Page 194 of 357

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
192
SAFE DRIVINGIn designing your Alfa 156, Alfa
Romeo has worked thoroughly to achieve a
vehicle able to offer top levels of safety to
its passengers. However, the behaviour of
the driver is still a decisive factor for road
safety.
Below you will find a few simple rules for
travelling safely under different conditions.
You are certainly familiar with many of them
but it is still helpful to read them all care-
fully.BEFORE DRIVING OFF– Make sure the lights and headlights are
working properly.
– Adjust the seat, steering wheel and
rearview mirrors, in order to obtain a correct
position for driving.
– Adjust the seat back upright and keep
your head as close as possible to the head
restraint.– Carefully adjust the headrests so that
the head and not the neck rests on them.
Check that nothing (mats, etc.) can get un-
der the foot pedals.
– Make sure that any child restraint sys-
tem (seats, cradles, etc.) are correctly fas-
tened on the rear seat.
– Place any objects in the boot with care
to prevent abrupt braking from throwing
them forwards.
– Avoid heavy meals before a journey. A
light meal will help to keep reflexes ready.
Above all avoid alcohol.
Routinely remember to check:
– tyre pressure and conditions;
– engine oil level;
– engine coolant level and system condi-
tions;
– brake fluid level;
– power steering oil level;
– windscreen washer fluid level.
WHEN TRAVELLING– The first rule for safe driving is care.
– Care also means being able to predict
the actions of other road users.
– Strictly respect the traffic regulations in
all countries, especially the speed limits.
– Ensure that both yourself and your pas-
sengers are wearing their seat belts, that
children are carried with the appropriate
seats and that any animals are in appropri-
ate compartments.
– Long distances should be trackled in
good health.
Driving under the influence
of drugs and/or some
medicines is highly dangerous for
oneself and for others.
WARNING
Page 252 of 357

CAR MAINTENANCE
250
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
Thousand of km
Change fuel filter (diesel versions only)Change air cleaner cartridge (petrol engines)Change air cleaner cartridge (diesel versions only)
Check and if necessary top up fluid levels (brakes, hydraulic clutch, power steering, windscreen wiper, battery, engine coolant, etc..) Check and if necessary top up Selespeed oil level (2.0 JTS version)Replacement of timing drive belt (*) and Poly-V accessory drive beltReplacement of counter-rotating shaft drive belt (only 2.0 JTS)Replacement of spark plugs (T.SPARK 16V, 2.0 JTS and 2.5 V6 24V versions) Check operation of engine control systems (through diagnosis)Check gearbox and differential oil levelCheck automatic gearbox oil level (2.5 V6 24V version)Change engine oil and oil filterChange brake fluid (or every 2 year)Replacement of dust/pollen filter
●●●●●●●●●
●●●●
●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●●●●
●
●
●
●●●●
●●
●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●●●●
●●●
●●●●●●●●●
(*) Or every 3 years in harsh conditions (cold – hot climates, stop and go city traffic, dusty areas or roads covered with sand and/or salt)
Or every 5 years, regardless of the mileage.
Page 253 of 357

CAR MAINTENANCE
251
ADDITIONAL
OPERATIONSEvery 1000 kmor before long journeys
check and if necessary top up:
– engine coolant level
– brake fluid/hydraulic clutch control flu-
id level
– power steering fluid level
– windscreen washer and headlamp wash-
er fluid level
– tyre pressure and conditions.
Every 3000 kmcheck the level of the
engine oil and top up if necessary.
You are recommended to use products of
the FL Selenia, designed and developed
expressly for Alfa Romeo cars (see the table
“Specifications of fluids and lubricants” in
the “Technical specifications” chapter).
ANNUAL INSPECTION
PROGRAMMEAn annual inspection programme
has been established for cars thet
cover less than 20,000 km (e.g.
10,000 km). It consists of the fol-
lowing:
– Check tyre conditions/wear and adjust
pressure if required (including the compact
spare wheel)
– Check lighting system operation (head-
lights, direction indicators, hazard lights,
boot lights, passenger compartment lights,
glovebox light, warning lights of instrument
panel, etc.)
– Check windscreen and rear-screen
wiper/washer operation, adjust nozzles
– Check windscreen/rear-screen blade po-
sition/wear
– Check condition and wear of the front
brake pad
– Check for bonnet and boot lock clean-
ness, lever cleanness and lubrication– Visually check the following: engine,
gearbox, transmission, piping (exhaust - fu-
el - brakes) rubber components (casings -
sleeves - bushings, etc..), brake and fuel
hoses
– Check battery charge condition
– Visually check the condition of the belts
and various controls
– Check and top up if necessary, the flu-
id levels (coolant, brake fluid, windscreen
washer fluid, battery, etc.)
– Change engine oil
– Replace engine oil filter
– Change pollen filter.
Page 256 of 357
CAR MAINTENANCE
254
fig. fig. fig. 2 - 2.0 JTS version
A0B00436m
fig. 1 - 1.6 T.SPARK, 1.8 T.SPARK versions
A0B00174m
CHECKING FLUID
LEVELS1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid -
4Windscreen washer fluid - 5Engine
coolant fluid - 6Power steering fluid When topping up take
care not to confuse the var-
ious types of fluids: they
are all incompatible with one an-
other and could seriously damage
the car.
Never smoke while work-
ing in the engine compart-
ment; gas and inflammable
vapours may be present, with the
risk of fire.
WARNING
Page 257 of 357
CAR MAINTENANCE
255
fig. 3 - 2.5 V6 24V version
fig. 4 - JTD version
A0B00175mA0B00176m
1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid -
4Windscreen washer fluid - 5Engine
coolant fluid - 6Power steering fluid
1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid -
4Windscreen washer fluid - 5Engine
coolant fluid - 6Power steering fluid
Page 258 of 357
CAR MAINTENANCE
256
A0B0558m
1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid -
4Windscreen washer fluid - 5Engine
coolant fluid - 6Power steering fluid
1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid -
4Windscreen washer fluid - 5Engine
coolant fluid - 6Power steering fluidfig. 5 - JTD 16V Multijet version
fig. 6 - JTD 20V Multijet version
To improve picture detail, the engine compartment is illustrated without the bonnet
A0B0616m
Page 264 of 357

