Popped my Alfa Romeo cherry!

[Jacyxx]

Hi everyone!   I am new to the forum and new to Alfa's, SO, I know a lot of you will probably cringe when I say I purchased a Selespeed.  BUT, I am totally in love with this car!

It's a 2002 147 2.0 Selespeed with all the nice extras.  The car is in immaculate condition, I am the second owner (1st was a lady owner), it has 150,000 ks, but most are from motorway travelling.  It's lovely to drive, and I am aware that the Selespeeds are expensive to fix if and when they break, but I am okay with that. 

I did have a bit of a heart attack when it wouldn't select 1st out of Neutral though, but discovered that the Selespeed oil was low.  So I am arranging to get some delivered (the nearest Alfa dealership to me is 500kms away.)  I do have a question about the engine coolant though.  The guys at Alfa tell me to ONLY use Paraflu (and for the Selespeed, only use Tutela) which I am okay with, but I just wanted to check with other Alfa owners, just in case there is a substitute that can be used.  I am told by a mechanic here that any coolant will do (provided its blue?), and also he seems to think that I can use Penrite premium 10 fully synthetic 10w70 in my Selespeed... now, I am fully prepared to order what I need in and make sure that only those brands specifically are used in my car, but is he right in saying they can be used or should I steer well clear from him and his advice? lol.

[Cool Jesus]

Congrats on your first Alfa, welcome aboard.  No doubt the guys at Alfa said to only use genuine moments after you told them you popped your Alfa cherry. As far as coolant is concerned, yes any reputable aftermarket will suffice as long as its alloy engine and radiator friendly. So your most likely looking at red OLL coolant. I use Nulon red. I'm not too hands on with the selespeeds, however you seem to be aware of how fickle these can be in the 147s. If you do a search on selespeed oil on the forum, I'm sure you'll find an answer. Id err on the side of caution and only use genuine in the gearbox, unless others have had success with aftermarket alternatives.

Lastly, do you trust your mechanic? What Alfa experience do they have?  Without seeming rude and asking them outright. I'd find answers on here and then gauge your mechanic's Alfa aptitude by forum opinion. I'm not saying to not trust him, Im sure they have every best intention to keep your business. But, you sound like your smitten by the Alfa bug and it would be terrible for it to end in tears because of someone you'd expect should know what they're doing. This forum is a wealth of knowledge and no matter how dumb you think the question may be, just ask.

[Cool Jesus]

One further tip. Do yourself a favour and download the 147 workshop manuals from the link, they will answer many questions for you and perhaps put you on par with your mechanic. Hey, maybe give your mechanic a copy to better care for your new baby...

http://193.219.82.238/~manual/Workshop%20manual%27s/

[Cool Jesus]

Found a thread on the Selespeed oil mate, it is a fickle unit, stick with the original spec oil for peace of mind.

http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=9200.0

[Jacyxx]

Thanks so much for your reply Cool Jesus!  I will stick to the original spec oil, for piece of mind it will be worth the little bit extra that's for sure!

I did mention that I had only just purchased the Alfa to the guys at the Alfa place in Brisbane so I think that combined with being female, I was treated like the new clueless kid on the block (which I suppose I am to a degree.)  BUT - I do love my research and am grateful I have found this forum and the wealth of knowledge it holds!  
You are spot on in saying I am smitten by this car.. I love it, fell in love with it the moment I saw it, and I agree with you also regarding questioning the mechanics.  I had spoken to a few.. many here won't even touch the car for a service.. which is okay with me as they obviously don't feel confident in their ability to do it correctly, but it also makes me more paranoid about those who say they will.  Thank you for the workshop manual!  I will make sure I have a copy of it in the car too just in case.  And I will be sure to question any mechanics with knowledge I have gained from this forum before they touch the car at all (the ones up here anyway).

I have to go to the Gold Coast in a months time for my Nursing residency, and was planning on getting the car checked over and serviced at a reputable place while I am down just for my own piece of mind, the people I purchased it off told me that it just had a service prior to me buying it, but the coolant and selespeed oil being as low as they are (and no leaks are apparent) they didn't do much of a service obviously lol.  It does have it's log books with MOST of the services filled out as per the guide, but still, for piece of mind I think it's best I get an experienced person to check her out.  Also need to arrange for a new key... the one that came with the car is taped together, buttons don't work either.  The seller said that it broke and she taped it but since then the buttons haven't worked, so, being nervous about pulling it apart myself to see if its just not together properly, I might leave that for the specialists too.  

