[lebrunseven]

when using parrifin-based oils: it is REAL CHEAP insurance to change oil & filter at no more than 4,000 miles, checking level between changes. Maybe years ago you could drive longer between oil services, but there are 2 major differences between an older V8 & a hi-tech DOHC 16 valve engine: the old engines ran at a much lower operating temp; and there were quite often push-rod designed cylinder heads, and 2 valves per cylinder.... fast forward to a modern engine (like the toyota engine in the elise)- they run much hotter (to keep the emissions in check), and there are many more moving parts in the heads. If you wait 8,000 miles to change the oil, believe me, there will be 'pudding' inside your engine , greatly reducing the oil galleries- and one can conclude your engine will wear out quickly- w/ increased oil consumption. I just had 2 customers w/ v6 24 valve dohc engines go over 10 thousand miles before the first oil change- guess what- one needed to be replaced as it then began consuming 1 quart per 250 miles; the other was barely saved by flushing the engine block and removing the heads & having them boiled to get rid of the sludge! It looks just like chocolate pudding when you pull a valve cover....... So, oil is cheap- if you want your Elise to last, change it as required- no more than 4,000 miles!!!