Alfa Romeo thread - back from the dead!

[WayneKerr]

They used to recommend Petronas Selina, which is outright racing oil.

It's all b*llocks, it's a family saloon not a track car. Though as the engine ages it is recommended to increase the oil viscosity to prevent leaks. However, I still run mine on the original VW 5W/30 spec oil and no oil leaks with 180,000 on the clock.

 

[WayneKerr]

My Chrysler 300C diesel, has a Mercedes OM642 engine in it. This engine has to have a particular Mercedes Synthetic Ash Free Oil and you have to be careful when buying, to get the specification numbers exactly right. I accidentally ordered the wrong oil because the correct oil is something, something, something, .3 and I ordered .2. The cans look identical.
The Chrysler's been at my local mechanic for about 3 months now. He's getting old, he's overwhelmed with work and he can't find any young men who know what their doing to work with him now. Add to this the fact that his diagnostic machine doesn't work with the Chrysler.
Luckily now he's found a mechanic in the next village with the same car as me and the correct diagnostic machine.
Simon's (my identical twin bro') Alfa Mito, is at the other local garage, with very little wrong with it, but because they can't get it running, they can't be bothered to find out what's wrong with it. I don't know why but it always seems to be us that get put on the back burner, even though we're instant payers and I always payed my mechanic more than he asked for. I'd say "Oh, is that all? That's not enough, here take this and bung him an extra £20 at least.
I'm considering buying an old Morris Minor🤣 except I don't like them much and their probably worth too much.

Most manufacturers specify a certain oil now John. My old Bora PD TDI needs a certain spec as the unit injectors are camshaft driven. I was paying over £40 for 5 litres until I found a pucker VW equivalent at £40 for 20 litres.
Shame about your mechanic, kids these days don't want to get their hands dirty and ruddy cars are becoming more like 4 wheeled computers. You could always offer yourself up as an apprentice

 

[Al ears]

I'm well aware of who Petronus are, being an avid F1 follower

you keep spelling it wrong...

 

[WayneKerr]

you keep spelling it wrong...

So I do I prefer to watch the racing than reading sponsors names

 

[plastic penguin]

It's all b*llocks, it's a family saloon not a track car. Though as the engine ages it is recommended to increase the oil viscosity to prevent leaks. However, I still run mine on the original VW 5W/30 spec oil and no oil leaks with 180,000 on the clock.

Seems that way. However as a recent rebuilt engine I'm not taking any chances.

 

[plastic penguin]

This is from a company Alfa Workshop. My car is the 156 2.0 JTS. This oil pretty much covers most older models

 

[WayneKerr]

This is from a company Alfa Workshop. My car is the 156 2.0 JTS. This oil pretty much covers most older models

Fair enough but do you do your own oil changes/servicing? If not then it's your garages problem, you'll just have to foot the bill for the rare oil

Guess this is another reason not to own an Alfa

 

[12th Monkey]

Been told by Alfa independent specialists that Alfa Romeo are now recommending one particular oil: Petronas Syntium 10W 60.

That sounds more like a commercial relationship thing than a necessity.

 

[plastic penguin]

Fair enough but do you do your own oil changes/servicing? If not then it's your garages problem, you'll just have to foot the bill for the rare oil

Guess this is another reason not to own an Alfa

I've just topped up using the oil from my daughter's car. (10W 40)

 

[JDL]

Most manufacturers specify a certain oil now John. My old Bora PD TDI needs a certain spec as the unit injectors are camshaft driven. I was paying over £40 for 5 litres until I found a pucker VW equivalent at £40 for 20 litres.
Shame about your mechanic, kids these days don't want to get their hands dirty and ruddy cars are becoming more like 4 wheeled computers. You could always offer yourself up as an apprentice

Actually, I thought about offering to go'n give him a hand for a bit. Maybe I will.

 

[JDL]

Most manufacturers specify a certain oil now John. My old Bora PD TDI needs a certain spec as the unit injectors are camshaft driven. I was paying over £40 for 5 litres until I found a pucker VW equivalent at £40 for 20 litres.
Shame about your mechanic, kids these days don't want to get their hands dirty and ruddy cars are becoming more like 4 wheeled computers. You could always offer yourself up as an apprentice

You got a Bora Doug?

 

[JDL]

You got a Bora Doug?

Oops sorry Wayne!

 

[JDL]

Most manufacturers specify a certain oil now John. My old Bora PD TDI needs a certain spec as the unit injectors are camshaft driven. I was paying over £40 for 5 litres until I found a pucker VW equivalent at £40 for 20 litres.
Shame about your mechanic, kids these days don't want to get their hands dirty and ruddy cars are becoming more like 4 wheeled computers. You could always offer yourself up as an apprentice

A 60 year old apprentice. That would be.....erm funny?

 

[WayneKerr]

You got a Bora Doug?

Yep, 20 years old next year and still going strong 🤞 Don't worry about calling me Doug I respond to another word containing four letters too plus my name is my signature.

 

[JDL]

Since we're talking motors here I want to talk about my car insurance.
I'd like to know if anyone has any thought about what I'm about to say
I got an email from my insurance company this morning telling me that they are not going to allow me to renew my insurance when it's due for renewal on December 3rd.
I've been with them for at at least 10 years. I've made no claims, always paid, disclosed everything I should disclose, that is, nothing other than the usual.
I phoned them this morning to ask why
The bloke kept me waiting for about 20 minutes while he looked through everything and he couldn't give me a reason.
I asked him "Have I been blacklisted for some reason, will I be able to get insurance with someone else?"
He said " No, you haven't been blacklisted but we can't insure you for the coming year. Next year you can try again, if you want and we'll probably insure you again."
I'm perplexed about this and slightly unsettled by it. But....well, what can I do other than try somewhere else.

