What type of engine oil is best for your Espirit - costs ?
Discussion
Recently changed oil & filter. Put in castrol RS 10/W60 - had trouble getting 10/W60. BMW dealer wanted £15 per ltr. Got it eventuall for £9.50 & managed to get 8 ltrs (it took 6 to fill) locally instead of net or longish drive. Did I get lucky with price and stockist - A1 Irvine_ they are not getting it again - can't sell it - hence got a deal?? Opie oils recommend Castrol Ester (or something) but never got a price. Want 5 or 10 ltrs next time depends on price. Bye the way the car is an S3 Targa 1985 2.2 non turbo. Look forward to getting any advice on how to save £ and get good supplier. Change her every 2K miles.
I always use Mobil 1. Gorgeous stuff! It almost smells nice enough to drink! It will make your engine last forever and as such is a bargain at any price. I pay £25 for four litres and use six litres at every change. I change the engine oil every six months which is every three thousand miles. I would say that using cheap oil may well prove the reverse of a bargain in the long run.
By the way (and I'm not entirely sure here but I think I'm right!) I don't think that your car is a targa. I think that there has to be uninterrupted sky from the driver's outside elbow to the passenger's outside elbow for it to be a targa. As far as I know, no such Esprit has ever been built. Most Esprits have a very large removable and tilting roof panel made from opaque plastic or glass. Please correct me if I am wrong on this point. Thanks
By the way, we seem to have an astonishing number of traits in common: Pink Floyd, Parker fly, mid forties, guitarist son, calypso red Esprit. We could have got a band going if I didn't live in Liverpool!
By the way (and I'm not entirely sure here but I think I'm right!) I don't think that your car is a targa. I think that there has to be uninterrupted sky from the driver's outside elbow to the passenger's outside elbow for it to be a targa. As far as I know, no such Esprit has ever been built. Most Esprits have a very large removable and tilting roof panel made from opaque plastic or glass. Please correct me if I am wrong on this point. Thanks
By the way, we seem to have an astonishing number of traits in common: Pink Floyd, Parker fly, mid forties, guitarist son, calypso red Esprit. We could have got a band going if I didn't live in Liverpool!
Thanks for the info - much appreciated. A couple of points though
1. The stuff I put in was expensive as I would never put anything sub standard in her (Jinty is her name). At £10 per ltr I thought I got a deal. Is the Mobil 1 a 10/W60 and if so where do you get it at that price ? My main problem is sourcing the 10/W60 grade - only BMW seem to have it locally (Ayrshire) and it is expensive.
2. I think you are correct about the Targa part (always been suspicious) - and i will drop it until I can know for sure. It was sold to me as such - but it is not on the reg. doc. It ultimately does not matter as i love her regardless - but i do not want to mis-represent her in any way so thanks for the feedback.
3. Liverpool is pretty close so that is good news as hopefully Grant and I can 'swing past' and say hello sometime soon. Planning to go to Isle of Man this month for 2 day break - some great deals on at present. Have to come to your neck of the woods to get Ferry. Bye the way - £129 per person gets you 2 nights at Hilton Casino (4*) B&B with first night dinner free and ferry crossing for 2 + car OR 2 bikes. Will be happy to supply further info to anyone. Also looking to go on some 'Hoons' in the near future - money allowing !!!
4. Really glad we have got so much in common - need more people to relate to in my life. If you fancy a private chat sometime then email me or we can go MSN - I would like that. Particulary pleased about our love for music - you obviously didn't check my videos - or you would not have replied. lol.
Going to stop now - before you get even more bored with my prattling on.
5. Got a name for your Espirit ???
1. The stuff I put in was expensive as I would never put anything sub standard in her (Jinty is her name). At £10 per ltr I thought I got a deal. Is the Mobil 1 a 10/W60 and if so where do you get it at that price ? My main problem is sourcing the 10/W60 grade - only BMW seem to have it locally (Ayrshire) and it is expensive.
2. I think you are correct about the Targa part (always been suspicious) - and i will drop it until I can know for sure. It was sold to me as such - but it is not on the reg. doc. It ultimately does not matter as i love her regardless - but i do not want to mis-represent her in any way so thanks for the feedback.
3. Liverpool is pretty close so that is good news as hopefully Grant and I can 'swing past' and say hello sometime soon. Planning to go to Isle of Man this month for 2 day break - some great deals on at present. Have to come to your neck of the woods to get Ferry. Bye the way - £129 per person gets you 2 nights at Hilton Casino (4*) B&B with first night dinner free and ferry crossing for 2 + car OR 2 bikes. Will be happy to supply further info to anyone. Also looking to go on some 'Hoons' in the near future - money allowing !!!
