2012 Lancia Flavia maintenance

The engine oil filler cap also shows the
recommended engine oil viscosity for
your vehicle. For information on en-
gine oil filler cap location, refer to
“Engine Compartment” in “Main-
taining Your Vehicle” for further in-
formation.
Synthetic Engine Oils
You may use synthetic engine oils pro-
vided the recommended oil quality
requirements are met, and the recom-
mended maintenance intervals for oil
and filter changes are followed.
Materials Added To Engine Oil
Do not add any supplemental materi-
als, other than leak detection dyes, to
the engine oil. Engine oil is an engi-
neered product and its performance
may be impaired by supplemental ad-
ditives.
Disposing Of Used Engine Oil And
Oil Filters
Care should be taken in disposing of
used engine oil and oil filters from
your vehicle. Used oil and oil filters,
indiscriminately discarded, can pres-
ent a problem to the environment.
Contact your authorized dealer, ser-vice station, or governmental agency
for advice on how and where used oil
and oil filters can be safely discarded
in your area.
ENGINE OIL FILTER
The engine oil filter should be re-
placed with a new filter at every en-
gine oil change.
Engine Oil Filter Selection
The manufactur
er's engines have a
full-flow type disposable oil filter. Use
a filter of this type for replacement.
The quality of replacement filters var-
ies considerably. Only high-quality
filters should be used to assure most
efficient service. LANCIA engine oil
filters are high-quality oil filters and
are recommended.
ENGINE AIR CLEANER
FILTER
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule”
for the proper maintenance intervals.
WARNING!
The air induction system (air
cleaner, hoses, etc.) can provide a
measure of protection in the case of
engine backfire. Do not remove the
air induction system (air cleaner,
hoses, etc.) unless such removal is
necessary for repair or maintenance.
Make sure that no one is near the
engine compartment before starting
the vehicle with the air induction
system (air cleaner, hoses, etc.) re-
moved. Failure to do so can result in
serious personal injury.
Engine Air Cleaner Filter
Selection
The quality of replacement engine air
cleaner filters varies considerably.
Only high quality filters should be
used to assure most efficient service.
LANCIA engine air cleaner filters are
a high quality filter and are recom-
mended.
184

MAINTENANCE-FREE
BATTERY
The top of the maintenance-free bat-
tery is permanently sealed. You will
never have to add water, nor is peri-
odic maintenance required.
NOTE:
The battery is stored in a compart-
ment behind the left front fender
and is accessible without remov-
ing the tire and wheel. Remote bat-
tery terminals are located in the
engine compartment for jump-
starting. Refer to “Jump-Starting
Procedures” in “What To Do In
Emergencies” for further informa-
tion.
To access the battery, turn the steering
wheel fully to the right and remove
the inner fender shield.
WARNING!
 Battery fluid is a corrosive acidsolution and can burn or even
blind you. Do not allow battery
fluid to contact your eyes, skin, or
clothing. Do not lean over a bat-
tery when attaching clamps. If
acid splashes in eyes or on skin,
flush the area immediately with
large amounts of water.
 Battery gas is flammable and ex-
plosive. Keep flame or sparks
away from the battery. Do not use
a booster battery or any other
booster source with an output
greater than 12 Volts. Do not al-
low cable clamps to touch each
other.
 Battery posts, terminals, and re-
lated accessories contain lead and
lead compounds. Wash hands af-
ter handling.
CAUTION!
 It is essential when replacing thecables on the battery that the
positive cable is attached to the
positive post and the negative
cable is attached to the negative
post. Battery posts are marked
positive (+) and negative (-) and
are identified on the battery case.
Cable clamps should be tight on
the terminal posts and free of cor-
rosion.
 If a “fast charger” is used while
the battery is in the vehicle, dis-
connect both vehicle battery
cables before connecting the char-
ger to the battery. Do not use a
“fast charger” to provide starting
voltage.
185

