Alfa Romeo 2.0 TS oil
Author
Discussion

Vocal Minority

Original Poster:

8,582 posts

175 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Ladies and Gents

Coming up to do an oil change on the old GTV, and trying to find some consensus on the type of oil.

I have always used 10/40W semi-synthetic, as this was what Alfa recommended back in the day.

Having had a look round on the tinterwebnet of knowledge (tongue firmly in cheek), some are saying now the party line is to use 10/60W fully synthetic, which seems a shade OTT to me!

The engine is a shade long in the tooth and likes its oil almost as much as it's fuel. Should I consider a different type of oil for high consumption engines?

Advice welcome.

Disastrous

10,202 posts

240 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Don't know but interested in the answer. My GTV is pretty oil-thirsty too but I've always used 10W-40 semi-synth. Interested to hear some knowledgeable opinions...

Vocal Minority

Original Poster:

8,582 posts

175 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
bump

Decky_Q

1,965 posts

200 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
My old 2.0 TS was using too much oil and top end rattling a bit my mechanic reccomended the normal 10-40 as specified in the manual and he added a can of something from STP additives, cant remember what it was called though but oil use dropped well and rattle was slightly reduced.

looking on STP website there seems to be only one 'oil treatment' but its in a bottle, one that I used was in a can like a drinks tin.

Edited by Decky_Q on Thursday 24th November 10:53

tr7v8

7,552 posts

251 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
When I had my 75 TS which is a different engine I had a service done by a different dealer. Suddenly the oil consumption plummeted! From topping up every 2K miles it didn't need any. Questioning the dealer they laughed & said I wasn't the first to question it. They used Shell Helix semi synth. Don't know why but it just worked.

angry jock

1,005 posts

222 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
When I worked for Alfa, we always recommended, whatever the age, the oil that they specified. Never ran my 166 on anything other than Selenia Racing. I would stick with what they say.

OperationAlfa

2,014 posts

220 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Selenia is crap all the alfas I ran drank the stuff like it was fresh orange juice.

Best to use Valvoline 10W-40 as most people notice a big drop in oil consupmtion with that.

If you drive it hard then Valvoline racing 10W-60 is recommended, but the 10W-40 will do you just fine if you ask me.

Join alfaowner.com if you want exciting alfa oil discussions.


jagnet

4,373 posts

225 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
I'd be more than a little nervous about putting a 60 grade oil in place of a 40. Even at normal operating temperatures it's going to be a lot thicker (~ twice as thick), so for the same reasons you wouldn't push an engine from cold, you'll have a similar issue even when it's up to temperature.

Really, the only reason for switching to a 60 grade is if your oil temperatures are excessive.

Vocal Minority

Original Poster:

8,582 posts

175 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Temperatures are not excessive, it sounded like over-kill to me - always be wary when only 1 or 2 people suggest something!

Advice duly noted.

Job Done

RobCrezz

7,892 posts

231 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
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alfa pint

3,856 posts

234 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Semi-synth 10 W 40 in my twinnie. I use about half a litre every 1500 miles; the engines got about 35k on it.

Heard about the selenia, read about it in the manual. Can only get it mail order as far as I can tell, and it's fecking expensive for semi-synth. I figure I burn through a sumpful in between services, so I just buy any old 10 W 40.

angry jock

1,005 posts

222 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Sorry guys should have said any semi-synth 10W 40. Not necessarily Selenia. I used racing as my 166 had always ran on it and to be fair, was not bad on oil. I know twinnies are different thumbup