General What Oil Do You Use In Your Abarth?

[Dogspods]

I don't see any point in flushing at all if the engine has been well maintained with a good fully synthetic oil (which will tend to keep it clean anyway). In fact flushing, if anything, will very slightly degrade the expensive oil you're just about to put it

If the engine has unknown history then that might be another matter :chin:

Totally agree with Argonought on this, back in the day before semi and fully synthetic oil I suppose I could see the point of flushing, but if the service records for the car show it's only ever had quality synthetic oil used then flushing could actually degrade the new oil.

 

[Greggers]

Totally agree with Argonought on this, back in the day before semi and fully synthetic oil I suppose I could see the point of flushing, but if the service records for the car show it's only ever had quality synthetic oil used then flushing could actually degrade the new oil.

Unfortunately, I don't know what oil has been used in the car since it was new although it does have a full service history (Mostly Fiat themselves) with all services smack on schedule.

As you're suggesting though Argonaught and Dogspods, I think I'll avoid the oil flush and just get the oil changed for Selenia Racing when it's next in at my specialist for it's cam cover gasket change (very slight oil leak... just annoying) and it's alloys re-furbed

Cheers all!

 

[ChrisUK]

5w/30 5w/40 is far too thin for the 2.4 20v it will in no uncertain terms kill your engine probably from the bottom end bearings wearing out before time and cause the infamous knocking.

As said by other reputable members 10w/60 is the best oil for this engine (preferably Selenia have alook on shop4part FF members get a discount ) as it remains the right consitancy at high temperatures too (double the thickness of 5w/40).

As for engine flushing it can be dangerous on the more fragile engines because it thins your oil down to **** water which can effect the bottom end especially if its already weakened. I found this out the hard way on my Alfa 156 2.0 TS (very similar engine design minus the 5th cylinder).

 

[Argonought]

5w/30 5w/40 is far too thin for the 2.4 20v it will in no uncertain terms kill your engine probably from the bottom end bearings wearing out before time and cause the infamous knocking.

Where's 5W/30 come from

Isn't 10W/40 recommended in the handbook? If it is then 5W/40 will provide even greater protection and certainly wont wreak the engine (that's assuming the engine is in a good condition to start with)

 

[Greggers]

Where's 5W/30 come from

Isn't 10W/40 recommended in the handbook? If it is then 5W/40 will provide even greater protection and certainly wont wreak the engine (that's assuming the engine is in a good condition to start with)

Yep. Fiat's Stilo handbook recommends Selenia 20k for the Abarth which is a 10W40 oil but Selenia's website recommends Selenia Racing which is a 10W60 oil. I don't think anyone would put 5W30 oil in their Abarth unless they live somewhere very very cold... brrr

5W40 should be much the same as the 10W40 except it will get pumped around the engine quicker when cold due to it's lower viscosity. The only possible worry might be that it could be too thin but I think that's a 50:50 trade off between getting oil around as quick as possible and the oil being thin... just my opinion mind!

 

[Yellow Peril]

5w/30 5w/40 is far too thin for the 2.4 20v it will in no uncertain terms kill your engine probably from the bottom end bearings wearing out before time and cause the infamous knocking.

As said by other reputable members 10w/60 is the best oil for this engine (preferably Selenia have alook on shop4part FF members get a discount ) as it remains the right consitancy at high temperatures too (double the thickness of 5w/40).

As for engine flushing it can be dangerous on the more fragile engines because it thins your oil down to **** water which can effect the bottom end especially if its already weakened. I found this out the hard way on my Alfa 156 2.0 TS (very similar engine design minus the 5th cylinder).

Very interested to explore your comments. I've used Mobil 1 (currently 0W/40) in numerous cars for more years than I care to remember. Are you really suggesting it will knacker the 5-cyl engine? Why? Surely an oil like Mobil 1 will (a) have superior 'clinging' properties so wear surfaces will be better protected and (b) will be pumped to remote parts of the engine quicker on cold start-ups, when most wear occurs. I'm puzzled...

 

[Camelot Knights]

ow/40 maybe i should not have used this to top up my oil:bang: this is now doing my head in

 

[Yellow Peril]

Spoke today to service manager in my local (very longstanding) FIAT dealership. He's been there for years and I trust him. He said there's absolutley no reason not to use Mobil 1 in the 2.4 motor. Any good quality synthetic oil will do just fine in his experience. The only exception is turbo diesels fitted with a DPF which need special low-soot lubricants.

P.S. The 'infamous knocking' in Chris UK's note is more likley to be a variator on the way out than bottom end bearing damage in his opinion.

 

[Argonought]

ow/40 maybe i should not have used this to top up my oil:bang: this is now doing my head in

5W/40 is fine - don't panic

I take the view that an oil simply cannot be too thin when you start a cold engine. It must of course still be an oil that meets the API specs of the motor manufacturer and ideally also be a top quality one.

By NOT using an oil that is so thin when cold then you keep more money in your pocket, since it will be a cheaper oil, and from the garages perspective then they simply make more profit (assuming a fixed service charge)

However you should always go with what's recommended under API & ACEA specs.

 

[Pooley]

I use Halfords fully synthetic oil in my Abarth. However, I've noticed recently that the engine seems to be using a lot of oil. I've checked the oil before long trips and on several occasions it's not even registering on the dipstick. Cue slight panic and topping up.

Is the Halfords oil too thin, hence the greater oil use?

I've used Selenia before, it was the recommended oil for my Integrale, but it's so difficult to get hold of where I live. Is it worth tracking some down via the 'net and using this instead of the Halfords oil?

 

[Greggers]

I use Halfords fully synthetic oil in my Abarth. However, I've noticed recently that the engine seems to be using a lot of oil. I've checked the oil before long trips and on several occasions it's not even registering on the dipstick. Cue slight panic and topping up.

Is the Halfords oil too thin, hence the greater oil use?

I've used Selenia before, it was the recommended oil for my Integrale, but it's so difficult to get hold of where I live. Is it worth tracking some down via the 'net and using this instead of the Halfords oil?

I'm planning on changing to Selenia Racing when my next oil change is due (or when I next have to get something fixed ). I'm hoping that a) it'll be good for the engine and b) the oil consumption drops so that I don't have to call on the magical powers of the oil spirits so often when I need to read the dipstick...