Selenia Oil Or No Selenia Oil That is the question!

Reuven · 12-04-2003

Hi Guys,

After seeing all your posts in my last topic "Selenia Oil for a 147".

I am now even more confused whether or not I should contine to use 10w-60 Selenia Racing.

Is this the best Oil option for my car ? Or Change to Castrol or other brand.

I really want what engine to run well in harsh conditions is selenia racing oil the answer or not?

Looking forward to seeing your posts!

Stori · 12-04-2003

There is nothing wrong with Selenia 10W-60 oil. It will look after your engine very well.
Do not worry that some are using Castrol 10W60 etc. This can be because of a preference(ie used it before) and or availability. Synthetic oils of this quality exceed the engines requirements.

However, some engines seem to get a "taste" for a particular oil and consume it at an alarming rate.
Sometimes a change of oil brand can help to reduce consumption.

Reuven · 12-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Stori:
There is nothing wrong with Selenia 10W-60 oil. It will look after your engine very well.
However, some engines seem to get a "taste" for a particular oil and consume it at an alarming rate.
Sometimes a change of oil brand can help to reduce consumption.<hr /></blockquote>Thanks Stori!

Have Only been runing Selenia for about 4000 Km & I must say so far my car is drinking it like water!

rarebear · 12-04-2003

Boys !! nothing beats Shells best !! if it is good for a Ferrari than it should be good for an Alfa !

12-04-2003

A few things about oil . Indeed all best oils from every manufacturer exceed the standards of all engines . So , if you buy a type of oil which is very good it is ok for your car . That is one thing , the other is that there are better and worse kind of oils between the same class . Think of it as it was ...let's say beer... are all beers thesame ??? No ... but they are all called beer . Ok , so now we move to the next part , Selenia isn't the best oil there is , not even close ( allthough 10W60 is very good like i explained before ) . Try for example again changing your gear box oil , to a Castrol fully synthetic ( gearbox oil off course ) , and there will be a big difference in changing gears when the engine is cold . Shell is very good , but in my opinion and experience Mobil and Castrol are the best . Viscosity is one thing ( like 10W60 ) , the quality is another . If you really want 10W60 choose a 10W60 from the manuf. there are . I would instead off 10W60 choose for a 5W50 or even a 5W40 from the brands above .

T07 · 12-04-2003

Alfa have a stake in Selenia so they recommend it.

Engines seem to get through it faster than main brand oils.

Very few oils will do any damage to your car. Put some oil in it. Get some sleep. When you go racing, then worry some more.

aiculedtzu · 12-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by pyros:
 I would instead off 10W60 choose for a 5W50 or even a 5W40 from the brands above .<hr /></blockquote>I agree.
Reuven, like pyros said the best oils are Mobil 1 and Castrol. Between these two i would go for Mobil1 5w-50 Rally Formula. You won't regret it wink

All the best

spining · 13-04-2003

I don't know about that... my dealer told me that is better if I go with the normal 10w40 than the sport selenia oil (or other sport oil...)

but, yesterday aiculedzu told me that the 10w40 selenia oil is mineral, not sintethic... I;m not happy with that...

13-04-2003

Go for the Selenia everytime if the car has relatively low miles(under60K). On my Coupe it always stayed the pace until the next change, even when the sump started leaking a litre a day!

aiculedtzu · 13-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by spining:
I don't know about that... my dealer told me that is better if I go with the normal 10w40 than the sport selenia oil (or other sport oil...)

but, yesterday aiculedzu told me that the 10w40 selenia oil is mineral, not sintethic... I;m not happy with that...<hr /></blockquote>The dealer tries to sell what has on the stock

The Selenia 20k is realized with synthetic bases which means it is a mineral oil with polymers. So if you have a sporty driving style (and i know you have wink ) change that oil and go for a synthetic one. You know what i recommend

All the best

Wisrute B. · 13-04-2003

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by T07:
Alfa have a stake in Selenia so they recommend it.

Engines seem to get through it faster than main brand oils.

<hr /></blockquote>From my observation, this seems to be the case with Selenia 20K (semi-synthetic, red cans), but less so with Selenia Racing (synthetic, black cans). In fact, I'm thinking of trying other brands for my next oil change. Selenia is quite expensive here.

jacobyte · 13-04-2003

If you look on the underside of your 147 bonnet, there is a sticker on the lining - it has a message that reads "Engine oil: We recommend you use oil". You don't say!

I use Selenia 20K in my 147, and Selenia Racing (or any 10W60 fully synthetic) in the Grale. You don't need a heat rating of 60 for a normally aspirated car, so for the Alfa you can save half the price and get 20K instead.

While I'm here: << Rarebear 'ORBIS NON SUFFICIT' >>

That should be "orbs" ("orbis" is the genitive.)

James

logiclee · 13-04-2003

My dealer uses Shell Helix Ultra fully synthetic.
Its 5W 50 I think.

They also give everyone a 1 litre top up at each service.

Lee

RicksAlfas · 13-04-2003

My 145QV manual has two full pages on why to use Selenia, and in the recommended lubricants section it states:
Selenia 20k SAE 10W40
or
For sports type driving Selenia Racing 10W60
or
For use under particularly harsh weather conditions, Selenia Performer 5W30

Also, a Warning:
"Do not top up with a different engine oil than the already existing one".

spining · 13-04-2003

ok...I'l go on 10w60 next time...

Reuven · 14-04-2003

Ok!

Its come down to this guys! as I really do need that heat protection for my bella.

What shall it be then ? 10w-60 racing Selenia which I currently been using for only the last 5250km & has already sucked up 1x 2L can + another half a can.

Or change to Castrol 10w-60 RS which have read many many good reports!

Please need your advise on this one guys!! eek!

! !

Stori · 14-04-2003

In reality this is a tough call.
Whether you use Selenia or Castrol or Shell etc your car will be well protected.
However you may find that a change in oil brand will help with oil consumption.
However if you decide to change, then if the oil consumption doesn't improve I would not keep changing brands, but rather learn live with it eek!
I personally would go with either the Castrol RS 10W-60 or the equivalent Shell which is probably a 5W-50.
Part of the reason for my choice ,is that I find the latter oils more readily available than Selenia, and are probably cheaper as well.
I also like to use something other than a 10W-40 because of the high temperatures that the car has to endure especially in city driving during the summer. ie AC running and sitting in traffic leads to a very hot engine frown