I was told today that Fiat / Alfa Romeo consider 1 litre of oil used per 1000 miles as acceptable. I think it's ridiculous, my last Fiat didn't use a drop the whole time I had it ! What do you think ?
Acceptable oil use ?
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Acceptable oil use ?
Depends very mich on the car!
All the old twin cams, and the newer FIAT/ALFA larger capacity engines (old 155 and on), are pretty notorious oil burners. The FIRE and SuperFIRE engines much less so, although there have been odd batches of engines with over-generos clearances.
FIAT/Alfa are not alone in this: some Toyotas and Hondas have similar issues.
All the old twin cams, and the newer FIAT/ALFA larger capacity engines (old 155 and on), are pretty notorious oil burners. The FIRE and SuperFIRE engines much less so, although there have been odd batches of engines with over-generos clearances.
FIAT/Alfa are not alone in this: some Toyotas and Hondas have similar issues.
For some Fiats (often quoted in the owners manual) is 50 to 90 grams per 100km is defined a ACCEPTABLE by Fiat
e.g.
Tempra 1.8ie is specified at 90g/100km = 608 miles per litre (oil weighs about 880g/l)
Tipo 1.6 ie is specified at 50g/100km = 1094 miles per litre
These were the firgures quoted in the manuals for these cars.
For later cars, e.g. Stilo, Coupe, Punto HGT and I believe most of not all post Tipo/Tempra era then Fiat stopped quoting a figure in the manual. This does not mean to say that ACCEPTABLE is not still in this sort of consumption range.
I believe (based on good inside information) that when we went to unleaded fuel in this country many manufacturers like Fiat and Mercedes DELIBERATELY designed the engines and heads to consume more oil as they were using the oil as an upper cylinder valve lubricant to help fight against valve errosion now that there was no soft lead to do the job.
I gather some Mercedes cars really drank the oil.
All my old Fiats (600D, 127, various Unos, Stradas) and our Strada Abarth all being pre unleaded era use no oil at all.
Our 2005 Barchetta uses oil at about 0.25l per 1500 miles.
Our 2005 Croma (diesel) uses oil at about 0.25l per 4000 miles.
I also have figures, not too disimilar for Punto HGT and Stilo Abarth.
Basically since we went unleaded every Fiat I have owned has used oil and every Fiat pre unleaded used no oil at all.
e.g.
Tempra 1.8ie is specified at 90g/100km = 608 miles per litre (oil weighs about 880g/l)
Tipo 1.6 ie is specified at 50g/100km = 1094 miles per litre
These were the firgures quoted in the manuals for these cars.
For later cars, e.g. Stilo, Coupe, Punto HGT and I believe most of not all post Tipo/Tempra era then Fiat stopped quoting a figure in the manual. This does not mean to say that ACCEPTABLE is not still in this sort of consumption range.
I believe (based on good inside information) that when we went to unleaded fuel in this country many manufacturers like Fiat and Mercedes DELIBERATELY designed the engines and heads to consume more oil as they were using the oil as an upper cylinder valve lubricant to help fight against valve errosion now that there was no soft lead to do the job.
I gather some Mercedes cars really drank the oil.
All my old Fiats (600D, 127, various Unos, Stradas) and our Strada Abarth all being pre unleaded era use no oil at all.
Our 2005 Barchetta uses oil at about 0.25l per 1500 miles.
Our 2005 Croma (diesel) uses oil at about 0.25l per 4000 miles.
I also have figures, not too disimilar for Punto HGT and Stilo Abarth.
Basically since we went unleaded every Fiat I have owned has used oil and every Fiat pre unleaded used no oil at all.
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