[Richbell]

I am just a touch confused as to why the guide books in both Halfords and Motorworld recommend using 0w30 fully synthetic oil for "ultimate protection" with a 156 2.0 TS?

For standard protection they recommend a 10w40 but obviously ultimate protection sounds great so I fork out £50 on 0w30 Castrol Edge, only to find out whilst searching for oil change threads that 0w30 is a no no!

I planned to do an overdue oil change tomorrow before I do a 700mile round trip next week.
Didn't really want to have to fork out another £50 on some 10w40 now too, let alone have this 0w30 go to waste.

 

[David C]

DO NOT USE 0W30.

If you haven't opened the containers, take it back.

10W40 is fine (and nowhere near £50...!), there are also many VERY good 5W40 oils around.

 

[Newcard]

Gulf Competition 10w-40 racing engine oil

This should do fine. :thumbs: I've used it a few times but I'm now using 10w60 which the engine hardly drinks.

 

[Richbell]

DO NOT USE 0W30.

If you haven't opened the containers, take it back.

10W40 is fine (and nowhere near £50...!), there are also many VERY good 5W40 oils around.

That's the problem, I have opened it to top up the engine a couple of times!

 

[David C]

Mobil Super 2000 X1 10W/40 Oil 5L £22.39 from Halfords.
So well under the £50 you quoted earlier!

 

[SENNA1]

I use 10w60 for my 156 1.6TS.

 

[Guest]

I use 10w60 for my 156 1.6TS.

Why?:cheese:

 

[David C]

Why?

10W60 was always spec'd for the TS for "sporty" driving and it makes perfect sense in a hot climate like Cyprus.

 

[SENNA1]

Why?:cheese:

 

[SENNA1]

10W60 was always spec'd for the TS for "sporty" driving and it makes perfect sense in a hot climate like Cyprus.

:thumbs:

 

[Guest]

I've got a 156 2.0 TS as the OP and the recommended grade by Alfa is Selenia 10W40, even for climate conditions like in UAE.

What's with the "sporty" driving on TS - you mean like a "racing application"?

 

[David C]

I've got a 156 2.0 TS as the OP and the recommended grade by Alfa is Selenia 10W40, even for climate conditions like in UAE.

What's with the "sporty" driving on TS - you mean like a "racing application"?

The 156 manuals always had 10W60 as an option for the TS engines.
I obviously haven't checked any non-English manuals though, but I can't see why they would be different.

And no I don't mean for racing.

 

[Dave Brand]

If I remember correctly, a few years ago Alfa changed the recommendation for 2-litre TS engines to 10W60 for all users.

 

[Guest]

The 156 manuals always had 10W60 as an option for the TS engines.
I obviously haven't checked any non-English manuals though, but I can't see why they would be different.

And no I don't mean for racing.

The Alfa UK Workshop also recommend Selenia 10W40 for the 3.2L V6, so a 1.6 TS should be fine with 10W40s :thumbs:

Alfa Romeo 156 Handbook

 

[davealfa11]

The Alfa UK Workshop also recommend Selenia 10W40 for the 3.2L V6, so a 1.6 TS should be fine with 10W40s :thumbs:

Alfa Romeo 156 Handbook

i wouldnt go by that guide neither ...tracking is 0 mm has been for years

 

[David C]

i wouldnt go by that guide neither ...tracking is 0 mm has been for years

Yep, revised to 0mm toe 13-years ago...

And the 3.2v6 has only ever been spec'd with 10W60.

 

[Chocoboy]

my local indie uses either Shell Helix or Mobil ( something ) 5w40 fully synthetic used it in both my twinnie and now my JTD and it's been good as gold

 

[Guest]

my local indie uses either Shell Helix or Mobil ( something ) 5w40 fully synthetic used it in both my twinnie and now my JTD and it's been good as gold

:thumbs:

 

[ldv6]

I drive a 2.5 V6. Owner's manual says 5W40 Selenia for normal driving and 10W60 Selenia Racing for sportier (not racing, though) driving. Having used 5W40 for a few times I noticed that it vanishes with a rate of a 1 to 1.5 liters every 5000 km. Replaced with 5W50 for a change last time and for 8000km I've lost 600ml or less (can't be too sure on the stick level). I dug up some info that index 50 is half as viscous (thick) as 40 at normal engine temp and 60 is twice as viscous. Mind you, 30 was not even qouted there. I guess the strength of the oil film on surfaces for 30 index will be close to non-existant at oil temp 110-120 degrees C.

I drive in Bulgaria and we have pretty wild temperatures throughout the year, so I need to cold-start the engine at -25 in winter (hence the 5W or 0W I seek) and push the car in summer at +40 C (that's when the 110 degrees oil temp come in and the 50 or 60 index needed)

All fully synthetic, of course

 

[Guest]

I drive a 2.5 V6. Owner's manual says 5W40 Selenia for normal driving and 10W60 Selenia Racing for sportier (not racing, though) driving. Having used 5W40 for a few times I noticed that it vanishes with a rate of a 1 to 1.5 liters every 5000 km. Replaced with 5W50 for a change last time and for 8000km I've lost 600ml or less (can't be too sure on the stick level). I dug up some info that index 50 is half as viscous (thick) as 40 at normal engine temp and 60 is twice as viscous. Mind you, 30 was not even qouted there. I guess the strength of the oil film on surfaces for 30 index will be close to non-existant at oil temp 110-120 degrees C.

I drive in Bulgaria and we have pretty wild temperatures throughout the year, so I need to cold-start the engine at -25 in winter (hence the 5W or 0W I seek) and push the car in summer at +40 C (that's when the 110 degrees oil temp come in and the 50 or 60 index needed)

All fully synthetic, of course

If you're losing oil at that rate then there's a problem! How many kms on the clock?