4. Really glad we have got so much in common - need more people to relate to in my life. If you fancy a private chat sometime then email me or we can go MSN - I would like that. Particulary pleased about our love for music - you obviously didn't check my videos - or you would not have replied. lol.
Going to stop now - before you get even more bored with my prattling on.
5. Got a name for your Espirit ???
Hi Guys
I buy from Opie oils Castrol Edge Sport 10W/60 for my V8. I speak to Guy, who posts it to me for £30 for 4 litres delivered.
Recently I removed both oil coolers and emptied the lines as well. It took 9 litres to refil. So when doing an oil change without purging the coolers, you only actually replace 2/3rds of the oil!!!
Glyn
I buy from Opie oils Castrol Edge Sport 10W/60 for my V8. I speak to Guy, who posts it to me for £30 for 4 litres delivered.
Recently I removed both oil coolers and emptied the lines as well. It took 9 litres to refil. So when doing an oil change without purging the coolers, you only actually replace 2/3rds of the oil!!!
Glyn
Cheers Glyn - sounds more like it to me - opie is already on my machine for future contact. I'm afraid I am a minor player as far as taking them to bits it concerned - too hard to get into and you need a ramp / pit to even get under it properly. Would really like to do purge next time - is it much hassle ??
Ran mine after oil change & re-checked level - oil seemed to be pretty clear and the stuff that came out was black before change. Surely a 30% mix of black crap would discouler the new stuff a lot more ???
Ta for the info - any thoughts anyone?
Ran mine after oil change & re-checked level - oil seemed to be pretty clear and the stuff that came out was black before change. Surely a 30% mix of black crap would discouler the new stuff a lot more ???
Ta for the info - any thoughts anyone?
A lot of owners use Mobil 1 Supersyn 15w50 motorsport oil, its about £30 for a tub of 4 ltrs depending where you buy it and is a very good oil. Dont, obviously, go for any less thick oil. The Castrol one is on the recommended sticker in the engine bay on my car but the Mobil 1 is as good.
I am having a rebuild and the bearings are in surprisingly good nick for an 85000 mile lump, the mech said they are were good for another 20000 but as its having a freshen up all new stuffs going back in. He said its down to Mobil 1 and similar oils. Incidentally I changed mine every 6000 or so (per the book) and this is fine as theres so much oil there, as Glyn said.
I am having a rebuild and the bearings are in surprisingly good nick for an 85000 mile lump, the mech said they are were good for another 20000 but as its having a freshen up all new stuffs going back in. He said its down to Mobil 1 and similar oils. Incidentally I changed mine every 6000 or so (per the book) and this is fine as theres so much oil there, as Glyn said.
Thanks Delroy - will stick to the 10W/60 unless pushed for top - up's. If it is the same price as Castrol or Mobil 1 then i think sticking to the right grade is the best thing. I do like to push it a bit sometimes (lol) and the RS formula seems to be ok taking it as well as seeming ok in town.
Thanks for the info - it all helps. Good news on your bearings - hope mine are ok - done 53K miles now.
Thanks for the info - it all helps. Good news on your bearings - hope mine are ok - done 53K miles now.
www.lotusespritworld.com/EGuides/ETechnical/oil.html
Demon Tweeks do Castrol mail order! You can also get 10% off if you're a ClubLEW member.
Demon Tweeks do Castrol mail order! You can also get 10% off if you're a ClubLEW member.
Hi Oldpink
yeah I would have thought that the colour would change. Unfortunately I cant comment further as this is the first oil change I've done on the V8. All I know is how much the book says it should take and how much I put in!!
With regard to purging the oil from the coolers and lines, I would say that unless your connections between the coolers at the front and their pipes have been looked after, then they will be awkward to release. I dont know if it can be purged through any of the other unions (but maybe compressed air could force it out?)
Glyn
yeah I would have thought that the colour would change. Unfortunately I cant comment further as this is the first oil change I've done on the V8. All I know is how much the book says it should take and how much I put in!!
With regard to purging the oil from the coolers and lines, I would say that unless your connections between the coolers at the front and their pipes have been looked after, then they will be awkward to release. I dont know if it can be purged through any of the other unions (but maybe compressed air could force it out?)