AIR CONDITIONER
MAINTENANCE
For best possible performance, your
air conditioner should be checked and
serviced by an authorized dealer at
the start of each warm season. This
service should include cleaning of the
condenser fins and a performance
test. Drive belt tension should also be
checked at this time.CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your
air conditioning system as the
chemicals can damage your air con-
ditioning components. Such damage
is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
WARNING!
 Use only refrigerants and com-pressor lubricants approved by
the manufacturer for your air con-
ditioning system. Some unap-
proved refrigerants are flammable
and can explode, injuring you.
Other unapproved refrigerants or
lubricants can cause the system to
fail, requiring costly repairs.
 The air conditioning system con-
tains refrigerant under high pres-
sure. To avoid risk of personal in-
jury or damage to the system,
adding refrigerant or any repair
requiring lines to be disconnected
should be done by an experienced
technician.
Refrigerant Recovery And
Recycling
R-134a air conditioning refrigerant is
a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) that is
endorsed by the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency and is an ozone-saving
product. However, the manufacturer
recommends that air conditioning
service be performed by authorized dealers or other service facilities using
recovery and recycling equipment.
NOTE:
Use only manufacturer approved
A/C System Sealers, Stop Leak
Products, Seal Conditioners, Com-
pressor Oil, and Refrigerants.
A/C AIR FILTER
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule”
for the proper maintenance intervals.
CAUTION!
Car maintenance should be done at
a LANCIA Dealership. For routine
and minor maintenance operations
you wish to carry out yourself, we do
recommend you have the proper
equipment, genuine LANCIA spare
parts and the necessary fluids; do
not however carry out these opera-
tions if you have no experience.WARNING!
Do not remove the A/C Air Filter
while the blower is operating or per-
sonal injury may result.
186

CAUTION!
Car maintenance should be done at
a LANCIA Dealership. For routine
and minor maintenance operations
you wish to carry out yourself, we do
recommend you have the proper
equipment, genuine LANCIA spare
parts and the necessary fluids; do
not however carry out these opera-
tions if you have no experience.
WINDSHIELD WIPER
BLADES
Clean the rubber edges of the wiper
blades and the windshield periodi-
cally with a sponge or soft cloth and a
mild non-abrasive cleaner or use the
washer solvent. This will remove ac-
cumulations of salt, waxes, or road
film and help reduce streaking and
smearing.
Operation of the wipers on dry glass
for long periods may cause deteriora-
tion of the wiper blades. Always use
washer fluid when using the wipers to
remove salt or dirt from a dry wind-
shield. Avoid using the wiper blades to re-
move frost or ice from the windshield.
Make sure that they are not frozen to
the glass before turning them on to
avoid damaging the blade.
NOTE:
Life expectancy of wiper blades
varies depending on geographical
area and frequency of use. Poor
performance of blades may be
present with chattering, marks,
water lines or wet spots. If any of
these conditions are present, clean
the wiper blades or replace as nec-
essary.
ADDING WASHER FLUID
The windshield washer and the rear
window washer share the same fluid
reservoir. The fluid reservoir is lo-
cated in the engine compartment. Be
sure to check the fluid level in the
reservoir at regular intervals. Fill the
reservoir with windshield washer sol-
vent (not radiator antifreeze) and op-
erate the system for a few seconds to
flush out the residual water.
When refilling the washer fluid reser-
voir, apply some washer fluid to acloth or towel and wipe the wiper
blades clean. This will help blade per-
formance.
To prevent freeze-up of your wind-
shield washer system in cold weather,
select a solution or mixture that meets
or exceeds the temperature range of
your climate. This rating information
can be found on most washer fluid
containers.
WARNING!
Commercially available windshield
washer solvents are flammable.
They could ignite and burn you.
Care must be exercised when filling
or working around the washer solu-
tion.CAUTION!
Car maintenance should be done at
a LANCIA Dealership. For routine
and minor maintenance operations
you wish to carry out yourself, we do
recommend you have the proper
equipment, genuine LANCIA spare
parts and the necessary fluids; do
not however carry out these opera-
tions if you have no experience.
188

