Replacing antifreeze in a Fiat Albea is fraught with certain difficulties, but it can be done by the driver on his own, without contacting specialists. With certain technical skills and knowledge of the cooling system, the procedure is quite simple.

How to replace antifreeze on Fiat Albea?

Replacing antifreeze for Fiat Albea differs little from a similar procedure in other cars. Experts also do not distinguish features in relation to other models of Fiat cars. That is, the replacement of antifreeze with Fiat Ducato will be carried out according to the same procedure as Albea.

The main difference between the replacement will be only the engine assembly and the location of the required components of the cooling system. The expansion tank is located in the front, it is easy to detect by a translucent body that gives out the color of the flooded antifreeze.

Also, to drain the coolant and flushing fluid, drain valves of the radiator and cylinder block will be needed. Their position is identified using the technical documentation of the corresponding car model.

To replace antifreeze, you will need the following equipment:

• pliers for removing fasteners, keys;
• clean rag, gloves, funnel;
• a container for draining old antifreeze, as well as flushing solutions and water, is calculated on a container of 6-7 liters, a basin is usually used;
• consumables - new coolant, flushing agent, distilled water.

The whole procedure takes from half an hour to two hours, depending on the flushing of the system. Given the volume of drained consumables, additional containers may be needed.

Draining the old fluid and flushing the cooling system

Do-it-yourself replacement of antifreeze on a Fiat Albea is carried out according to the following procedure:

• the car is parked on a flat surface, the engine is allowed to cool;
• when uncorking any caps and taps, pressure should be taken into account, which can lead to coolant getting on hands and face;
• open the radiator and expansion tank caps;
• disconnect the hose from the radiator pipe, after loosening or removing the clamp, drain the liquid from it;
• also unscrew the drain valves of the radiator and cylinder block, the expansion tank for draining is usually removed completely;
• in total, about 5 liters of old coolant should come out;
• all drains and connections are returned to their original position, flushing agent is poured into the system;
• the engine is started, in accordance with the instructions in the instructions, it is allowed to warm up, after which it is turned off and allowed to cool to drain the flushing fluid;
• the washing procedure is repeated several times if necessary, a special agent is used only once, after which the system is necessarily washed with distilled water;
• after each filling, the engine warms up to operating temperature;
• flushing is considered completed after the drained water remains clean, with a minimum content of contaminants and impurities.

After flushing, new antifreeze is poured into the system. The expansion tank has MIN and MAX marks, filling is carried out up to the second mark. Then the engine warms up again, after which the coolant level is checked. If it falls, top it up to the max.

A few days after replacement, check the level and color of the coolant. If necessary, add the right amount of antifreeze. If its color has changed to rusty or brown, a new replacement should be made.

A change in color, as well as discoloration of antifreeze, indicates poor-quality products. High-quality coolant can only darken over time, but it will not change significantly in color.

Mixing concentrate with water and pouring

For cars of the Fiat Albea model, it is recommended to fill in antifreeze brands PARAFLU UP CUNA NC 956-16 And ASTM D33066. The approximate filling volume is about 7 liters. It is recommended to pay attention to ready-made solutions based on ethylene glycol.

A separate issue for motorists is the acquisition and dilution of the concentrate. This solution is not a full-fledged antifreeze, its freezing threshold fluctuates at the level of -10 - -15 degrees. In fact, this is a base solution containing ethylene glycol and additives.

Such a concentrate is diluted only with distilled water. Filtered is not suitable, because it still contains minerals that, at high temperatures, will be deposited on the nodes and joints of the cooling system.

Experts estimate the percentage for mixing in different ways. The range fluctuates at the level of 30-50% of water - this value not only increases the cooling properties of antifreeze, but also reduces its freezing threshold to -40 degrees.

It is recommended to dilute in a separate container, thoroughly stirring the solution. Many drivers consistently pour water and concentrate into the system, but these actions do not guarantee the quality of the resulting antifreeze.

What happens due to untimely coolant replacement?

Antifreeze provides engine cooling, preventing overheating of its components. The stable temperature protects the components from rapid wear and failure.

Antifreeze for Fiat Albea varies depending on operating conditions, it is difficult to name an exact indicator, since many factors are individual. Experts recommend focusing on 45 thousand kilometers or three years of service.

Significant problems due to untimely replacement of the coolant will not be immediately detected. The consequences will be faster erasing of parts and breakdown of expensive engine units.

This aspect does not happen overnight, just as the expiration date of antifreeze does not expire on a certain date. However, over time, this factor will lead to significant financial losses, so it is not recommended to delay the replacement of antifreeze.

Fiat Albea. Causes of oil viscosity loss in the engine

Oil temperature rise

Increased fuel consumption

Engine wear

Even if you use the most modern engine oil, its properties change during the operation of the car.

