New 147 Owner

[chispe]

Hello all,
I have just taken the plunge and bought a 2005 TWin Spark Alfa 147 Selespeed (I think it's the 'facelift' as it has the changed front lights). It has low KMs and one previous owner.
I am still getting used to the Selespeed, but it's working well so far. It's a second car for the family, and the kids love the sunroof (my wife likes the 'city' function).
Already it's put a smile on my face.

[extraball]

welcome, lovely car to drive, and then give it some boot 

[Garibaldi]

Congratulations, the smile on your face will just keep getting bigger. The 147 is a great car. Properly maintained it should be very reliable. These cars do use some oil so make sure you check it regularly and top up with a quality fully synthetic oil. I use Penrite 10W50 in mine. Also make sure you get it serviced at an Alfa Romeo Specialist, they know these cars better than anyone. I look forward to catching up with you at some of the club events. We've got our Club Night coming up on Wednesday 12th February and our Early Morning Run to the Mornington Peninsula on Sunday 23rd February. 

[colcol]

Don't forget, cambelts, tensioners and balance shaft belts every 3 years or 50,000klms under hot and dusty conditions or stretch it to 60,000 under favourable conditions, motor is interference motor cam belt goes, engine is stuffed with bent valves.
Get the selespeed looked at every year by Alfa Romeo Service Provider.
Oil recomended is 10 - 40, of your favourite oil brand, if it has a drinking problem, go to 10 - 50 or 10 - 60, like Alfa did with the JTS engine.
The next big event is the run to the Mornington Peninsula, these are fantastic events, we meet in the morning, go for a drive and have morning tea, then go somewhere good for lunch, with some interesting roads and scenery thrown in, it is being run by a 147 driver, so if you have a 147, this is a must.
Look forward to catching up with you chispe, Colin.

[chispe]

Thanks everyone. Looking forward to a run or two. I do occasionally have the chance to give it the boot, and it sounds lovely.

[alfamisa]

Welcome and is your 147 black on tan? Always use the same oil spec that is in the sump to top up and if properly serviced then that will be 10W-60.

[colcol]

Alfa Romeo recommend 10-40 w, look at the fluids recommendation on the radiator apron, thats the panel forward of the radiator, don't mix oils, if possible, but more importantly, don't let it run low, Colin.

[alfamisa]

Like I said use 10W-60. As anyone that knows, because they have owned a 147 Facelift (11/2004 build onwards) they are serviced by the dealer (in Australia) from new with 10W-60 (equal to Selenia Racing).

[colcol]

Use whatever Alfa Romeo reccomend, the early twin sparks used 10-40, the early JTS engine used 10-40, but were using too much oil due to the direct injection, so Alfa uprated the oil to 10-60, to cut down on oil consumption, the thicker oil means your fuel consumption will go up though, Colin.

[Garibaldi]

We are always having this debate about which oil to use. As Col said you should go with the oil Alfa Romeo recommend but I haven't heard of anyone damaging a twin spark engine by using a fully synthetic 10W40, 10W50 or 10W60 oil as long as they kept it topped up to the required level.

[chispe]

Thanks everyone. I have checked the oil level and it is just touching on low (I have to check it when parked at work because at home it's parked on a slope). I may top it up, but I was planning on having it serviced at Beninca Motors just down the road from me in Canterbury for its 'annual service'. I am not shy of a bit of hands on maintenance. But i guess that comes with also owning another piece of Italian motoring history, a 2 stoke Vespa! (I know, simple by comparison) but an intellectual intro...



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[colcol]

Don't plan to top it up, just do it now!, go to the stupormarket and get some oil and throw it in to it, if you wait until a service or going to Repco next week, it may be too late, its best to use the correct oil, but oils are oils and even the cheapest oil will stop your engine from nipping up, Colin.

[chispe]

Point gracefully taken  ; 10W60 purchased and will be applied this evening (once it's cooled down a bit).

[colcol]

Its a nice feeling when good oil is in the sump, up to the maximum level and the cam belt has just been changed, coming up to the 3 years with the cam belt, you start to baby the car a bit, just in case, what oil did you put in the 147?, as we haven't had a blue on oil for days, Colin.

[Garibaldi]

Col, do you seriously want to start the oil debate again? I tell you what, why doesn't someone start with a brand new engine or a rebuilt one and use the same oil for let's say 300,000 klms, pull the engine down and measure all the tolerances and report on the efficacy of the oil used. If everyone used a different oil then we would have a good idea on what is the best oil to use.