2018 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Owner's Manual

ENGINE COMPARTMENT
1750 Turbo Engine
1 — Fuse Box3 — Engine Oil Dip Stick5 — Coolant Reservoir
2 — Battery 4 — Engine Oil Fill
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 207

Checking Oil Level
To assure proper engine lubrication, the engine oil must
be maintained at the correct level. Check the oil level at
regular intervals. The best time to check the engine oil
level is before starting the engine after it has sat
overnight.
Do not check oil level when the engine is warm.
Checking engine oil level when the engine is warm will
give you an incorrect reading.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground,
and has sat overnight, will improve the accuracy of the
oil level readings. Maintain the oil level between the
range markings on the dipstick. The safe range is
indicated by a crosshatch zone. Adding 1 quart of oil
when the reading is at the low end of the indicated
range will result in the oil level at the full end of the
indicator range.
CAUTION!
Do not overfill the engine with oil. Overfilling the
engine with oil will cause oil aeration, which can
lead to loss of oil pressure and an increase in oil
temperature. This loss of oil pressure and increased
oil temperature could damage your engine.
Adding Washer Solvent
1 — Brake Fluid Access Panel
2 — Washer Solvent Access Panel
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To check the windshield washer solvent level, proceed
as follows:
1. To avoid any interference during the procedure, liftthe windshield wiper blade.
2. Loosen the four screws using the supplied screw- driver. Remove the washer solvent protection panel.
3. Release the plug from the opening.
4. Leaving the plug close to the opening, put a finger on the central hole in the plug and remove it: the level
can be seen on the control pipe due to capillarity.
1 — Screw Locations
Washer Solvent Plug
Washer Solvent Dip Stick
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 209

5. After the check, reinsert the plug with the controlpipe in the initial position.
6. Reposition the washer solvent protection panel and tighten the four self-tapping screws.
If the level is not sufficient, namely if there is no washer
solvent inside the pipe, proceed as follows:
1. To avoid any interference during the procedure, lift the windshield wiper blade.
2. Loosen the four screws using the supplied screw- driver. Remove the washer solvent protection panel.
3. Take the black funnel for topping up the windshield washer solvent and its extension pipe from the
service kit in the luggage compartment.
4. Take out the plug with the solvent control pipe through the washer solvent protection panel.
5. Introduce the funnel and its extension pipe in the reservoir neck and top up. 6. After topping up, remove the funnel with the exten-
sion pipe.
7. Refit the plug with the dipstick.
8. Reposition the washer solvent protection panel and tighten the four self-tapping screws.
WARNING!
Commercially available windshield washer sol-
vents are flammable. They could ignite and burn
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Washer Solvent Fill Funnel
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WARNING!(Continued)
you. Care must be exercised when filling or work-
ing around the washer solution.
Maintenance-Free Battery
Your vehicle is equipped with a maintenance-free bat-
tery. You will never have to add water, nor is periodic
maintenance required.
WARNING!
•Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solution and can
burn or even blind you. Do not allow battery
fluid to contact your eyes, skin, or clothing. Do
not lean over a battery when attaching clamps. If
acid splashes in eyes or on skin, flush the area
immediately with large amounts of water. Refer
to “Jump Starting Procedure” in “In Case Of
Emergency” for further information.
• Battery gas is flammable and explosive. Keep
flame or sparks away from the battery. Do not use
a booster battery or any other booster source with
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WARNING! (Continued)
an output greater than 12 Volts. Do not allow
cable clamps to touch each other.
• Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. Wash hands
after handling.
• The battery in this vehicle has a vent hose that
should not be disconnected and should only be
replaced with a battery of the same type (vented).
CAUTION!
• It is essential when replacing the cables 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 posi-
tive (+) and negative (-) and are identified on the
battery case. Cable clamps should be tight on the
terminal posts and free of corrosion.
•
If a “fast charger” is used while the battery is in the
vehicle, disconnect both vehicle battery cables be-
fore connecting the charger to the battery. Do not use
a “fast charger” to provide starting voltage.
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 211

DEALER SERVICE
The pages that follow contain therequiredmaintenance
services determined by the engineers who designed
your vehicle.
Besides those maintenance items specified in the fixed
maintenance schedule, there are other components
which may require servicing or replacement in the
future.
CAUTION!
• Failure to properly maintain your vehicle or per-
form repairs and service when necessary could
result in more costly repairs, damage to other
components or negatively impact vehicle perfor-
mance. Immediately have potential malfunctions
examined by an authorized dealer or qualified
repair center.
• Your vehicle has been built with improved fluids
that protect the performance and durability of
your vehicle and also allow extended mainte-
nance intervals. Do not use chemical flushes in
these components as the chemicals can damage
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CAUTION! (Continued)
your engine, transmission, or air conditioning.
Such damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. If a flush is needed because of
component malfunction, use only the specified
fluid for the flushing procedure.
Engine Oil
Change Engine Oil
The oil change indicator system will remind you that it
is time to take your vehicle in for scheduled mainte-
nance. Refer to the “Maintenance Plan” for further
information.
NOTE:The actual interval for changing the oil and
replacing the engine oil filter depends on the vehicle
usage conditions and is signalled by the warning light
or message (if present) on the instrument panel or every
12 months.
Engine Oil Selection
For best performance and maximum protection for
turbocharged engines under all types of operating
conditions, the manufacturer recommends synthetic
212 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

engine oils that are API Certified and meet the require-
ments of FCA Material Standard MS-12991.
Engine Oil Viscosity — 1750 Turbo Engine (SAE
Grade)
SAE 5W-40 full synthetic engine oil is recommended for
all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves
low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy.
Lubricants which do not have both the engine oil
certification mark and the correct SAE viscosity grade
number should not be used.
Materials Added To Engine Oil
The manufacturer strongly recommends against the
addition of any additives (other than leak detection
dyes) to the engine oil. Engine oil is an engineered
product and its performance may be impaired by
supplemental additives.
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 present a problem to
the environment. Contact an authorized dealer, servicestation 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 replaced with a new filter
at every engine oil change.
Engine Oil Filter Selection
This manufacturer’s engines have a full-flow type dis-
posable oil filter. Use a filter of this type for replace-
ment. The quality of replacement filters varies consid-
erably. Only high quality filters should be used to
assure most efficient service. Mopar engine oil filters are
high quality oil filters and are recommended.
Engine Air Cleaner Filter
Refer to the “Maintenance Plan” in this section for the
proper maintenance intervals.
NOTE:
Be sure to follow the “Severe Duty Conditions”
maintenance interval if applicable.
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 213

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.) removed. 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. Mopar engine air
cleaner filters are a high quality filter and are recom-
mended.
Engine Cover
To avoid possible damage to the engine cover, please
disconnect each of the four mounting studs by pulling the
engine cover upward, and then lift off the complete cover.
Tilting the engine cover when one or more studs are still
engaged will lead to premature failure of the couplers.
To reassemble the cover back onto the engine, first make
sure it is properly aligned, the oil cap is centered, and
that all four studs are lined up with their couplers. Then
gently push on the four corners of the engine cover to
snap the stud back into position.
No tools are required to remove or reassemble the
engine cover.
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 perfor-
mance test. Drive belt tension should also be checked at
this time.
WARNING!
• Use only refrigerants and compressor lubricants
approved by the manufacturer for your air condi-
tioning system. Some unapproved refrigerants are
flammable and can explode, injuring you. Other
unapproved refrigerants or lubricants can cause
the system to fail, requiring costly repairs. Refer
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