Type of oil to use

[altazon]

Hello everyone,

I have a very simple question: what type of oil can I use for a Fiat Spider 2000, year 1980, 2.0L engine?

On the owner manual they advise 15W-40 oil, but this oil is very hard to find, any other oil I could use ?

Thanks for your help.

[pope]

What are your talking about...hard to find? It is sold everywhere! Stop looking in the 10W-30 and 40 section, move a little to your right, that it. Kmart, Walmart, all auto parts stores, its everywhere. Look for Shell Rotella...Mobil Delvac... AMSoil...Chevron Delo. This is the oil that truckers use in the big rigs and is the perfect oil to use in your big rig Spider.
It usually comes in a gallon jug but can also be found in quart sizes. It also comes in regular or synthetic. 15W-40 baby...thats the ticket!!!!!!!!

It is not true that just because you are from Miami Beach that you can run your Spider on Banana Boat SPF 4 Tanning Oil.

Good Luck.

[altazon]

Thanks for the answer.

Just wanna say that I am not american and arrived in Miami just a few weeks ago, therefore I don't know yet what stores sell those products. I went to Advanced Auto Parts and they don't have it, and don't even want to order it.
Plus I live on Miami Beach and none of the stores you mentioned are around here.

But thanks for your help, I will look in Miami to find those stores, I just found weird that Advanced Auto Parts could not find this product.

[mbouse]

are you the gent from Puerto Rico that conversed with us a few months back?

welcome Stateside.

[pope]

Advance has it for sale on their web site, five gallons bucket for $48. I called a few stores in the Miami Beach area and they all carried it in Quarts and Gallons. Call Advance before you go to make sure it is at your store.

[altazon]

I went to an Advanced Auto Parts store and they did not have it.
I called Advanced Auto Parts 2 times and they said that they didn't have it in store, and could not order it, even if the product is on the website.
I called them one more time, and another person in the store said that they have it.

See why I get confused ? But apparently they have it, it's just that they are too lazy to look in their stock when you call them.

Thanks for your answers.

PS: I am not the guy from Puerto Rico.

[baltobernie]

ah, retail. Used to be an honorable profession ...

[ga.spyder]

AHH Miami ,Fla.......the absolute most confused place in these United States.If you ask 10 people you will get 10 different answers!
Craig

[launieg]

I've only run the car a few kilometers since the PO left it sitting for 6 years. Runs well, and now I'll change all the various fluids.

I have a 8 liters (about two gallons) of 5w30 synthetic blend (mix of conventional and synthetic). Is it safe for me to switch to this semi-synthetic oil? Or am I wasting it anyway? Will I want to change it again real soon, just to get any crud out due to the long time inactive? Any advice appreciated.

[pope]

I would say that 5W30 in any form is too thin for that engine. It calls for 15W40. I am sure there are people who use 10W40 in the engine, But I dont recommend it. The 15W40 is oil for flat tappet engines, exactly what the Spider is. It contains more Zinc than conventional oil.
Do a search for oil recommendations and you will find a whole discussion on this from the past.

[mdburd]

Hmm; brought my '78 home two weekends ago--and immediately changed the oil; unfortunately, that was before I read this; so I put in Mobil-1 synthetic 10-30...

Looks like there's an additional project for tonight...

[baltobernie]

I wouldn't discard $30 worth of Mobil 1, maybe just change it a little earlier than you otherwise would.

[ga.spyder]

I have run mine on 10w-40 for a while with no neg. results.I always add Lucas oil treatment in all my vehicles ,I have seen test results and feel it is worth it.
Craig

[racydave]

The whole world of engine oil has changed drastically since these specs were published. I switched to Shell Rotunda 10w30 and I like it! Ive always used 30w oil in my cars, and they all perform great ( here in the mid-west ) I dont think any mfgs recomend 40w oil anymore...

[pope]

Dave, You can put what you want in your Spider, but that doesnt make it correct. Modern oils are not better for old style tappet engines that need more zinc for protection. Fiat Spiders use the same oil that is used in 18 wheeler diesel engines, 15w -40. You dont see them putting in 10w-30 or 40 in their riggs, no matter how modern the oil is. Modern oils belong in modern engines that they were formulated for, and the auto maker engineers his engines to run on these oils.
If using 10w-30 is an educated guess on what to use, why not try 0w-20 or 5w-20. They are modern oil formulations also.

I dont think any mfgs recommend 40w oil anymore...

You are right there, they dont recommend it because they are now engineered to run on 5w-30.
The new government mandated 15w-40 motor oil is probably the most sophisticated modern oil on the market today next to racing oils. You got the "Shell" part right, but it should be Rotella, not Rotunda that you use. But...you can use what you want.