CAR MAINTENANCE
262
WARNINGContact Alfa Romeo Autho-
rized Services for maintenance and repair
operations. If the level of the oil in the reservoir falls
below the specified level, top up only with
one of the products listed in the table
“Fluids and lubricants” in the “Technical
specifications” chapter as follows:
– Start the engine and allow the oil in the
reservoir to settle.
– When the engine is running turn the
steering wheel lock to lock a few minutes.
– Top up to the MAXlevel notch and
then replace the cover.Oil consumption is very
low, if topping up again is
needed shortly afterwards,
have the system checked for pos-
sible leaks by Alfa Romeo Autho-
rized Services.fig. 19 fig. 18
A0B0158m
A0B0158m
POWER STEERING OIL LEVEL Fig. 17: T.SPARK versions
Fig. 18: 2.0 JTS versions
Fig. 19: 2.5 V6 24V and JTD versions
Check that the oil level in the reservoir is
at the MAX level.
This operation must be carried out with the
car on level ground and when the engine
is stationary and cold.
Check that the level reaches the MAXref-
erence notch on the reservoir or coincides
with the upper notch (maximum level) on
the dipstick integral with the reservoir cap.fig. 17
A0B0159m
Power steering fluid is
highly inflammable. Do not
let it come into contact with hot en-
gine parts.
WARNING
Page 323 of 357

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
321
UseLubricants and greases
for transmissionsBrake fluidProtective agent for radiatorsAdditive for fuel oil
Windscreen/
rearscreen/headlampwasher fluid
(*) IMPORTANTDo not add or mix with fluids with specifications other than the specified ones.Quality features of fluids and lubricants
for correct vehicle operation
Synthetic-based engine oil, SAE 75W-80 EP grade that passes API GL5
and MIL-L-2105 D Lev specifications
SAE 75W-85 completly synthetic engine oil.
Meets API GL 4 and ZF TE ML06 (B&C) LEVEL, ALLISON C4 specifications
“ATF DEXRON II D LEV”, type oil
“ATF DEXRON III” type specific oil
“ATF DEXRON II D LEV”, SAE 10W type oil
Lithium-soap-based grease with molybdenum bisulphate.
Consistency NLGI 2
FMVSS n° 116 DOT 4, ISO 4925, SAE J1704,
CUNA NC 956-01 synthetic fluid
Protective with antifreeze action, blue color, based on inhibited monoethylene
glycol, CUNA NC 956-16
Protective with antifreeze action, red colour, based on inhibited monoethylen
glycol, with O.A.T.-based organic formula, that passes CUNA NC 956-16,
ASTM D 3306 specifications
Additive for fuel oil with protective action for Diesel engines
Mixture of spirits and surface-active agents CUNA NC 956-11Recommended fluids
and lubricants
TUTELA CAR
ZC 75 Synth
TUTELA CAR
MATRYX
TUTELA GI/2
TUTELA CAR
CS SPEED
TUTELA GI/A
TUTELA MRM 2
TUTELA CAR TOP 4
for Alfa Romeo
PARAFLU 11 (*)
or
PARAFLU UP (*)
DIESEL MIX
TUTELA
PROFESSIONAL
SC 35
Applications
Mechanical gearbox and
differential
Mechanical gearbox and
differential for high
temperatures
Automatic gearbox
Selespeed transmission
electrically-operated
electrohydraulic drive
Hydraulic power steering
C.V. joints
Hydraulic brake and
clutch control
Cooling ducts
Percentage:
50% down to –35°C
To be mixed with the fuel
oil (25 cc per 10 litres)
To be used neat
or diluted