[Cool Jesus]

Just post on here for recomendations to a reputable Alfa mechanic in your area?
Alternatively check out the links on the club sites for local Alfamech. If none are nearby a quick call to most will point you in the right direction. Of course you can't go too wrong with any Alfa dealer...

I'm finding that a full set of car keys seems to be an extremely rare commodity with Alfas. I'd ring around to a few local locksmiths that specialise in transponder keys before the dealership. You'll get mixed opinions, keep shopping though, the keys can be cloned. I'd get two copies (well depends how many people are using the car I guess) for regualr use and store the one original key away somewhere safe. You'll probably be up for a few hundred for a spare set with alarm/lock buttons.

[Darryl]

Not sure where exactly you are but when in Brisbane you could try making either Angelo at APF or Chris and Cameron at Automotion cringe at your Selespeed - both club sponsors and no BS. There isn't much to chose from on Gold Coast with Alfa experience - worth taking the car to one of the above for a checkup even if you use someone else/closer for regular services.

[Jacyxx]

Thanks for that info Darryl!!  I will definitely arrange to take it in to see one of those guys!

[abyssus]

I am aware that the Selespeeds are expensive to fix if and when they break, but I am okay with that. 

They're only expensive because most local mechanics don't have a clue how they work.

A mate of mine (retired mechanic) and I (computer geek) have been taking care of my Selespeed and performing adjustments and recalibration no probs.

[Jacyxx]

Yeah I probably have the computer geek side covered but the mechanical side... not so much haha.  I took the car to a Mechanic near me and they said the only things they could find wrong with it is a very slight oil leak and leaking from the front tappet cover?  He said that it will be a few hours work to fix but that its not urgent just yet.  Thinking I might get a Brisbane mechanic to give me a second opinion while I am down in a couple of weeks.  Can't help but be a little suss on the Mechanics up here considering so many of the others wouldn't touch the car at all.

[colcol]

Hey Jacyxx, if its only a slight leak, then don't worry about it, wait until the cam belt has to be changed, 50,000klms or 3 years, and then the cam cover has to come off, so that the cam locks are put in, then ask them to put a new cam cover seal on, i would only let Alfa Specialists touch this car, as if they don't know what they are doing, and mess it up, then you will have to take it to a Alfa Mechanic to fix it anyway, have the Selespeed serviced once a year to make sure it is calibrated correctly, if you can find Paraflu pink, use that, if not Nulon pink will do the job or Repco pink too, available at Repco, and the Nulon at Repco, Supercheap, or Autbahn, the engine oil to use is 10-40 fully synthetic racing oil, the brand to use is up to you, but check it every week, as the twin sparks like a drink of oil, and when they get down to MIN, and the oil light comes on, you may damage your engine, and keep an eye on this forum, for all the hints and tips on everything Alfa Romeo, Colin.

[Cool Jesus]

As Col mentioned, chuck some paper under the engine over night or check to see how much oil is being dropped, considering what the mechanic said, leave it until a service is due or work which enables the issue to be addressed as a metter ofcourse. You find that oil leaks are common, the Italian designers will tell you its built in rust proofing for the engine bay and under body  . Just keep an eye on the oil level, which should really occur each time the car is fueled.

[Jacyxx]

Thanks guys!  I checked the oil this morning before going out and it's on min now (no oil light though).  About to organise getting some oil to put in her to top it up.  The car has 157,000ks and I am told that the cam belt was done 2 years ago, I will check to see if there is a date anywhere on a sticker in the engine just to make sure.  The log books were all filled out up until 2009 but I don't have that much info on the car since then.  I will definitely get an Alfa mechanic to do all the work that needs done and servicing, I don't mind the drive to Brisbane to arrange it, (helps that I love driving it!! haha)

[colcol]

Hey Jacyxx, if the oil is at MIN, then put any oil, as it is better than running at MIN, even get some K-MART oil, don't drive to Brissy with the oil on MIN, the cheaper oils will burn more and not lubricate quite as good as the Martini's, Penrites, etc, but even the cheap oils have an SG rating, which means they will do the job they are designed to do, stop metal to metal friction, Colin.

[Jacyxx]

Thanks Colin, I have organised to get some cheaper stuff I was told that if the car has more than 20,000ks then I should use 10-60 racing oil?  Would this be right or am I okay to just stick with the 10-40?  I am planning on buying some cheap stuff to get me through till after my expensive as hell residential school.. haha