 

[JDL]

Yep, 20 years old next year and still going strong 🤞 Don't worry about calling me Doug I respond to another word containing four letters too plus my name is my signature.

A friend of mine has a Bora. He bought it off a 'type' of person that due to experience of two very bad cars over the years, I will never buy a car from one of these 'types' of people ever again. He's had nothing but trouble with his one so he feels the same way I do about buying cars from this 'type' of person. Nevertheless, I like Bora's, cool car.

 

[WayneKerr]

Since we're talking motors here I want to talk about my car insurance.
I'd like to know if anyone has any thought about what I'm about to say
I got an email from my insurance company this morning telling me that they are not going to allow me to renew my insurance when it's due for renewal on December 3rd.
I've been with them for at at least 10 years. I've made no claims, always paid, disclosed everything I should disclose, that is, nothing other than the usual.
I phoned them this morning to ask why
The bloke kept me waiting for about 20 minutes while he looked through everything and he couldn't give me a reason.
I asked him "Have I been blacklisted for some reason, will I be able to get insurance with someone else?"
He said " No, you haven't been blacklisted but we can't insure you for the coming year. Next year you can try again, if you want and we'll probably insure you again."
I'm perplexed about this and slightly unsettled by it. But....well, what can I do other than try somewhere else.

Ooh err, how very strange I've never stayed with the same insurance company for longer than two years, always shop around. Paid £160 last year, renewal price £320 shopped around and got it for £205.

 

[WayneKerr]

A friend of mine has a Bora. He bought it off a 'type' of person that due to experience of two very bad cars over the years, I will never buy a car from one of these 'types' of people ever again. He's had nothing but trouble with his one so he feels the same way I do about buying cars from this 'type' of person. Nevertheless, I like Bora's, cool car.

Touch wood I've not had many issues with mine apart from usual wear and tear/serviceable items. Mechanically it's pretty solid. Central locking has a mind if it's own and had to replace both front wings because of tin-worm, which I think will be it's eventual demise - rust. Replaced headlamps too as they were badly oxidised - plastic. It's only let me down once with a dead battery. I've always done my own servicing - oil and filter changes, brakes, etc., cambelt and clutch I get my garage to do.

 

[JDL]

Touch wood I've not had many issues with mine apart from usual wear and tear/serviceable items. Mechanically it's pretty solid. Central locking has a mind if it's own and had to replace both front wings because of tin-worm, which I think will be it's eventual demise - rust. Replaced headlamps too as they were badly oxidised - plastic. It's only let me down once with a dead battery. I've always done my own servicing - oil and filter changes, brakes, etc., cambelt and clutch I get my garage to do.

Yeah, I do a fair bit of my own servicing.
I started to less as I got older but now Simon and I am doing more because the garages around here are becoming unreliable.
We did drop links, top shock absorber bearing and track rod ends on his Mito recently.
I used to do engine changes, clutch changes, cam belts, basically anything including electrics but now certainly with electrics I've lost confidence in my ability to do some of the things I used to do.

 

[JDL]

Ooh err, how very strange I've never stayed with the same insurance company for longer than two years, always shop around. Paid £160 last year, renewal price £320 shopped around and got it for £205.

I was always too lazy to shop around but now it looks like I don't have a choice.
A friend of mine, a lady, who spends far more time than me looking at various forums told me that many people now are having their bank accounts, insurance policies and pension plans refused with no explanation as to why.

 

[WayneKerr]

Yeah, I do a fair bit of my own servicing.
I started to less as I got older but now Simon and I am doing more because the garages around here are becoming unreliable.
We did drop links, top shock absorber bearing and track rod ends on his Mito recently.
I used to do engine changes, clutch changes, cam belts, basically anything including electrics but now certainly with electrics I've lost confidence in my ability to do some of the things I used to do.

Blimey, well done John. Age is definitely becoming a factor for me too so just tend to do the easier jobs now.

 

[JDL]

Blimey, well done John. Age is definitely becoming a factor for me too so just tend to do the easier jobs now.

Yes, I'm like you now, but much of what I don't do is down to self confidence issues and the weather this year has been appalling. That definitely puts me off.😂

 

[plastic penguin]

I'm thinking about a old BMW, probably a 325i E30 or E36. Won't sell my pride and joy, but use the Beema as an everyday car.

Anyone with any experience of these older Beemas?

 

[12th Monkey]

I'm thinking about a old BMW, probably a 325i E30 or E36. Won't sell my pride and joy, but use the Beema as an everyday car.

Anyone with any experience of these older Beemas?

Do you not use the Alfa as a daily driver? What are you hoping to get from the BMW, or are you just looking to reduce the Alfa's mileage build-up?

 

[plastic penguin]

Do you not use the Alfa as a daily driver? What are you hoping to get from the BMW, or are you just looking to reduce the Alfa's mileage build-up?

The Alfa has always been used as a daily driver. Just want preserve the rebuilt engine. So looking at a 1990s/early 2000s Beema as a daily run around.