Hi.
My handbook states the oil has to be to C3 spec. From what I have read this oil is for use in engines with a DPF and or a 3 way cat. I would suspect that if the engine uses oil it will be less damaging to DPF's and Cat's. The 1.2 is a well proven engine and has never been known as an oil burner......I do wonder though it is down to the use of fully synthetic oil during the bedding in stage, a semi synthetic oil would no doubt be better. Thing is no manufacturer wants to have the cost these days of a first service. So surely at 18,000 even on fully synthetic the rings will be bedded in and the C3 spec may be a bit of an overkill.
Being an old engine why do we need to adhere to this spec?

murphyv310 said:

Being an old engine why do we need to adhere to this spec?

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I'm afraid I cannot answer your question on a technical basis. Oil that meets the Fiat specification is both cheap and readily available. Why would you NOT want to use it?

I'm not saying I'd not use it, just questioning the reason why?

murphyv310 said:

I'm not saying I'd not use it, just questioning the reason why?

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Is the recommended spec less viscous?

JCarp16 said:

Is the recommended spec less viscous?

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The spec is 5W-40, this viscosity is available from C3, C2 and much lower specs even in semi synthetic and mineral.
I've read that C3 has slightly less lubricity than the others, just hope that C3 isn't a bag of worms that appears later in the engines life.

See this: http://www.civinfo.com/forum/engine...-c3-engine-oil-car-without-dpf-catalyzer.html
Makes me just wonder now about any "C" classified oil, especially in a petrol engine.

murphyv310 said:

See this: http://www.civinfo.com/forum/engine...-c3-engine-oil-car-without-dpf-catalyzer.html
Makes me just wonder now about any "C" classified oil, especially in a petrol engine.

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Maybe it's due to lower emissions? A less sticky oil, in ideal conditions will produce less resistance and therefore slightly improved mpg? Only in lab conditions of course. In reality it probably just knackers the engine.

JCarp16 said:

Maybe it's due to lower emissions? A less sticky oil, in ideal conditions will produce less resistance and therefore slightly improved mpg? Only in lab conditions of course. In reality it probably just knackers the engine.

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Yes I Agree.
Manufacturers will do everything to squeeze the lowest emissions out of their engines, for the Fire unit to comply no doubt this oil makes that needed marginal improvement as does a tyre pump and goo rather than a spare wheel.
Fiat wont care if there is wear on the camshaft lobes after 8 years or 80'000 miles as it will be way out of warranty and the no doubt on its third owner by then.
For me though this is more worrying as I intend to keep the car for 10 years barring accidents and health.
The C3 oils seem to used to improve the life of DPF's (not in a petrol 1.2 or any other petrol car I'm aware of) and three way Catalytic converters, the one in my Panda looks the same as in my 2001 1.2 Doblo did.
So is all this purely for Euro 6 emissions to get an older design engine to comply?
I'd rather have an engine that would last 150,000 miles without new camshaft, bore wear or worn bearings. I'm now looking at oil with a different view. a 5W-40 synthetic not "C" rated but ACEA B3 spec, Millers Triton would be no doubt my choice, I'll give it serious thought though.

murphyv310 said:

Yes I Agree.
Manufacturers will do everything to squeeze the lowest emissions out of their engines, for the Fire unit to comply no doubt this oil makes that needed marginal improvement as does a tyre pump and goo rather than a spare wheel.
Fiat wont care if there is wear on the camshaft lobes after 8 years or 80'000 miles as it will be way out of warranty and the no doubt on its third owner by then.
For me though this is more worrying as I intend to keep the car for 10 years barring accidents and health.
The C3 oils seem to used to improve the life of DPF's (not in a petrol 1.2 or any other petrol car I'm aware of) and three way Catalytic converters, the one in my Panda looks the same as in my 2001 1.2 Doblo did.
So is all this purely for Euro 6 emissions to get an older design engine to comply?
I'd rather have an engine that would last 150,000 miles without new camshaft, bore wear or worn bearings. I'm now looking at oil with a different view. a 5W-40 synthetic not "C" rated but ACEA B3 spec, Millers Triton would be no doubt my choice, I'll give it serious thought though.

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I wonder if the switch to 0W 30 on the twin air engines was done for this reason or because of problems with the twin air units failing? Because the reason why they did it is important in choosing the oil grade.

Just asked a mate of mine in the trade, about this. Although he agrees there could be minimal wear issues it's not likely to even be noticeable in a high mileage engine. He thinks all cars servicing schedules are far to long, 10,000 miles max or once a year, he does his at 6000 miles which is around 6 months.

Of course some of the milage mentioned is far too long between oil changes. Oil gathers up all sorts the longer it's not changed, moisture, unburnt fuel, debri, all of which combined with most drivers these days doing more stop/start driving is not ideal conditions for your engine.

I mentioned before on my wee diesel hack how it's recommended an oil change six monthly, that's usually 5000 miles or less for me. I stick to that & my 12 year old diesel with 140000 miles on the clock sounds & runs fine.

jimboy said:

Of course some of the milage mentioned is far too long between oil changes. Oil gathers up all sorts the longer it's not changed, moisture, unburnt fuel, debri, all of which combined with most drivers these days doing more stop/start driving is not ideal conditions for your engine.

I mentioned before on my wee diesel hack how it's recommended an oil change six monthly, that's usually 5000 miles or less for me. I stick to that & my 12 year old diesel with 140000 miles on the clock sounds & runs fine.

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Couldn't agree more. My old Disco made 262,000 miles on original engine as it had oil every 6,000 miles which when I was busy was once every 6 weeks. Last time the head was off (bl00dy cambelts are hopeless), there was not a single mark or lip on the bores....

Hi.
Well today I have changed my oil and filter. The oil allegedly has only done just under 1000 miles since the last service in October (book stamp and nothing else with no receipt). The service was done "after" the first owner traded the car in, the snag is it has most likely been shunted around till I got the car the end of January. So in my book the oil would be degraded by constant cold starts, also I have no real proof as to whether the service was actually done. The proof of the pudding as they say is in the eating, the old oil was filthy and smelly, what you'd expect to see after 10,000miles so I have now a nice new Fram filter and Technolube oil 5W-40 ACEA C3 rated which also complies to Fiat spec as on the container. Both filter and 5 litres of oil came to £26.
As can be seen in the screenshots it would appear Fiat say a 24 month 30,000km change cycle but much more realistically Technolube recommend 12 months.

I was told the oil is made now by Carlube a Tetrosyl company.
I would normally change the oil twice a year and at this costing I will still be saving in comparison to Selena oils and filter from Fiat. The other thing was the staining on the alloy seen through the filler cap, really quite bad for a sub 20,000 mile car, hopefully more regular changes will keep this for getting worse.

Here is the oil I used 2.3 litres left approximately.