Technical 2019 Fiat 500 oil

[TONY9090]

Hi, i have a fiat 500 registered March 2019.
Historically on having the car serviced 5W-40 oil has been used but today I used a new garage who state that it should be 0W-20.
Info on websites state that there was a transition in 2019 to the 0W-20 and I can not get a definite answer to which oil should be used????
Does anyone know as fiat UK don't!

 

[Ralf S.]

I'm not sure what FIAT might have changed in the engine in 2019.. but if they were looking to use a skinny oil to improve fuel economy / emissions etc. they could have beefed up the crank bearing material and so on.... or they might have specc'd a thinner oil if they fitted a multi-air valve actuation system.

But I can't find anyone that recommends anything other than 5W40 ACEA C3 with the Fiat 9.55535-S2 standard.

The 0W20 I think is used on the newer hybrid engines and also some flavours of the 500X with the Firefly modular engine.... but if yours is a regular 1.2 with no trickery gadgets on it, I'd use 5W40.


Ralf S.

 

[TONY9090]

I'm not sure what FIAT might have changed in the engine in 2019.. but if they were looking to use a skinny oil to improve fuel economy / emissions etc. they could have beefed up the crank bearing material and so on.... or they might have specc'd a thinner oil if they fitted a multi-air valve actuation system.

But I can't find anyone that recommends anything other than 5W40 ACEA C3 with the Fiat 9.55535-S2 standard.

The 0W20 I think is used on the newer hybrid engines and also some flavours of the 500X with the Firefly modular engine.... but if yours is a regular 1.2 with no trickery gadgets on it, I'd use 5W40.


Ralf S.

Thanks. The car has always had 5w40 in it when serviced, but the garage are adamant that its 0w20 and have used it!

 

[TONY9090]

Thanks. The car has always had 5w40 in it when serviced, but the garage are adamant that its 0w20 and have used it!

Post-2019 models: Starting in 2019, Fiat introduced new oil requirements for the 1.2 8-valve engine. Some models now require a 0W-20 grade with the Fiat 9.55535-DM1 specification.

 

[Ralf S.]

If the garage doesn't want to change it for you, I would just run it around for a few weeks, keeping the revs down so as not to stress your camshaft or crank journals if the oil is in fact too thin... then change it at your earliest convenience for some 5W40 ACEA C3 with the Fiat 9.55535-S2 standard.

So basically treat it as an engine flush..

Coincidentally, flushing oil used to be 0W30 and that always said do not exceed 3000rpm.. so it's hard for me to rationalise anything thinner as being acceptable... but if that's what Fiat recommend for late 1.2's, then what do I know?


Ralf S.

 

[TONY9090]

If the garage doesn't want to change it for you, I would just run it around for a few weeks, keeping the revs down so as not to stress your camshaft or crank journals if the oil is in fact too thin... then change it at your earliest convenience for some 5W40 ACEA C3 with the Fiat 9.55535-S2 standard.

So basically treat it as an engine flush..

Coincidentally, flushing oil used to be 0W30 and that always said do not exceed 3000rpm.. so it's hard for me to rationalise anything thinner as being acceptable... but if that's what Fiat recommend for late 1.2's, then what do I know?


Ralf S.

This was Fiat UK response....

Thank you for contacting us regarding the correct engine oil specification for your Fiat 500 1.2.
Both of the following oils are approved and recommended for your vehicle:

Selenia K P.E. SAE 5W-40 – ACEA C3

Selenia ECO2 SAE 0W-20 – ACEA C5

The 5W-40 remains fully suitable and continues to provide effective engine protection, but both oils are suitable for your engine.


If you require any further assistance, please reply to this email or contact us by calling Fiat at 0080034280000.

Yours sincerely,

Customer Care Stellantis EMEA Fiat