're paying nearly £300 for a service (and they were the cheapest quote) at a Fiat/Alfa main dealer, I expect them to follow the handbook to the letter, and that includes oil. My experience seems just the same (in terms of price and different oil brands) as Fiat owners on here. My Parents were quoted £370 at two different dealers for a 500 TwinAir service, and I've no idea if that was for Selenia oil either :(

Personally in the OPs case I would go with what the handbook says. At least then if/when the UniAir control plays up, he can show Fiat the invoice and the service book and prove that he only used what they recommended - you can guarantee the dealer won't wanna know if it all goes ti*s up with their oil choice!
Click to expand...
When I tried to buy a top up bottle of oil (of the recommended brand) from my dealer they first sold me Shell Helix but even invoiced it as something else. Have not been impressed from day one
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Technical Panda twinAir oil pressure switch?
2
Replies
39
Views
1K
JimMan
JimMan
B
Technical Twinair module filter
Replies
1
Views
122
Twotone2
T
lunchbeers
Technical Twinair camshaft sensor
Replies
2
Views
154
lunchbeers
lunchbeers
E
Technical Twinair engine mount(s)
Replies
1
Views
735
giannisf3000
giannisf3000
B
General Twinair DMF replacement
Replies
7
Views
512
The Panda Nut
The Panda Nut
Back
Top