Oil Cosumption
Discussion
I have An 83 Turbo fitted with an HC Turbo Engine, the engine runs great with no problems, but it has always sounded rattley when cold, when you let the clutch out and put a load on the engine (sounds like small ends) but sounds great with no such noise when warm/hot. Also it uses about a cup full of oil every few hundred miles (mainly shortish journeys). I was wondering whether this is just the nature of the beast, or if anyone else has similar quirks. I don't intend to tinker with it as it runs so well, the engine was rebuilt by a reputable specialist about 5k ago.
Total mileage is 77,000 miles, but the engine has only done about 15k in total, I have only had the car about 10 months and have only done about 1,000 miles in it. I just need about a cupful of oil every 300 to 400 miles to keep the oil up to the top mark on the dipstick. I am probably just being a bit paranoid with the oil level thing as I have got so used to modern cars not using any oil between oil changes. Regarding the noise thing, perhaps I made it sound worse than it is, for example today it was hardly noticeable and as usual the noise went completely when the engine was warm. I have been told (secondhand) from somebody who knows a Lotus specialist that the lotus 2 litre and 2.2 litre 16 valvers all sound a bit rattly when cold, piston slap (quote)????
A quart low every 3K miles is not unusal but some use less. Depends on how you drive it. The turbo makes the engine run hot. also you couldd eat a little from worn turbo bearing. Take off the hose from the turbo to plenum or in your case the cross over pipe check if you see oil in there. I have none in mine but I have seen oil in there that people tell me is normal.
Calvin
Calvin
'83 Turbo,
The noise you are hearing upon cold starts is due to the pistons and liners having contracted as they cooled. It is customary to get some 'piston slap', which is what you are hearing, until the pistons and liners come up to operating temperature and expand.
Your oil consumption is not excessive, and may be due to 'getting on it' before your engine is fully warmed. Hope this helps...Jim '85TE
The noise you are hearing upon cold starts is due to the pistons and liners having contracted as they cooled. It is customary to get some 'piston slap', which is what you are hearing, until the pistons and liners come up to operating temperature and expand.
Your oil consumption is not excessive, and may be due to 'getting on it' before your engine is fully warmed. Hope this helps...Jim '85TE
'83 turbo,
I do in fact let my car warm up completely upon initial start-up on a cool (temp under 70°F) day. I let the car idle until the temp gauge registers 90°C. By this time, the idle has smoothed out and the pistons and liners have expanded aleviating any piston slap.
Enough heat remains in the engine throughout the rest of the day that make further complete warm-ups unecessary. The way I figure it, pre-mature engine wear is far more expensive than a cup or so of gas...Jim '85TE
I do in fact let my car warm up completely upon initial start-up on a cool (temp under 70°F) day. I let the car idle until the temp gauge registers 90°C. By this time, the idle has smoothed out and the pistons and liners have expanded aleviating any piston slap.
Enough heat remains in the engine throughout the rest of the day that make further complete warm-ups unecessary. The way I figure it, pre-mature engine wear is far more expensive than a cup or so of gas...Jim '85TE
'83 turbo,
Slick 50 and all such Teflon (PTFE resin) lubicants are, for practical discussion, snake oil.
Teflon is classified as a non-wettable lubricant. This means that it actually repels oil. Put a little oil in your non-stick fry pan and see how it behaves. Many race teams coat their valve cover and oil sump pan interiors with Teflon to keep oil from collecting there and increase the volume of oil in circulation.
The manufacturers claims about it's lubricating properties are essentially true as Teflon does have wonderful lubricating properties. But, as it sheds oil, your lubrication is coming only from the teflon in suspension.
And remember, while the most fundamental function of your engine oil is lubrication, it's secondary function (and a close second at that) is to carry away heat from critical internal components such as bearings and valves. Clearly 60% of your engine cooling is facilitated by the oil and not the coolant as some might believe. But, Teflon repels oil and if it settles on critical components, or clogs small oil passages, how much cooling potential has been lost?
The best thing to do is to use a good synthetic such as Mobil One and change it religiously at the specified interval. Hope this helps...Jim '85TE
>> Edited by lotusguy on Wednesday 13th November 00:36
Slick 50 and all such Teflon (PTFE resin) lubicants are, for practical discussion, snake oil.
Teflon is classified as a non-wettable lubricant. This means that it actually repels oil. Put a little oil in your non-stick fry pan and see how it behaves. Many race teams coat their valve cover and oil sump pan interiors with Teflon to keep oil from collecting there and increase the volume of oil in circulation.
The manufacturers claims about it's lubricating properties are essentially true as Teflon does have wonderful lubricating properties. But, as it sheds oil, your lubrication is coming only from the teflon in suspension.
And remember, while the most fundamental function of your engine oil is lubrication, it's secondary function (and a close second at that) is to carry away heat from critical internal components such as bearings and valves. Clearly 60% of your engine cooling is facilitated by the oil and not the coolant as some might believe. But, Teflon repels oil and if it settles on critical components, or clogs small oil passages, how much cooling potential has been lost?
The best thing to do is to use a good synthetic such as Mobil One and change it religiously at the specified interval. Hope this helps...Jim '85TE
>> Edited by lotusguy on Wednesday 13th November 00:36
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