As you know, all oils contain functional additives designed to improve and maintain certain properties (in Russia they are commonly called additives). During operation in the engine, these additives are destroyed under the action of thermal and mechanical loads. The oil molecules themselves undergo changes. When all these changes reach a certain limit, it is necessary to change the engine oil.

One of the key characteristics that allows you to set the timing of an oil change is the change in viscosity, which greatly affects the ability of the oil to perform its functions. A change in viscosity of only 5% is already perceived by specialists as a signal, and a change of 10% as a critical level.

It is important to understand that the change in viscosity does not occur abruptly. This is a gradual process that occurs throughout the life of the vehicle between oil changes. The main reasons leading to a change in viscosity are presented in the table.

Common Causes of Viscosity Changes in Motor Oils

	Viscosity reduction	Viscosity increase
Changes at the molecular level	- Thermal destruction of oil molecules - Destruction of viscosity modifiers (polymers) that make up motor oils	- Thermal polymerization of oils and additives - Oil oxidation - Oil evaporation loss - Sludge formation
Pollution related changes	- Dilution with fuel - Ingress of refrigerant in the air conditioning system - Dilution with solvents	- Water ingress - Aeration (mixing with air) - Ingress of antifreeze

Changes due to oil contamination must be corrected either by diagnostics and repair at service stations, or by changing the style of driving.

The most interesting changes occur at the molecular level. They are interesting in that they cannot be completely avoided, since they are of a fundamental, natural nature. But these changes can be contained.

The reasons leading to an increase in viscosity will be discussed in a separate article on the antiwear properties of oils. Here we will focus on the reverse process. Here are the most likely consequences of reducing the viscosity of engine oil:

Reducing the thickness of the oil film on the surfaces of rubbing parts and, as a result, excessive wear, increased sensitivity to mechanical impurities, breakage of the oil film at high loads and when starting the engine.

An increase in the friction force in engine elements operating in mixed and boundary friction modes (piston rings, gas distribution mechanism) will lead to excessive fuel consumption and heat generation.

It is known that the SAE J300 standard approved four methods for determining the viscosity of engine oil. Since the effects of viscosity reduction are mainly seen with the engine running, the most appropriate method would be to determine the HTHS viscosity.

This parameter, which stands for high-temperature viscosity at high shear rate (High-Temperature High-Shear rate viscosity), is usually determined under conditions as close as possible to the operating conditions of the oil in the friction pair piston ring - cylinder wall. By the way, similar conditions exist on the surface of the camshaft cams, and in the crankshaft bearings at high engine loads. The temperature in determining the HTHS viscosity is + 150 °C, and the shear rate is 1.6*10 6 1/s.
HTHS viscosity is most closely related to both the protective properties of the oil and the fuel consumption of a running engine.

THERMAL CRACKING

Some motor oils may be subject to a phenomenon known as "thermal cracking". Thermal cracking is, in a way, the opposite of polymerization, even though both effects are the result of prolonged exposure to high temperatures on engine oil. If during the polymerization process many similar organic components stick together with each other, as a result of which a new component with a higher viscosity and, accordingly, a higher boiling point appears in the engine oil, then the essence of thermal cracking of engine oil in a car engine is the process of destruction some engine oil components into smaller parts. The resulting parts have a lower viscosity and, more importantly, a lower boiling point. The result is a lower flash point and higher volatility (directly affects oil consumption). The flash point of engine oil is the minimum temperature at which an air-oil mixture of engine oil vapors will support combustion in the presence of an external fire source.

INCREASING INSTABILITY TO SIGNIFICANT SHEAR FORCES

During the production of engine oil, the viscosity index of the oil is increased by adding various components to the base oil, which are long organic polymers that unwind into long chains with increasing temperature. The negative factor is that such polymers partially lose their resistance to shear forces with increasing temperature. What happens in practice is that oil components subjected to the significant shear forces found in automatic transmissions as well as high-speed, large displacement engines begin to break down and, as a result, the viscosity of the oil begins to decrease. Oils that have a high viscosity index due to the base oil having an inherently higher viscosity (due to the properties of the base oil obtained during the refining process (hydrocracking) or due to their synthetic base (synthetic oils) are much less susceptible to this phenomenon.

POLLUTION

Oil viscosity also decreases due to contaminants. In most cases, oil contamination is the result of fuel getting into the engine oil. The main negative effect of fuel entering the engine oil is a decrease in the viscosity of the oil, and as a result, a loss in the carrying capacity of the oil. The oil film that forms on the internal surfaces of the engine becomes too thin to prevent moving metal parts from touching, resulting in increased heat and seizure. As a result of the research, the following pattern was established: the ingress and dissolution of 8.5% of fuel in engine oil reduces the viscosity of SAE 15W-40 viscosity engine oil by 30% at 40 ° C and by 20% at 100 ° C.

