Real Questions from Real People Peter Griffith

Real Questions from Real People

Answers by Peter Griffith

Q.I've noticed that when changing the oil, the first time the engine is started it takes a long time before pressure comes up due to the "filling the reservoir" effect of the empty filter. Is there any way to prefill the filter?

A.Yes! You should always prefill the oil filter on any engine. Those first seconds running without oil cause a disproportionate amount of wear on moving parts. You can get at least 1/2 quart into the filter. Pour some in, turn it on its side, and turn the filter several times, allowing the oil to soak into the filter material. Put as much oil in as you can, without it running out when the filter is horizontal. this should help prolong the life of your Italian beauty.

Alfa Boom Box by Peter Griffith

Car stereo speakers mounted in the rear shelf or hatch cover will have maximum bass response. The same speakers mounted in door panels will have less bass, but better stereo separation. Many people choose to mount 4 speakers to take advantage of both locations.

Cold Six Pack by Peter Griffith

A colder spark plug (Lodge 2HL) will help the engine develop more power under hard driving than a warmer one (Lodge HLE or USA). A six-pack of cold ones made a noticable difference in power above 4000 rpm in my V6. If you drive at low RPM's consistently, or spend a lot of time at idle in traffic, colder plugs have a greater tendency to foul and should be avoided.

Throttle Cable Adjustment by Peter Griffith

On Alfas with Bosch Fuel Injection, mixture is richened under full throttle by closure of a relay switch. On my car, the throttle cable was stretched by about 3mm. The result was the throttle plate not opening fully (probably a minor power factor), and full throttle relay switch not closing (a greater power factor). The adjustment is a nut at the intake manifold, where the cable attaches to the throttle lever mechanism. I had my 4-year old stand on the pedal while I took up enough slack in the cable to bring the throttle lever to its stop point. This should work on any car using Bosch fuel injection. (Though not with any 4-year old.--Editor.) I almost got into trouble this morning on my favorite on-ramp on the way to work, as I got up more speed than usual.

Capital page

Standard Disclaimer applies here! Neither the Capital Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owner's Club nor the web provider nor the webmaster can take responsibility for the information presented in these pages. Use common sense in any business dealings and mechanical work. Talk to jack if you have comments
1996