Oil top up- need advice

Veloce

hi all,

My car takes 10-40 semi synthetic oil, 4.4 litres of the stuff.

I've only bought the car recently (its a used '07) and the dealer has given the car a service on the car before I collected.

This type of car has a habit of burning some oil over the course of its mileage so therefore I will more than likely need to top at some stage.

I'm not fully sure what exact oil was used in the service (but i'm assuming its the 10-40 suggested in the handbook) and what i'm wondering if mixing a different type / brand of oil (to whats already there) for a top up proves harmful to the engine?

Thanks.

PaulKK

Don't mix grades of oil, mixing brands should be ok for topping up as long as it meets the spec in the handbook and is the correct grade.

Follow the handbook.

colm_mcm

Verify with the garage's service department which grade they used. They'll have it on file.

Atlantic Dawn

Veloce wrote: »

hi all,

i'm wondering if mixing a different type / brand of oil (to whats already there) for a top up proves harmful to the engine?

Thanks.

If it's the same spec it's fine, brands won't matter once spec is the same. If it's a choice in an emergency between running it with nothing or running it with something close enough, lash in the stuff that's close enough until you complete your journey and can have it changed.

Nonoperational

A car that burns 10w40 semi... Surely it's an alfa?!

gpf101

gpf101 wrote: »

A car that burns 10w40 semi... Surely it's an alfa?!

Could be a diesel, quite a few of the modern ones burn oil as the service interval is so long. Modern car manuals state top up between services is normal, some joke really but there you go.

taintabird

gpf101 wrote: »

A car that burns 10w40 semi... Surely it's an alfa?!

An alfa..........burning oil :eek:..........only when there's oil in it to burn

Nonoperational

I just have so many memories of buying 10w40 every few weeks for my old 156... Saying that she passed the Nct for her new owner yesterday and driving like a dream... Anyway I'm after going way off topic!

peasant

Any engine that doesn't burn (at least a little) oil between services is usually adding water (or fuel)

Turner

Garages that charge €70 euro for an oil change are not going to spend 50-60 quid on oil and another 8 on a filter.

They will use the cheapest they can get. They are trying to make money after all.

O/P top up with your handbook recommended oil.

Main dealers charge more for an oil change so should be using the top quality oil.

Dilbert75

gpf101 wrote: »

A car that burns 10w40 semi... Surely it's an alfa?!

And a username like Veloce??? Sounds likely alright:D

OP if it is an Alfa, keep a litre in the boot and check/top up every week. It'll pay you back in the long run.

robtri

Dilbert75 wrote: »

And a username like Veloce??? Sounds likely alright:D

OP if it is an Alfa, keep a litre in the boot and check/top up every week. It'll pay you back in the long run.

nice catch!!!

PaulKK

Chief--- wrote: »

Garages that charge €70 euro for an oil change are not going to spend 50-60 quid on oil and another 8 on a filter.

They will use the cheapest they can get. They are trying to make money after all.

O/P top up with your handbook recommended oil.

Main dealers charge more for an oil change so should be using the top quality oil.

Garages don't buy oil in 4L containers like you and me. Bulk buying in 45 gallon drums. I would be surprised if garages were paying more than a fiver a litre for decent oil, they'll be able to claim the VAT back too.

tankbarry

I think u should be using 10/40 fully syntetic...... I had a problem with my opel Vectra I thought there was a leak in it turns out I dont I was using 10/40 semi syntetic I was told I should be using 10/30 fully syntetic

PaulKK

tankbarry wrote: »

I think u should be using 10/40 fully syntetic...... I had a problem with my opel Vectra I thought there was a leak in it turns out I dont I was using 10/40 semi syntetic I was told I should be using 10/30 fully syntetic

He didn't tell us what car he has....

tankbarry

He didn't tell us what car he has....

I know Paul I was just stating I had the same problem too much Oil being used in the car I was using oil I was told that was too light for the car thats why I used so much.

Nonoperational

I ran the 156 on 10W40 semi anyway and it's engine is as sound as ever past 100k miles. To be honest if it is an Alfa I wouldn't bother with fully synthetic, pretty much all the guys I know with Twin Sparks (in real life and on Alfaowner) use Semi and it's perfect.

You can use 10W60 fully synthetic if you need something with a bit extra viscosity but I wouldn't bother unless it's a disaster altogether. I used about 1L every 2-3000 miles and it didn't bother me. Used to get valvoline stuff for about €8 a bottle so it was cheap enough too.

He'll probably come back now and tell us the car is an Octavia and we'll all be disappointed!