I am an oil novice. My last few cars have been French and required no oil
top-ups ever!

I know my 2002 Alfa 156 2.0JTS requires frequent oil checks and usually a 
top-up,
but I ran out last month and we go on holiday on Tuesday (to drive about
3000 miles!). I don't have a chance to get to my usual Alfa garage before we
go, so what is a good, common equivalent to the red canned Selenia I
normally use? I will only really be passing petrol stations, or maybe a
halfords...

What 'number' (?W? weight?) do I need? Do I need synthetic or something
else?

Thanks for the advice.

"GT"  wrote in
news:42f7888d$0$11293$9a6e19ea@unlimited.newshosting.com: 


> I am an oil novice. My last few cars have been French and required no
> oil top-ups ever!
> 
> I know my 2002 Alfa 156 2.0JTS requires frequent oil checks and
> usually a top-up,
> but I ran out last month and we go on holiday on Tuesday (to drive
> about 3000 miles!). I don't have a chance to get to my usual Alfa
> garage before we go, so what is a good, common equivalent to the red
> canned Selenia I normally use? I will only really be passing petrol
> stations, or maybe a halfords...
> 
> What 'number' (?W? weight?) do I need? Do I need synthetic or
> something else?
> 
> Thanks for the advice.
> 
> 
> 

The correct weight should be stated in your handbook. For most engines, a 
semi-synthetic is normally sufficient if changed regularly. Fully synthetic 
offers the ultimate protection, but is expensive. It is not usually 
necessary unless it is an especially high performance engine, although some 
manufacturers now specify it for all their engines. Check with your 
handbook. If in doubt and you can afford it, go for the fully synthetic.

-- 
Stuart Sharp

> If in doubt and you can afford it, go for the fully synthetic.


Out of interest, can you top up "regular" oil with fully synth, or do 
you have to do a full drain / refill ?

Colin Wilson  wrote in 
news:MPG.1d61b608779abae698b2df@news.individual.net:


>> If in doubt and you can afford it, go for the fully synthetic.
> 
> Out of interest, can you top up "regular" oil with fully synth, or do 
> you have to do a full drain / refill ?
> 

No, they're all compatible these days, AFAIK. Top-ups are normally a small 
percentage of all the oil in the system, so they don't matter too much 
anyway (unless you top up every week :-)).


-- 
Stuart Sharp

> > Out of interest, can you top up "regular" oil with fully synth, or do 
> > you have to do a full drain / refill ?
> No, they're all compatible these days, AFAIK. Top-ups are normally a small 
> percentage of all the oil in the system, so they don't matter too much 
> anyway (unless you top up every week :-)).


Cheers - might pick some up then...