EXHAUST SYSTEM
The best protection against carbon
monoxide entry into the vehicle body
is a properly maintained engine ex-
haust system.
If you notice a change in the sound of
the exhaust system; or if the exhaust
fumes can be detected inside the ve-
hicle; or when the underside or rear of
the vehicle is damaged; have an au-
thorized technician inspect the com-
plete exhaust system and adjacent
body areas for broken, damaged, de-
teriorated, or mispositioned parts.
Open seams or loose connections
could permit exhaust fumes to seep
into the passenger compartment. In
addition, have the exhaust system in-
spected each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication or oil change. Replace
as required.
WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill.
They contain carbon monoxide
(CO), which is colorless and odor-
less. Breathing it can make you un-
conscious and can eventually poison
you. To avoid breathing CO, refer to
“Safety Tips/Exhaust Gas” in
“Things To Know Before Starting
Your Vehicle” for further informa-
tion.CAUTION!
 The catalytic converter requiresthe use of unleaded fuel only.
Leaded gasoline will destroy the
effectiveness of the catalyst as an
emissions control device and may
seriously reduce engine perfor-
mance and cause serious damage
to the engine.
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
 Damage to the catalytic converter
can result if your vehicle is not
kept in proper operating condi-
tion. In the event of engine mal-
function, particularly involving
engine misfire or other apparent
loss of performance, have your ve-
hicle serviced promptly. Contin-
ued operation of your vehicle with
a severe malfunction could cause
the converter to overheat, result-
ing in possible damage to the con-
verter and vehicle.
Under normal operating conditions,
the catalytic converter will not require
maintenance. However, it is impor-
tant to keep the engine properly tuned
to assure proper catalyst operation
and prevent possible catalyst damage.
NOTE:
Intentional tampering with emis-
sions control systems can result in
civil penalties being assessed
against you.
189

In unusual situations involving
grossly malfunctioning engine opera-
tion, a scorching odor may suggest
severe and abnormal catalyst over-
heating. If this occurs, stop the ve-
hicle, turn off the engine and allow it
to cool. Service, including a tune-up
to manufacturer's specifications,
should be obtained immediately.
To minimize the possibility of cata-
lytic converter damage:
 Do not shut off the engine or inter- rupt the ignition, when the trans-
mission is in gear and the vehicle is
in motion.
 Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the vehicle.
 Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires disconnected or
removed, such as when diagnostic
testing, or for prolonged periods
during very rough idle or malfunc-
tioning operating conditions. COOLING SYSTEM
WARNING!
 When working near the radiator
cooling fan, disconnect the fan
motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. The
fan is temperature controlled and
can start at anytime the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
 You or others can be badly burned
by hot engine coolant (antifreeze)
or steam from your radiator. If
you see or hear steam coming
from under the hood, do not open
the hood until the radiator has
had time to cool. Never try to open
a cooling system pressure cap
when the radiator is hot.
CAUTION!
Car maintenance should be done at
a LANCIA Dealership. For routine
and minor maintenance operations
you wish to carry out yourself, we do
recommend you have the proper
equipment, genuine LANCIA spare
parts and the necessary fluids; do
not however carry out these opera-
tions if you have no experience.
Coolant ChecksCheck engine coolant (antifreeze) pro-
tection every 12 months (before the on-
set of freezing weather, where appli-
cable). If the engine coolant (antifreeze)
is dirty or rusty in appearance, the sys-
tem should be drained, flushed, and re-
filled with fresh engine coolant (anti-
freeze). Check the front of the A/C
condenser for any accumulation of bugs,
leaves, etc. If dirty, clean by gently
spraying water from a garden hose ver-
tically down the face of the condenser.Check the coolant recovery bottle
tubing for brittle rubber, cracking,
tears, cuts, and tightness of the con-
nection at the bottle and radiator. In-
spect the entire system for leaks.
190

