Alfa and Fiat’s MultiAir en- charging much more, and even

gine gets an unjustified amount prices at dealers seem to vary

of bad press for major and cat- slightly, which is disappointing.
astrophic MultiAir Unit failures. So always buy the part based on
These are actually very rare, checking and double-checking
but of course when it happens the part number.
it is an expensive fix and own- My advice would be to re-
ers quite rightly tell others on place (or at least clean) the Mul-
social media. tiAir Filter at alternative oil
But this does give rise to a changes, though I am now com-
belief that the issue is preva- mitted to changing, cleaning or
lent, when in actual fact it is at the very least checking with
not. That being said, there are each oil change. That way I and
three primary reasons for the any future owner can be sure of
MultiAir Unit failure, and any no failures (as I only use the
one or combination can be dis- correct oil and maintain the car Step 1: Engine cover off exposing cambelt cover
astrous for your MultiAir MiTo: regularly!), and now I’ve re-
1. Use of the incorrect oil, placed it once it should only add
another fifteen minutes or so to
2. The MultiAir Oil Strainer/
each oil change.
Filter clogging up (usually
due to the incorrect oil) Of course, if you prefer to
and have your dealer or specialist
maintain your MiTo, then at the
3. Lack of regular oil changes
very least ensure you instruct
and maintenance.
them to replace the filter and
So in this guide, we’re going
have them document the part
to tackle one of those potential
number and the fact that they
causes, the MultiAir Oil Strain-
replaced it on your service re-
er/Filter replacement.
ceipt.
But for those happy to give it
a go yourself, this is the 8 step
guide. I say 8 steps, but there
Step 2: First of two cambelt cover bolts
are actually 7 steps with 1 op-
tional step, depending on your
tools! All will become clear as
you read the steps…

The strainer/filter itself is Step 1.

not expensive and is readily Remove your engine cover
available from your local Fiat or and become familiar with the
Alfa dealer, or online at the layout of the engine.
usual shops such as Shop4Parts
Hopefully by now you know
for around £27. The part num-
how to remove your engine cov-
ber is 55238665, and is the
er. But if not, it just needs a
same part number at a Fiat
good tug to free it from the rub-
dealer as the part is used on
ber mounts. There are no bolts
lots of Fiats such as the 500.
or special tools required! The
But the part goes by various cambelt cover is on the left side
names including the MultiAir of the engine (on my engine it
filter, the gauze filter, the gauze Step 3: Second of two cambelt cover bolts
has the big sticker with “D9D”
strainer and the MultiAir oil on in the first three pictures - I
strainer (or any combination of Steps 2 and 3. them down in the engine bay or
have no idea what D9D signifies
those words!). as it seems to have no relation The cambelt cover has two you’ll spend the rest of day try-
We have seen crafty online to the part number, engine type bolts, each of which need to be ing to recover them! Do not try
sellers at the usual auction sites or model year, but I digress). removed. Take care not to drop to remove the cambelt cover

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yet until the next two steps are the cambelt cover has cabling easily as long as you are gentle The MultiAir Filter needs a
complete… attached to the top. Using a flat- with the screwdriver. You 10mm hex, which I have as a
head screwdriver, gently prise should not need to force it. socket. Unfortunately, due to a
Step 4.
the holding clip apart to free the combination of the engine cas-
Step 5.
You may have noticed that cabling. It comes apart very ing design, the engine mount
By gently easing away the bolts, the airbox, my sausage
cambelt cover, you will see that fingers and my ancient socket
there is more cabling attached set, I could not get a straight
to the inside of the cover. angle on the MultiAir Filter with-
Using a small amount pres- out removing both the airbox
sure, ease that cabling out from and one of the engine mount
the inside of the cambelt cover bolts (arrowed in its absence).
by opening the gap of the cover Hopefully, you won’t have
with one hand and gently pull- the same issue and you can get
ing the cable with the other. clear access to the MultiAir Fil-
Apply the pressure to the ter with a 10mm hex in which
cover to create a wider opening case you can skip to Step 8, but
rather than the cable which you as you can see from the image
should not pull hard. It will for Step 8 I had to clear enough
Step 4: Gently prise open the cable clip to release come, just be patient and keep space to use my old socket
trying! You may need to gently wrench with a short extension.
the cables from the top of the cambelt cover If you do need to remove the
prise the gap a little wider with
a flat-head screwdriver, but airbox it is very simple: just loos-
Step 5: Gently ease the inside cables from the take care not to cause any en the jubilee clip on the air
cambelt cover - be patient! damage to the cabling - this intake pipe and tug the airbox
step is very much about easing free (it is just held in with grom-
rather than forcing. ets).

Step 6. Step 8.
Once the cables are free, You are about the remove
gently remove the cambelt cov- the MultiAir Filter, but you need
er and you will get your first to take care that no oil gets near
look at the MultiAir Filter the cambelt! Only a small
(arrowed)! amount will come out with the
filter, but get a clean rag or cloth
Step 7 (optional).
and pack it around the filter and
Now, we have reached an the cambelt to ensure no oil
awkward point, depending on gets near the belt. Once that is
your tools! in place, remove the MultiAir

Step 7 (optional): Remove the air box and one of

the engine mount bolts to gain access!

Step 6: Once the cables are free, ease the cambelt

cover off. You can now see the MultiAir Filter!

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Filter taking care to catch any There have been a few exam-
oil and leave the rag in place ples of both individuals and gar-
while you inspect the filter. ages over-tightening the filter
I found that the MultiAir causing a crack in the block. So
Filter was certainly not blocked, for the avoidance of doubt DO
but it did have sediment in the NOT USE A TORQUE WRENCH -
gauze so I was pleased I re- over-tightening can cause unre-
placed it. pairable damage!
Replacement is obviously Simply tighten by hand until
the reverse of removal, but it is the surface of the filter is com-
a lot easier on the return trip! pletely flush with the surface of
the block, then stop!
You will notice that the Multi-
Air Filter thread comes pre-
coated with blue thread-lock, Step 8: Remove MultiAir Filter (10mm hex)
which is a coating for locking
and sealing and normally cures
in the absence of air and stops
the filter loosening from vibra-
tion, so no need to over-tighten.
Before (top) versus new
Overall, changing the MultiAir
Be careful not to get any Filter was relatively simple and
dust or dirt anywhere near the took just over half an hour in-
cambelt. cluding removal of the airbox
The new filter needs to be and an engine bolt. A worth-
carefully tightened only until it while investment , and definitely
is FLUSH with the surface of the worth repeating with each oil
MultiAir Filter out with cloth to protect cambelt
block - DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN. change going forward.

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