Glyn
Cheers Glyn - don't think I will do it myself - I'm not that handy and it is difficult to work on - even for easy stuff - need ramps etc. Wish I was better at mechanical stuff - would save a fortune on labour costs when it does need attention. Willing to learn though - thats why I got into PH - network & make new friends.
Cheers, Ralph.
Cheers, Ralph.
Oil change is dead easy! Get a small trolley jack, two axle stands, a small socket set, a torque wrench centred around 35 Nm and a hex sump plug thing (available at Halfords, 12 mm). Get a chain type oil filter tool and an oil filter from Lotus (which comes with a sump plug 'O' ring as a rule. You would also benefit from some form of oil catcher and a wheel stud bar. The total cost of this lot will be about £150 but most of that is one off and future costs will be under £20 plus your oil. The whole job can be done in under an hour. I'm talking about the V8 here, but the principles are the same for nearly all cars.
Drive it round to get the particulate crud up into suspension and to get the oil nice and runny. Loosen the wheel bolts on the right rear wheel and then jack up the car using the bottom of the 'U' of the engine cradle. put your axle stands under the jacking points and lower the car on to them. You may now go under the car with impunity. (front wheels chocked with bricks)
Undo the sump plug (right side on a V8, back on a 4 pot). Put your oil bucket under the sump and remove the sump plug. THE OIL WILL SPURT OUT A BIT! So put your bucket a little way off to allow for this! DO NOT DROP THE PLUG IN THE OIL BUCKET ! Gloves are a good idea as the oil will be very hot and it is a carcinogen). Do not do this for the first time on the new block paving. You will not be popular! As the flow slows to a dribble, undo the oil filter with the chain wrench and fit the new one after cleaning the seat and smearing some clean oil on the rubber seal of the filter and the mount face. The filter needs pre-filling for the V8 and part filling for the 4. Tighten the filter to hand tight only (about half to three quarter turn past face mating. Put the plug back in the sump with a new 'O' ring and tighten to 34 Nm.
Put the wheel back on, jack up the car off the stands and back down, put about the amount of oil you drained in the engine and start up. Check for leaks, stop the engine and check the level about fifteen minutes later. Did I miss anything out? You can do the whole thing without the jack and the stands, but it is much harder.
In reality, it is much easier than it sounds. I have told a great many people this story, men, women, cildren etc and never once had anyone be anything other than amazed at how easy it is to change a car's oil. I once shot a video of my 9 year old son and 7 year old daughter doing an annual service on the wife's Mercedes 190e 2.6 straight six to demonstrate how easy it is. Get someone to show you and do it with you the first time and you're off!
Changing spark plugs, air filters and the like is even easier!
Drive it round to get the particulate crud up into suspension and to get the oil nice and runny. Loosen the wheel bolts on the right rear wheel and then jack up the car using the bottom of the 'U' of the engine cradle. put your axle stands under the jacking points and lower the car on to them. You may now go under the car with impunity. (front wheels chocked with bricks)
Undo the sump plug (right side on a V8, back on a 4 pot). Put your oil bucket under the sump and remove the sump plug. THE OIL WILL SPURT OUT A BIT! So put your bucket a little way off to allow for this! DO NOT DROP THE PLUG IN THE OIL BUCKET ! Gloves are a good idea as the oil will be very hot and it is a carcinogen). Do not do this for the first time on the new block paving. You will not be popular! As the flow slows to a dribble, undo the oil filter with the chain wrench and fit the new one after cleaning the seat and smearing some clean oil on the rubber seal of the filter and the mount face. The filter needs pre-filling for the V8 and part filling for the 4. Tighten the filter to hand tight only (about half to three quarter turn past face mating. Put the plug back in the sump with a new 'O' ring and tighten to 34 Nm.
Put the wheel back on, jack up the car off the stands and back down, put about the amount of oil you drained in the engine and start up. Check for leaks, stop the engine and check the level about fifteen minutes later. Did I miss anything out? You can do the whole thing without the jack and the stands, but it is much harder.
In reality, it is much easier than it sounds. I have told a great many people this story, men, women, cildren etc and never once had anyone be anything other than amazed at how easy it is to change a car's oil. I once shot a video of my 9 year old son and 7 year old daughter doing an annual service on the wife's Mercedes 190e 2.6 straight six to demonstrate how easy it is. Get someone to show you and do it with you the first time and you're off!
Changing spark plugs, air filters and the like is even easier!
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