General Hi from Derby. Stilo Questions if i can.

[Davren]

expect the HG to be due soon though as iirc on the 1108cc and the 1242cc lumps theyre due every 53,000mi

Edit:-

Autodata says 72,000mi or 60 months (for the 1.2 Stilo)

I suspect Rich means the timing belt rather than the HG (Head Gasket?)

Fiat originaly recommended that Stilo timing belts should be replaced every 72,000 miles or 5 years but that recommedation was reduced at some point to something like 50,000 miles.

 

[richydraper]

1108cc used in the cinqs used to blow HG for fun between 50-60,000 as a general rule of thumb it was considered that 53,000 was about right for HG to go (mine blew at 53,002mi). im pretty sure but not 100% that the 1242cc was exactly the same.

but i was talking about Timing belts for the 72,000mi comment from auto data, my fault i didnt make it clear... sowwie

 

[mintyz]

OK here we go !!!!!
Although the car is running perfectly fine i have just noticed quite a lot of sludge on the dipstick and a small amount of coolant loss. There is no sludge under the filler cap and although the temp guage takes a while to reach 12 o clock it does not over heat.
I am off on a 60 mile journey later tonight and am a little concerned.
Your thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks Minty

 

[richydraper]

uh-oh...

initial thoughts are HG especially if your getting it on the dipstick

BUT

if the car has previously been used for lots of short journeys then 'mayonaise' can build up all over the internals of the engine. its where condensation forms on the thin film of oil left over the internals of the motor and emulsifies into this greyish/whitish sludge. lots of good runs and an oil change 'SHOULD' clear it if its not HG related.

IF

it does turn out to be HG then dont fret the 1242cc motors are REALLY easy (i did the 1108cc HG, timing belt and water pump incl travelling and waiting to get the head skimmed in 10 hours in the snow)

EDIT:-
HGs fail in 1 of 4 ways usually

1:- Oil In Cooling System (Failiure between Oil Feed and Water galleries)
2:- Pressurisation of the Cooling System (Failiure between Cylinder and Water gallery)
3:- Water In Oil (Failiure between Water and Oil Return galleries)
4:- Rough Running (Failiure between 2 or more Cylinders/Cylinder to Atmosphere = loss of compression on said cylinder(s))

 

[Dragon Man]

i'd give it the long run, see if it clears it out.. my cinq had mayo under the filler cap, few good runs soon got rid of it. i gave it a compression test purely out of interest/boredom and all 4 cylinders were around the same. both dry and wet tests.

its a good way to check for any faults. but it will only detect if a cylinder is loosing compression, not if the oil and water ways are crossing.

 

[nikkiy9]

same with my mk1 punto, was sounding like a tank and low on power, HG then went, (78k) had it repaired in 2 days, once it was sorted the engine was like new, used to enjoy high revs while on the motorway (sitting at 90+ overtaking BMW's etc)

i gave up with the car at 117k 2 years later when i needed to change the front subframe

 

[Stealth123]

OK here we go !!!!!
Although the car is running perfectly fine i have just noticed quite a lot of sludge on the dipstick and a small amount of coolant loss. There is no sludge under the filler cap and although the temp guage takes a while to reach 12 o clock it does not over heat.
I am off on a 60 mile journey later tonight and am a little concerned.
Your thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks Minty

Hey mintyz, I am happy there are people on this forum like you, friendly, respectful and willing to learn.

Just my opinion here and don't get me wrong........
The car has no service history from 2009, which would most likely mean the car has not been serviced for 2 years at least.
I think that should be your first priority and then you can sort out the niggly problems later.
You got a good bargain (personally I don't like the 1.2, my wife has a punto 1.2) but you need to keep that investment and spend more on a good service.
Maybe someone can recommend a garage in your area that is to be trusted?
Have a great weekend

 

[mintyz]

Thanks guys for all your kind words, it really means a lot that total strangers with a common interest are willing to take the time to help and i sincerely thank you.
Well i have used the car tonight for takeaway delivery and as you can imaging this is a constant 3 mile stop/start kind of thing. I have done this all evening and covered 60 miles in total.
I have checked the mayo in the dipstick and there has been some but very little and the car has run perfectly....but with a quirk.......The temp guage when driving hovers between the lowest it can be and the next point on the guage. However if the car is left to idle it heads towards the 12 o clock possition?? but only when idleing??? This i find confusing???.
So im kind of hoping you fiat brains out there might be able to help as my first reaction was to get rid of a car that i really like based on this.
On the worsed case senario i checked out my local mechanics for a price on replacing the head gasket and had quotes between £200 and £600 so as you can assume im a bit confused??
Cheers Minty

 

[mintyz]

Hi Guys,
Well i have managed to trace the loss of coolant.
I have found a leak just above the oil filter where a black pipe enters the water pump.
Obviously this would explain the coolant loss but would it also explain the erratic temp guage or maybe thats a second issue, sensor maybe??. And of cause the mayo build up on the dip stick??