Another, less significant, but by no means less important circumstance is that when calculating the dilution factor of additives with fuel entering engine oil, it is necessary to take as a calculated value the total volume of engine oil, and the volume of additives, which is from 1 to 5% of the total volume oils. If 10% fuel is dissolved in the engine oil, then you have a 5000% reduction in the additive package concentration, which becomes quite a problem when the volumes of fuel entering the engine oil are significant.

ADDITION OF OILS OF DIFFERENT VISCOSITIES

The viscosity of the oil can be lowered by adding a less viscous oil produced using the same technology (hydrocracking, synthetics, etc. The addition of oil produced in a different way inevitably leads to precipitation and a significant loss in the performance properties of the oil, up to its complete thickening to a lithic state). Adding 20% ​​SAE 10W-XX oil to SAE 50 oil will reduce engine oil viscosity by 30%.

CONSEQUENCES OF REDUCING VISCOSITY

What are the consequences of lowering the viscosity? The loss of the bearing capacity of the oil leads to a rapid increased wear of friction pairs, energy losses, a significant increase in the forces of sliding friction and rolling friction. The increase in mechanical friction increases the amount of heat released from friction and accelerates the course of oxidation processes. Low-viscosity motor and gear oils are more sensitive to contaminants and particles, because the lubricating film formed by low-viscosity oils is too thin. Finally, the hydrodynamic film formed by engine oil depends on the speed, the viscosity of the engine or transmission oil, and the load at the friction point. It follows that at low oil viscosity, a high load combined with a low speed of rubbing parts relative to each other can lead to rupture of the oil film and subsequent dry friction.

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH OIL VISCOSITY

Simply changing an oil that has become too high or too low in viscosity will not resolve the problem. It is necessary to find and eliminate the cause of a malfunction or incorrect functioning of one or another engine system, leading to a change in oil viscosity.

If the viscosity of the oil has increased significantly, check:
- Finding parameters in the operating temperature zone;
- combustion efficiency of the air-fuel mixture (indirectly reflected in the loss of throttle response, power drop, smoothness of revs, etc.);
- the presence of water or glycol (determined using laboratory analyzes of used engine oil);
- the presence of air in the oil (as a result of cavitation);

If the viscosity of the oil has decreased significantly, check:
- serviceability of the power supply system;
- the presence of significant shear forces;
- the presence of a high temperature that triggers thermal cracking of the oil;
- contamination of the oil with a solvent or dissolved gas;
-correct oil filling procedure.

A large number of engine and transmission failures are caused by a change in the viscosity of the engine and transmission oil. Ensuring the viscosity of the oil within the values ​​specified by the engine design is a guarantee of uninterrupted, reliable and efficient operation of the engine and transmission, low cost of maintaining equipment, reducing the cost of spare parts, downtime of your vehicle, the key to efficient driving to the satisfaction of the driver and his passengers!

The manufacturer recommends that the coolant be replaced after 3 years of operation or 45,000 km (whichever comes first). Also, if the coolant has changed color to reddish, replace it immediately. A change in color indicates that inhibitory additives have been developed and the fluid has become aggressive towards parts of the cooling system.
You will need: coolant, a clean rag, a container with a capacity of at least 5 liters for draining coolant, a flat-blade screwdriver.

Use coolants recommended by the manufacturer (see appendix 2).
Change the coolant only when the engine is cold. The coolant is toxic, so be careful when handling it.

When starting the engine, the radiator cap must be closed. Screw on the cork tightly. When the engine is running, the cooling system is under pressure, so coolant may leak from under a loose cap.
1. Install the car on a flat horizontal platform.

4. ... and remove the clamp.

Antifreeze is deadly poisonous to all living things. in order not to pollute the environment, drain it through a funnel (for example, made from a plastic soda bottle).

6. Fill the expansion tank with water to flush the system.
7. Apply compressed air to the expansion tank to purge the cooling system to remove as much water as possible from it.
8. Connect the lower radiator hose.

10. Fill in coolant.
eleven . After the air stops coming out of the valve and liquid appears from it, wrap the valve plug and the expansion tank plug.
12. Start the engine, bring the crankshaft speed to 2500 min-1 and let the engine run until the fan turns on. After that, turn off the engine, check the coolant level and, if necessary, add it to the expansion tank to the “MAX” mark.

