Brera dip stick - silly question

[pr100]

Forgive this ridiculous question but we have just bought our first Alfa - a 2007 Brera 2.4D - and when I went to top up the engine oil I was bemused by the dip stick which, by torchlight, appears not to have any max/min levels marked on it. So I'm not sure how much oil to put in. I have added enough to extinguish the oil warning light but it seems a bit hit and miss. If there are no levels marked on the dip stick, I can't see the point of having it so I'm wondering if there is a cosa nostra secret to reading the dip stick?

I'm using the recommended oil - Selenia WR 5W-40 - but it wasn't easy to get hold of. Is there a more accessible brand which people have found does as good a job?

Unrelated question: I need to buy a single 18in wire spoke alloy wheel. Any recommended vendors?

Thanks.

Simon

[RicksAlfas]

Hi Simon
Good choice of car!


The dipstick should have a textured area on the bottom of it. Top of that is max, bottom is min.
You can also use the dashboard display - get in, close doors, put the ignition on but don't start the engine. You should get a bar graph on the dash display.

I use the Selenia, but it's pretty easy for me to get as I'm near a dealer and also an independant specialist. You can use any oil - providing it's the SAME spec. However the JTDs as a rule use very little oil, so you had best keep an eye on yours.

As for the wheel it's either a main dealer, or someone like EB Spares, or Partsworld on Ebay.
Remember 159 wheels are the same as the Brera.
http://www.ebspares.co.uk/alfa_159.htm
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/partsworld-uk

Good luck
Rick

[pr100]

Thanks Rick. Loving the car :-) Almost as much fun to drive as my XKR!

I'm now wondering if I don't have the original dip stick since this is textured from tip to toe - like a tightly coiled wire - and there is no change in surface at the bottom.

I've seen the bar graph on the display. Does the warning light only come on when all the bars are empty? Presumably I should top up if it falls to 1 bar but how much? 1 litre? And are there dire consequences for over-filling?

I will certainly keep an eye on it. Nothing sinister yet as the previous owner may not have topped up the oil for a while.

[RicksAlfas]

Your dipstick should be like a spring, but it should have this textured bit on the end.


The dipstick is 665mm long from the base of the yellow handle to the tip. Has yours lost the textured bit?

The difference between min and max is about a litre. You don't want to overfill a turbodiesel!

[pr100]

Spiffing illustration, Rick- thank you! Mine must have lost that bit at the end so I will order another.

Will also not over-fill! Display still shows full bars after 3 days and 500 miles so at least there is no rapid loss of oil.

[chrisga]

Where could the end have gone? Is it stuck in the bottom of the dipstick tube?