Is the 3.2 GTA engine reliable?

Hi all

I'm considering either a used 156GTA or 147GTA. However, I have no knowledge of the 3.2 litre V6. I'm well aware of the 2.0TS engine's propensity to drink oil and snap cam belts. Does the 3.2 GTA engine suffer similar problems?

Is there anything I need to look out for with either the 147GTA or 156GTA?

Many thanks
SS

Alfa's 3.2 V6 is as tough as old boots!

I would imagine this engine can take whatever you can throw at it.
It is defintely not a fickle "tuned to breaking point" primadonna!
Running it in sensibly initially is IMHO a wise precaution, although the dealer said it wasn't really neccessary.

Some owners (myself included) have negligable fluid consumption, others have a little more.
In any case you need to check the fluid levels carefully as you would for ANY performance car.

I'm not sure I have seen a single 3.2 V6 *engine* reliability problem on this site, (stand to be corrected, too lazy to search) but have seen pretty much nothing but ringling endorsements of this engine.

TB

All alfa V6s are pretty reliable - they may rattle a bit in later life but they are still good - you can trust most for 150K pluss miles regular general maintainence like oil changes etc is what they need

Both my GTAs have been very good on oil. As regards belts though, the service shedule still recommends 36k or 3 yrs "if driven in a sporty manner"

Originally Posted by PR

Both my GTAs have been very good on oil. As regards belts though, the service shedule still recommends 36k or 3 yrs "if driven in a sporty manner"

has anyone on this forum ever had belts fail on any 24v V6 alfa? (2.5, 3.0, 3.2)

Originally Posted by gtachris

has anyone on this forum ever had belts fail on any 24v V6 alfa? (2.5, 3.0, 3.2)

A 164 24V Cloverleaf we had did have a small chunk missing from the belt - luckily it was getting done as soon as we bought it

Originally Posted by gtachris

has anyone on this forum ever had belts fail on any 24v V6 alfa? (2.5, 3.0, 3.2)

Havent heard of any. Its probably just Alfa being over cautious after getting the interval on the TSs wrong

Originally Posted by splashalot2000

Hi all

I'm considering either a used 156GTA or 147GTA. However, I have no knowledge of the 3.2 litre V6. I'm well aware of the 2.0TS engine's propensity to drink oil and snap cam belts. Does the 3.2 GTA engine suffer similar problems?

Is there anything I need to look out for with either the 147GTA or 156GTA?

Many thanks
SS

i owned a 147gta and now the 156gta... if u ask me abt the ONLY thing that NEVER goes wrong on the GTA is the ENGINE!!!!

but as mentioned by others here, as is wit any performance car - regular oil change (every 5Kkm for mine) is a must.

proper warm up of the engine BEFORE whacking it is also vital IMO. my previous 147gta used to consume engine oil... why? im not sure - probably bcos i like to redline it. but i make sure to check oil levels evry 2 - 3 weeks.

hope it helps.

It is the best 'Engine' Alfa have in my opinion.
The 3.2 V6 is a derivertive of the old 1987 3.0 V6.
My car never burns oil, but then again that's how I ran the engine in. There is a technic to doing this.
Just keep an eye on the engine oil level as many guys have had excess oil burning issues.
If you can, change the oil every 5,000-7,000km.

Originally Posted by Barbalatte

.. The 3.2 V6 is a derivertive of the old 1987 3.0 V6..

The original is even older. The gorgeous V6 had its debut as a 2.5 in the Alfa Sei in 1979.

Originally Posted by splashalot2000

Hi all

I'm considering either a used 156GTA or 147GTA. However, I have no knowledge of the 3.2 litre V6. I'm well aware of the 2.0TS engine's propensity to drink oil and snap cam belts. Does the 3.2 GTA engine suffer similar problems?

Is there anything I need to look out for with either the 147GTA or 156GTA?

Many thanks
SS

SS, Mines for sale if you are interested $44,900 with 12 months rego, 31,000KLMS, Blu Metallico , Xenon & Leather

Cheers
Rob

Originally Posted by gtachris

has anyone on this forum ever had belts fail on any 24v V6 alfa? (2.5, 3.0, 3.2)

Not personally, but I read on another forum of a guy who had bought a GTV 3.0 V6 and soon after the cam belt went. Not sure of the exact mileage but it was well before the recommended 72k (around the 40k I think). Interestingly, when the engine was stripped down, it was discovered that too much sealant had been used on one of the gaskets, blocking one of the oil channels and there was evidence of oil starvation on one of the cylinders. The car was like this from the factory! It's the only time I've ever heard of this happening on a V6 though.

Originally Posted by gtachris

has anyone on this forum ever had belts fail on any 24v V6 alfa? (2.5, 3.0, 3.2)

Although not as big a problem as it seems to be in the Twin Sparks, a belt failure (Help and Evidence Alfa V6 Sought) is not unknown in the V6.

Originally Posted by Rob E

SS, Mines for sale if you are interested $44,900 with 12 months rego, 31,000KLMS, Blu Metallico , Xenon & Leather

Cheers
Rob

Thanks Rob - I've seen yours on Drive.com. It is my preferred colour combination, too. If I get lucky and sell the RX privately, and can convince the kids that they can squish into the back seats, I'll let you know!

Thanks to all for the replies. Confirms what I suspected - that the V6 Alfa engines are bullet-proof, as well as sounding next-to-God

Steven

It certainly seems to me that I very rarely hear of any alfa V6 engine issues. I have an SZ-owning friend who runs 164 3.0 V6's to very high miles then junks them and gets another high-miles one almost for free! He's had no engine issues other than them gettin rattly, and he's run plenty to the wrong side of 150k miles.

I had a 2.5V6 156 for 90k miles from 99-2002, and although I checked the oil weekly and used fully synth, it was a company car, I was in my twenties, and I drove it very hard! It had no problems - indeed the engine was sweeter and used less oil at 90k miles than at 9k.

My GTA has had just under 2 litres of 10W60 synth in 6k miles from new, mostly mostorway miles, and I kept the revs under 4k for 500 miles then under 5k to 1000 miles. Again I check all fluid levels/tyre pressure weekly. The 3.2 is a brilliant engine, the best I've ever experienced. Besides the obvious noise/performance, It runs perfectly from cold, has no ECU issues like flatspots or hesitancy, revs cleanly, doesn't pink or mess about on 95RON fuel (though I usually use Super just as it is cheap near my work) and generally kicks the crap out of the audi 2.8 v6 I used to have!

Lastly, the 3.2 has two massive oil coolers compared to the standard 2.5 or 3.0 and is a fairly recent engine, it seems built to last, to me...

Originally Posted by Tron

i owned a 147gta and now the 156gta... if u ask me abt the ONLY thing that NEVER goes wrong on the GTA is the ENGINE!!!!

Just wondering further from this, in general how owners have found the GTA to be in terms of reliablilty? The engine as mentioned is an old (but good) design so any problems should have been ironed out yeeeears ago. But I have owned mine now for about a month and am already going to get it booked in for its 24k service early, so as to get the following checked before the 2yr manufacturer warranty is up;

1) Trip computer measure distance wrong
2) Airbag light has come on a couple of times
3) Rattle behind dash
4) Rattle from front brakes when applying at standstill

These are all really silly little things, but still a bit annoying, as my Punto has been absolutely faultess (touch wood)

Adam