I have purchased a 2015 Giulietta 1.4 MultiAir 170 HP last summer at only 10500 kilometres (6500 miles). The car gallery I purchased it from got its service done for free since it had been waiting for a buyer for the past 12+ months. After almost exactly 1 year later (yesterday), since my car got to 22000 kilometres, I took it to the car service. After its service was completed I came back home just to see on the service receipt that they have replaced its oil with 5W-30 instead of 5W-40 as instructed on my car's user manual. I also went online and downloaded a few user manuals of 2015 Guilietta's to make sure I am not mistaken as a consumer and obviously not a car technician or a guru of any sort. I found out that somehow there are two different Giulietta manuals. One suggest 5W-40 oil, while the other suggest 0W-30.
I am confused at this point about which oil is correct for my car and should I be tough on the car service about the oil they filled in my car (5W-30) being wrong which might or would damage it soon? If it makes any difference, I am living in a very hot country all year around.
I would sincerely very much appreciate any advice or information you may be able to provide me with. I am in love with my car but now I am so much afraid to get any damage done to its beautiful engine despite my efforts as a careful end-user.
The 2015 MA did use thinner oil which coincided with tougher emissions requirement as far as I know. The important thing is the C3 in the specification. There are many threads on this question which can be searched.
Mine has had 5/40 c3 shell helix ultra that meets fiat spec. As above the change in spec was due to emissions. Suppose you can go with either spec oil it is more important to have it changed regularly and not to the Alfa spec. Also clean or replace the MA filter every other service
Thank you very much for your reply! So, currently my engine is filled with 5/30. Shall I complain and get it changed to 5/40 immediately? For what it's worth, my car is also TCT. They did not define which grade they put in terms of C2, C3 etc. on the receipt. So, I am not sure but I suppose they have used either of those.
The Euro 6 engines came into effect in 2016. Prior to that date the correct oil for the MA engines is 5w40 CF3. From 2016 the correct oil is 0w30 CF2. If you want to us the Selenia range of oils the 5w40 is Star Pure Energy and from 2016 is Digitek pure energy.
Either way the 5w30 they have used for your Giulietta MA is incorrect. Since you have a 2015 model it should be 5w40 CF3 Star Pure Energy. The shop4parts website provides the range of Selenia oils available:
Yes the MA engine is very sensitive to the correct oil. Not only that but as johnnyroper says changing the oil/filter (and the MA filter) more frequently is a good idea, the MA engine require the correct spec oil and it likes clean oil as well!
I would definitely complain and get that oil changed asap!
Our 1.4 Multiair 170 was bought new March 2016 (Euro6). Like yours our handbook said Selenia 5/40 but by March 2017 when its first service was due that had changed to Selenia Digitek 0W/30. I rang Customer services in Italy because the dealer had put Castrol 0W/30 in the engine. I drove a hundred mile round trip to Mangoletsi who told me they would have used Digitek 0W/30, so I bought some from them and drained the Castrol and replenished with Digitek. After a conversation with Italy they reimbursed me £150 for my trouble. At the second service the dealer used Selenia Digitek 0W/30 and I have used that ever since. It is also used in the Giulia 2.0 Multiair, too.
Just looking at the new Giulietta handbook and Alfa have changed the oil specification for the Multiair engine: Looks like it's low friction to aid economy.
Wow guys, I can't be thankful enough for your swift and accurate answers. You all have been so helpful and I am very thankful to each and every one of you!
I will definitely be heading to the service place ASAP, complain and tell them to replace the 5w30 with 5w40 immediately.
I took my time and carefully read the long thread written and discussed back in 2014 which was linked in the thread shared by cue2. Although, it just made me a little bit more confused, as of now I am certain that since my car is MY 2015 1.4 MultiAir TCT, its correct oil should be 5w40 C3, thus it cannot be 0w30, let alone never ever being 5w30...
I will try my best to make them refill my engine with the Selenia Star Pure Energy 5w40 C3. Although, if they say they don't have that specific brand and model of oil in their stock, I will look for another fiat certified (with correct numbering) 5w40 C3 oil.
I will also ask them if they changed the 'MultiAir' filter as suggested in this thread. Because, on the receipt they named only an 'air filter' (costing only about 18 GBP) and an 'oil filter' costing only about a ridiculous 5 GBP! I don't know what is going on there but I also suspect something might also be wrong regarding the changed 'air and oil filter' parts!
They won’t have changed the MA filter as I do not believe it is actually a routine service item. It is however available separately for about £30 if I recall. Got mine from Alfa workshop
Good to hear! Then I will not seek to get it changed until I go for its next service which shall be 10000 kilometres later when the total mileage of the car hits approximately 32000 kilometres (20000) miles.
Don’t worry. The handbook also states a distance you can run the engine on incorrect oil without damaging it. I’ve forgotten how far but it sounds like you haven’t driven that far.
This relieves me quite a bit, thank you very much! Since it was refilled with the 'incorrect oil', I drove the car for about 100 kilometres (60 miles) only. Although, I may need to drive 100-150 more kilometres with it until I have a chance to get there which can't be until probably Monday or Tuesday.
Having too much oil is worse than having the wrong oil, so I wouldn’t worry too much. Just to put my 2 cents in my car is 2014 and according to my chassis number uses 0w30.
But there are different oil recommendations for different countries according to my system at work. All very confusing!
Having too much oil is worse than having the wrong oil, so I wouldn’t worry too much. Just to put my 2 cents in my car is 2014 and according to my chassis number uses 0w30.
But there are different oil recommendations for different countries according to my system at work. All very confusing!
I have ordered some Selenia Star Pure Energy 5w40 C3 but it won't come until middle of next week, i am hoping i can use this in the meantime without damaging the engine?
Handbook actually says SAE 0W-30 ACEA C2 grade, my local garage advises that my car was right on the year that Alfa changed the recomendation so i don't know what to use now!
Ok, so the only reason for the change to 0W30 was emissions, which suggests that the best oil rating is 5W40! Turbo engines generate lots of heat, so the 40 spec will protect it better at higher temperatures than a 30 rating oil. As someone else said, the right amount of oil is more important, as is a good quality oil. Just don’t buy really cheap oil.
Its has always had Selenia Star Pure Energy 5w-40 ACEA C3 since i have owned it, thats what my local garage uses every time it is changed
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