With the engine running, watch the coolant temperature on the gauge. If the arrow has reached the red zone, and the radiator fan does not turn on, turn on the heater and check how much air goes through it. If the heater supplies heated air, then the fan is most likely defective, and if it is cold, an air lock has formed in the engine cooling system. To remove it, turn off the engine, let it cool and remove the expansion tank cap. Start the engine, let it run for 3-5 minutes and close the reservoir cap.

For better filling of the system without air pockets, periodically squeeze the radiator hoses by hand. After a few days of operation of the car after replacing the coolant, check its level. Top up coolant if necessary.
If after a very short time the fresh liquid changes color to brown, then you have filled in a fake, in which the manufacturers "forgot" to add corrosion inhibitors. In addition, one of the signs of a fake is a sharp complete discoloration of the liquid. Good quality coolant dye is very persistent and only darkens over time. The liquid, tinted with linen blue, is discolored. Such "antifreeze" must be replaced faster.

Antifreeze for Fiat Albea

The table shows the type and color of the required antifreeze for filling in Fiat Albea,
produced from 2002 to 2011.

Year	Engine	Type	Color	Lifetime	Featured Manufacturers
2002	petrol, diesel	G12	red	5 years	Freecor, AWM, MOTUL Ultra, Lukoil Ultra
2003	petrol, diesel	G12	red	5 years	Lukoil Ultra, Motorcraft, Chevron, AWM
2004	petrol, diesel	G12	red	5 years	MOTUL Ultra, MOTUL Ultra, G-Energy
2005	petrol, diesel	G12+	red	5 years	Chevron, AWM, G-Energy, Lukoil Ultra, GlasElf
2006	petrol, diesel	G12+	red	5 years	Chevron, G-Energy, Freecor
2007	petrol, diesel	G12+	red	5 years	Havoline, MOTUL Ultra, Lukoil Ultra, GlasElf
2008	petrol, diesel	G12+	red	5 years	Havoline, AWM, G-Energy
2009	petrol, diesel	G12+	red	5 years	Havoline, MOTUL Ultra, Freecor, AWM
2010	petrol, diesel	G12+	red	5 years	Havoline, AWM, G-Energy, Freecor
2011	petrol, diesel	G12+	red	5 years	Frostschutzmittel A, VAG, FEBI, Zerex G

When buying, you need to know the shade - Color And Type antifreeze, valid for the year of manufacture of your Albea. Select the manufacturer of your choice. Do not forget - each type of fluid has its own lifespan.
For example: for Fiat Albea (1st generation) 2002, with a gasoline or diesel engine type, suitable - carboxylate antifreeze class, type G12 with shades of red. The approximate next replacement period of which will be 5 years. If possible, check the selected fluid against the requirements of the vehicle manufacturer's specifications and service intervals. It is important to know Each type of liquid has its own color. There are rare cases when a type is tinted with a different color.
The color of red antifreeze can be from purple to light pink (green and yellow have the same principles).
Mix liquid from different manufacturers - Can if their types match the blending conditions. G11 can be mixed with G11 analogues G11 must not be mixed with G12 G11 can be mixed with G12+ G11 can be mixed with G12++ G11 can be mixed G13 G12 can be mixed with G12 analogues G12 must not be mixed with G11 G12 can be mixed with G12+ G12 must not be mixed with G12++ G12 must not be mixed with G13 G12+, G12++ and G13 can be mixed together It is not allowed to mix Antifreeze with Antifreeze. No way! Antifreeze and Antifreeze - very different in quality. Antifreeze is the trade name for the traditional type (TL) of an old-style coolant. At the end of the service life - the liquid completely discolors or becomes very dull. Before replacing one type of fluid with another, flush the car radiator with plain water. . Additionally

Replacing antifreeze (coolant) with Fiat Albea must be done at least 2 times a year: in spring and autumn. If a car drives more than 50 thousand km per year, then it is better to do this 3 times a year.

If there is no information on how to fill in antifreeze in Fiat Albea, contact our stations and we will select and fill in the coolant of the required brand and the required tolerances. In no case should you top up if you are not sure what is being filled. If you mix liquids of different tolerances, the consequences will be very sad. In the best case, the repair of the cooling system, in the worst case, the engine will have to be repaired.

Price:

Type of work:	Price
Antifreeze replacement	from 800 rub.
Flushing the system	from 300 rub.

Where to change in St. Petersburg:

If the antifreeze is suddenly gone or the level is constantly decreasing and you have to top up, immediately contact the service station. If you do not notice in time that the level is low, and the level sensor and the engine temperature sensor are missing or not working properly in the car, the cylinder head will overheat and this again will lead to costly repairs.

When to do:
- the liquid constantly goes somewhere;
- muddy color;
- the presence of foam, precipitation, etc. in the expansion tank;

IMPORTANT!!! Once again - if you are not sure what is in the system now, do not fill in anything there, contact the service station.