Cooling System – Drain, Flush,
And Refill
If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is
dirty or contains a considerable
amount of sediment, clean and flush
with a reliable cooling system cleaner.
Follow with a thorough rinsing to re-
move all deposits and chemicals.
Properly dispose of the old engine
coolant (antifreeze).
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule”
for the proper maintenance intervals.
Selection Of Coolant
Use the manufacturer’s recom-
mended coolant or a quality-
equivalent product. Refer to “Fluids,
Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in
“Maintaining Your Vehicle” for fur-
ther information.
CAUTION!
 Mixing of engine coolant (anti-freeze) other than specified HOAT
engine coolant (antifreeze), may
result in engine damage and may
decrease corrosion protection. If a
non-HOAT engine coolant (anti-
freeze) is introduced into the cool-
ing system in an emergency, it
should be replaced with the speci-
fied engine coolant (antifreeze) as
soon as possible.
 Do not use water alone or alcohol-
based engine coolant (antifreeze)
products. Do not use additional
rust inhibitors or antirust prod-
ucts, as they may not be compat-
ible with the engine coolant (anti-
freeze) and may plug the radiator.
 This vehicle has not been de-
signed for use with Propylene Gly-
col based engine coolant (anti-
freeze). Use of Propylene Glycol
based engine coolant (antifreeze)
is not recommended. Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an
improved engine coolant (antifreeze)
that allows extended maintenance in-
tervals. This engine coolant (anti-
freeze) can be used up to five years or
168 000 km before replacement. To
prevent reducing this extended main-
tenance period, it is important that
you use the same engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) throughout the life of your
vehicle.
When adding engine coolant (anti-
freeze):
Use only high purity water such as
distilled or deionized water when
mixing the water/engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) solution. The use of lower
quality water will reduce the amount
of corrosion protection in the engine
cooling system.
Please note that it is the
owner's re-
sponsibility to maintain the proper
level of protection against freezing ac-
cording to the temperatures occurring
in the area where the vehicle is oper-
ated.
191

Points To Remember
NOTE:
When the vehicle is stopped after a
few kilometers of operation, you
may observe vapor coming from
the front of the engine compart-
ment. This is normally a result of
moisture from rain, snow, or high
humidity accumulating on the ra-
diator and being vaporized when
the thermostat opens, allowing hot
engine coolant (antifreeze) to enter
the radiator.
If an examination of your engine com-
partment shows no evidence of radia-
tor or hose leaks, the vehicle may be
safely driven. The vapor will soon dis-
sipate.
 Do not overfill the coolant recoverybottle.
 Check engine coolant (antifreeze) freeze point in the radiator and in
the coolant recovery bottle. If en-
gine coolant (antifreeze) needs to
be added, the contents of the cool-
ant recovery bottle must also be
protected against freezing.  If frequent engine coolant (anti-
freeze) additions are required, or if
the level in the coolant recovery
bottle does not drop when the en-
gine cools, the cooling system
should be pressure tested for leaks.
 Maintain engine coolant (anti- freeze) concentration at 50% en-
gine coolant (antifreeze) (mini-
mum) and distilled water for
proper corrosion protection of your
engine, which contains aluminum
components.
 Make sure that the radiator and coolant recovery bottle overflow
hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
 Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is equipped with air
conditioning, keep the front of the
condenser clean.
 Do not change the thermostat for Summer or Winter operation. If re-
placement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat.
Other designs may result in unsat-
isfactory cooling performance, poor
gas mileage, and increased emis-
sions. BRAKE SYSTEM
In order to assure brake system per-
formance, all brake system compo-
nents should be inspected periodi-
cally. Refer to the “Maintenance
Schedule” for the proper maintenance
intervals.
WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake
failure and possibly a collision. Driv-
ing with your foot resting or riding
on the brake pedal can result in ab-
normally high brake temperatures,
excessive lining wear, and possible
brake damage. You would not have
your full braking capacity in an
emergency.CAUTION!
Car maintenance should be done at
a LANCIA Dealership. For routine
and minor maintenance operations
you wish to carry out yourself, we do
recommend you have the proper
equipment, genuine LANCIA spare
parts and the necessary fluids; do
not however carry out these opera-
tions if you have no experience.
193