classic elan oil filter and oil

[lotusposition]

Hello

What do people use nowadays in a 1970 Elan for engine oil and filter ?
There seems to be so much controversy n the modern motoring world!

All best
Donald

[Batwing 7]

Can't recall filter sorry but I use Penrite HPR30 in my Twin Cam. It's a fairly high-spec engine - steel crank, rods, cams etc, dry-sumped. I can't afford to replace it so always use good oil. I'll be interested to hear what others chime in with.

[forest07]

I use Millers Classic oil in both my Elan's. I normally source it locally with a good quality filter.
I have also bought the oil and filters from Opie Oils.

TonyR

[rene7]

Any major brand 5/30 synthetic and fram filter - change every year - Sorted

[anonymous-user]

rene7 said:

Any major brand 5/30 synthetic and fram filter - change every year - Sorted

I'd be using a viscosity at or close to what was originally recommended by the manufacturer, synthetic or not. I doubt there were many oils as thin as 5-30 back when Elan was built.

[b2hbm]

rockin said:

rene7 said:

Any major brand 5/30 synthetic and fram filter - change every year - Sorted

I'd be using a viscosity at or close to what was originally recommended by the manufacturer, synthetic or not. I doubt there were many oils as thin as 5-30 back when Elan was built.

I think you're right that there weren't any 5/30w oils back then, but there were 10/30. I've got an early Elan workshop manual and that specifies "Esso Extra 20/30" or "Shell Multigrade 10/30" as the engine oils.

It's arguable that 5/30 would be better on start-up and no worse at temperature although I must admit I go for Mobil1 0/40w because of the higher Zn content. I don't know if the Zn is essential given the various internet debates but it's closer to the mineral 20/50s I used to use and higher than the 30W synthetics. (well, Mobil brand oils anyway)

[Lotobear]

I use Halfords classic mineral oil and a hof 204 filter and change the oil every 1500 miles. Never had an issue and engine still as tight as the day it was built. Comes to £20 in total when the oil is on offer. I run classic minis as well and they use the same filter so I always buy the oil and filters in bulk and keep a stock in the garage

[66Elan]

1966 Coupe.
Millers Motorsport CSS 20w60 Competition semi-synthetic
Oil filter - long type from Tony Thompson Racing

[Maulden7]

Millers Motorsport CFS 10w60 Fully Synthetic in my S2 (140bhp - sprint / hillclimb / track car) I would use the long oil filter, but with an oil cooler sandwich it won't fit, so for a long time I have used a shorter filter ... from Halfords!!! Oil is high zinc content - essential in these engines - & has been replaced every year irrespective of usage (filter as well)

Just had the engine apart (took it out to replace the water pump anyway) & it was clean as a whistle inside with no noticeable wear after lots of hard mileage. Could even have reused all of the bearings / piston rings if I was a cheapskate!

Oil pressure has always been constant, no matter how hard the car has been driven (but does have a baffled sump)

[Rich135]

forest07 said:

I use Millers Classic oil in both my Elan's. I normally source it locally with a good quality filter.
I have also bought the oil and filters from Opie Oils.

TonyR

I do the same as Tony in my Elan +2