Think what im trying to say is what would you do?? New water pump? new pipe to water pump?? or is it an o ring replacement??.
There may come a time when i can answer a few questions instead of asking so many !!!!
Look forward to hearing your views,
Thanks Minty

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

1108cc used in the cinqs used to blow HG for fun between 50-60,000 as a general rule of thumb it was considered that 53,000 was about right for HG to go (mine blew at 53,002mi). im pretty sure but not 100% that the 1242cc was exactly the same.

but i was talking about Timing belts for the 72,000mi comment from auto data, my fault i didnt make it clear... sowwie

The only reason they tend to blow HGs like Punto's it due to poorly maintained cooling systems that run at max cooling capacity when running well.

Same engine on other models such as Pandas etc don't have issues

Timing belts for the 16v's I know have been revised at some point, and I'd suggest every 3-4 years or 50-60k. Better safe than sorry.

For the money paid though I think the OP has a bargain, the fact it has full MOT on it. The 1.2 isn't the most powerful of units but if not abused is fine, to say its done Diesel mileage is crap, tbh most petrol engines if maintained and looked after are easily good for 200-250k miles.

 

[richydraper]

dont worry bout asking loads of questions minty! experience comes with time and if youve never been told, youll never know...

I suspect a leaky seal for the water pump. Which side is it coming from, the side with the cambelt or the other side... Can you tell?

Your cooling issue is 99% going to be a 'stat stuck open its relatively common to see these fail... From memory there about £10

 

[mintyz]

Thanks again guys for such helpful responses to my many questions.

So lets keep in the style of things and ask another if i can.... please can you tell me where the thermostat is in my 1.2 and is changing it a straight forward in and out process or will i have to bleed the cooling system after??
Thanks again Minty

 

[mintyz]

dont worry bout asking loads of questions minty! experience comes with time and if youve never been told, youll never know...

I suspect a leaky seal for the water pump. Which side is it coming from, the side with the cambelt or the other side... Can you tell?

Your cooling issue is 99% going to be a 'stat stuck open its relatively common to see these fail... From memory there about £10

Hi Richy, located the thermostat and will be replacing tuesday.
The leak is directly above the oil filter, it leaks from the point where the pipe enters the water pump so not sure if it is the pipe itself or the water pump yet????
Thanks again, Minty

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Sounds like it might just be the 'O' ring seal leaking from the pipe where it enters the pump.

Thermostat as mentioned perviously can be picked up cheaply. I got a genuine Fiat one and gasket for my 1.4 (same thermostat I believe) and was only about £20-£25 from my local dealer so a pattern part one can probably be picked up cheaper

 

[richydraper]

if memory serves me right its an o-ring not the pump.

500ish is about right for a proper HG job from a reputable garage altho 200/250 would easily be enough to do it yourself. Done right you would be looking for the following work to be carried out:-
Head off, stripped and skimmed.
Valves lapped in.
Valve guide seals replaced.
New HG and head bolts
Shims checked and replaced if needed to ensure optimum clearances.
New water pump (as its cambelt driven, if you replace the o ring where its leaking you wont need to do it again).
new cambelt kit.
new aux belt.
new stat.
new inlet and exhaust manifold gaskets.
New rocker gasket.
Plug gaps checked and adjusted or new plugs fitted.
Oil and filter change.
Coolant change.

I think Thats it from memory.

 

[mintyz]

Thanks guys for such detailed replies.
Thermostat changed this morning and the temp reading is a lovely twelve o clock and the heater blower is so much warmer.
Just the water pump o ring to replace and hopefully that will be it for a while...........oh yeah and i am experiencing intermittent clutch judder wher pulling off but im trying to ignore that:bang:.
Thanks Again Minty

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Is the clutch judder mainly when cold and / or wheels one straight, either near or at full lock

 

[mintyz]

Is the clutch judder mainly when cold and / or wheels one straight, either near or at full lock

Good Morning, no pattern to it really, just happens randomly but only when pulling away in first. You can kind of manage it with lots of revs but thats not really that practical.
Thanks Minty

 

[JayEm]

Good Morning, no pattern to it really, just happens randomly but only when pulling away in first. You can kind of manage it with lots of revs but thats not really that practical.
Thanks Minty

I think the clutch on the 1.2 is just like that; on mine, the biting point is all over the place and changes throughout the journey.