1.6 HLX, am i straining the engine at 4000 rpm

[Mark]

I've got a Y reg 1.6 hlx, fully serviced, oil change every 6000 miles (fully synthetic). On the motorway i generally drive at 3500 rpm (85ish). For this engine what can it comfortably handle and when would the damage start ?? Don't get me wrong I've no intention of thrashing it quite the opposite.

Thanks All

 

[Jonathan]

lol

You can safely do 7000 rpm for short bursts, you arent going to hurt the engine unless ur in 2nd gear on the motorway!

 

[Tom]

You could be damaging the engine by using the incorrect oil. Fiat reccomend a semi-synth oil, not a fully synth. The MOST important thing is that it MUST be the correct grade. Don't be fooled by 0W5 oil that claims to give you better performance. Fiat picked the oil they specify for a reason and have tested the engine with it.

OK, its not that critical on a modern engine but if I put modern synth oil in my old 1970's MG, I'd be taking the engine home in a box after a few 1000 miles. The chemicals in new oils simply eat the oil seals used on older engines.

The other important thing about oil is to get it hot enough. If it never heats up fully, you get buildup of contaminants and other gunk. This is why most cars that only ever do very short trips have nackered engines.
I've found my 60k mile 1.6 uses oil at about half the rate stated in the handbook and I don't drive that slowly either.

 

[Jamie]

Re: Re: 1.6 HLX, am i straining the engine at 4000 rpm

can you buy Selenia (or whatever its called) oil over the counter at Fiat Dealers?

Jamie

 

[Paul]

Olio

You can at my local Fiat service agent...

regards,
Paul

 

[Dug]

MG

Tom, what MG have you got? My BGT is still awaiting restoration.

It's always best to use the recommended oil. However, the oil at Fiat is bloody expensive: you'd be better off getting the same grade oil from a motor factors.

 

[brian]

4000?!?!?!

I am not, repeat, not a boy racer - I just got used to driving my cars to their full extent in the pedestrian cars I previously owned. My Bravo is regularly revved to 6000 in the acceleration process, though I'm still getting used to the engine being virtually on tickover on the motorway.

My old Seicento did 45000 miles in my hands, and that did over 4000rpm at 80 on the motorway for very long stints with no ill effects.

Cars these days are designed to be driven this way (especially fiats with their 16 valves and trick computer controlled injection systems. Don't worry, live a little!

 

[Tom]

Re: MG

I've got a '72 Roadster. Thinking of putting an Oselli stage 3 head and fast road cam in the old dear.

I put Duckhams in my Bravo. Much cheaper than the Fiat stuff. Just like all Fiat parts really....