Technical Air Filter & Oil filter

[SFMk2]

Hi all.
I've got a mk2a punto and have had it since feb 08. How do i know when to change the oil and air filters? (I have no SVC history for the car so i dont know how long ago they were serviced & cannot get a hold of the svc history from fiat)

Also, in terms of air filters, is there any that i can get that would be better than the original in terms of air intake and filtering? i know K&N are all the rage but would it not blow my head gasket quicker? plus they cost a fair bit more than a £10 air filter fresh from fiat.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Mdeko]

How old is the car? if you havent got any history, check the condition of the oil, via the dipstick), is it thick and dark or lighter? if is dark colured and thick it needs changing anyway. Replace the oil filter when you change the oil.

Your best off staying with the standard air filter, unless your going down the route of getting an induction kit such as GSR or a focus one (i assume yours is the 8v?). The k&n filters a rubbish on the punto they will more than likely loose you power over the standard air box. Havent heard anything about induction kits/filters blowing head gaskets though.

Again take the filter out and look at its condition, if its dirty and manky change it.

Saying that if it was my car i would give it a good service regardless of thier condition, then you know when its been done and its been done well. Chancg oil, oil filter, air filter, sparkplugs. and with the age of the car (with it being a mk2a) it is probabily due a cambelt change too.

Fianally going down the headgasket route, best preventitive measures you can do is:
- change coolant yearly, and make sure it is kept topped up throughout the year
- try not to rev the engine above 2.5/3 rpm for the first 10/15 minutes of driving
- if you have the simple dash (i.,e. speedo and fuel guage, no revcounter and temp guage) swap it for the higher spec one with them,. then if anything should go a miss you can see the engine temperature rising and stop before it goes too high, (the overheating light on the basic version is next to useless)

 

[FIREsporting]

Changing your oil and filters regularly keeps the inside of the engine clean as you have no history id do all the filters also the fuel filter.

performance air filter would not blow the head gasket quicker it a help your engine breathe easier.

 

[EllD90]

I have a K&N panel filter for sale. They RRP at £40 + P&P, its been used for no more than 3000 miles. I'll sell it for £30 posted. I also have a brand new oil filter, £10 is what it cost me from halfords...so I'd do the pair £40 posted (I wrote off my car btw). Make sure yours is the 78mm oil filter though.

PM me if you're interested

 

[Ziggy122]

IF the oil is soo thick and dirty that i'd recommend doing a oil and filter change ASAP, and watch the colour and thickness of the oil
Once it starts turning again, consider getting parts in for another change
My filter for example is a UNipart - Cost like £6
Okay i put about £15 worth of oil in...

once u'd say its about hlf way from fresh and black, change it
U want to work all that dirty oil out

Ziggy

 

[5abr3]

I'm running a Fram oil filter (£5 at the motorfactors) and the Fram air filter (£3.50), no complaints with those specific parts

 

[raton_laveur]

If the owner's manual is still in the glove box, give it a read. It will tell you when various things need doing. If it's not there, you can easily get one from ebay.

 

[mzhussein]

just chnage everything, gives u peace o mind, its nice and easy, cheap, and quick.

 

[Tris Harris]

Changing your oil and filters regularly keeps the inside of the engine clean as you have no history id do all the filters also the fuel filter.

performance air filter would not blow the head gasket quicker it a help your engine breathe easier.

Fuel filter does not need to be changed on the mk2 punto.

oil and fuel filters are about £5 each from Wilco Motosave...

Spark Plugs... check condition of them- remember to use NGK plugs otherwise you risk messing up you ECU.

Check condtion of HT leads

Check condition of coolant.

If you search 'punto service' i have a thread where i was asking about doing one myself and people helped me out.