MajorCommonEngine

Alfa Romeo Giulia: 2.0T GME Excessive Oil Consumption on Early Build Engines

2.0T GME Excessive Oil Consumption on Early Build Engines is a common engine fault on the Alfa Romeo Giulia on the 2017 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $2,500 to $7,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 13 documented faults on the Alfa Romeo Giulia.

Vehicle: Alfa Romeo Giulia
Engine: 2.0L
Years: 2017 onward
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Alfa Romeo Giulia as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Alfa Romeo Giulia faults13 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Timing chain yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Early production 2.0T GME engines (approximate build dates 2017–2019) were documented to consume oil at rates exceeding 1 litre per 5,000km under normal driving, attributed to piston ring seal tolerances and valve stem seals on initial production runs. Owners who did not monitor oil between services risked running the engine critically low, accelerating timing chain and bearing wear. Later production engines with revised piston ring specifications improved but did not fully eliminate the issue. The fault is documented in both European owner forums and Australian Alfa Romeo owner groups.

What you would notice

Oil level dropping noticeably between scheduled service intervals
Slight blue-grey tinge to exhaust smoke on overrun or cold start
Low oil warning light illuminating between services
Oily residue inside exhaust tip

How to check it

Where to look. Engine internals; check dipstick and exhaust outlet for evidence

Check the oil dipstick level and compare against any service records noting oil top-ups between intervals.
Inspect the exhaust tip for oily or blue-stained residue.
Ask directly whether the owner has needed to add oil between scheduled services.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$2,500 to $7,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the engine ever required oil top-ups between scheduled services?”
“What is the approximate oil consumption per kilometre based on your experience?”
“Was the car built before or after mid-2019?”

Now check the Alfa Romeo Giulia you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Alfa Romeo Giulia buyer questions

Is 2.0t gme excessive oil consumption on early build engines serious on a Alfa Romeo Giulia?

We rate it major and common on the Alfa Romeo Giulia. Early production 2.0T GME engines (approximate build dates 2017–2019) were documented to consume oil at rates exceeding 1 litre per 5,000km under normal driving, attributed to piston ring seal tolerances and valve stem seals on initial production runs. Owners who did not monitor oil between services risked running the engine critically low, accelerating timing chain and bearing wear. Later production engines with revised piston ring specifications improved but did not fully eliminate the issue. The fault is documented in both European owner forums and Australian Alfa Romeo owner groups.

How much does it cost to fix on a Alfa Romeo Giulia?

$2,500 to $7,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Alfa Romeo Giulia years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2017 onward Alfa Romeo Giulia. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check the oil dipstick level and compare against any service records noting oil top-ups between intervals. Inspect the exhaust tip for oily or blue-stained residue. Ask directly whether the owner has needed to add oil between scheduled services. Look here: Engine internals; check dipstick and exhaust outlet for evidence