Synthetic Oil

[jjones]

Does Elise come from factory with synthetic 0il?
Your opinions on synthetic oil?

[ratooth]

Personally, I like to use a regular oil during break in and change it after 500, 1000, and 1500 miles and then switch to a sythentic for protection following the proper break periods never exceeding 4000 revs.

[mason]

Here's a little FAQ I put together on synthetic and conventional engine oil.

Lotus Engine oil

And a thread about some reccomended break-in procedures including one by Toyota Racing Development

Engine break-in

Lotus told me that they do use a special break-in oil (very light weight) but this is contrary to what many engine builders have told me.

I'd say for break-in you best off following the break-in procedure outlined by Lotus and then switch to a synthetic oil once proper break-in has occurred (7,000-10,000 miles).

[jjones]

Why is it that some Mercedes cars come from the factory with synthetic oil - mabe their filtering system is more thorough?

[JLSELISE]

Break-in periods have changed a lot over the years. But I agree with Mason that it is best to follow manufacture's recommendations. I would be extremely surprised if the Elise comes with any kind of special break-in oil, or an unusual break-in procedure. Modest revs and thorough warm-ups are generally all that is required. And the idea of changing oil and filter after 300 miles is wasteful and totally unnecessary with modern engines. As an engineer with some expertise in manufacturing processes, I was invited to tour Toyota's Suzuka engine plant in Japan several years ago. The quality level and cleanliness in all aspects of their opertions are exceptional. The idea of having to worry about metal shavings and other foreign matter in your new engine is simply ludicrous these days. As for synthetics, I'm not sure, but I thought V8 Esprits are delivered with Mobile 1, and that oil is of course recommended for all subsequent changes. My M100 and Audi run great on it, but I would not use it in the S3 because the seals and tolerances of that era are not compatible with that oil. BTW the recommended oil change interval for the Audi is 10k miles (including the first oil change)--and this is a motor that revs to 7k (frequently), has twin turbos and 250 solid BHP.

[mapes]

I'm a mechanical engineer with expertise in filtration. New oil filters are less efficient than one that has been in service for a couple of thousand miles. Changing the filter at a few hundred miles allows more junk to flow through the filter. I agree with JLSELISE, mfg tolerance have gotten so good and clean that metal shavings are less of a concern.

Follow break-in recommendations that Lotus suggests and you'll be fine. Change the oil filter at recommended intervals - no sooner. This assumes you use OEM filters. Use crappy no-brand filters at your own risk. Change the oil sooner if you don't mind wasting our precious resources...;) If Lotus recommends dino oil use it. If they say synth, then that's what I will use.

Our Celica engines should be good for a few hundred thousand miles anyway! :D

[stevej]

For those who have not seen it, it is worth going back to an experiment Consumer Reports ran a few years ago on motor oil and engine life. They used a fleet of NYC cabs and ran them on different oils and different change intervals for something like 100,000 miles plus. This of course means mostly stop and go, but also winter and summer weather. They then disassembled the engines and tried to look for differences, plus looked art repair records. The result was NO siginificent difference. This included going so far as never changing the oil, only checking the oil level. Their conclusion was that ALL modern oils are pretty good and that regular oils have a substantial synthetic component. Their advice was change on a regular interval, but it could be a pretty long interval. They also measured filtering of different brands of filters and found FRAM to be the best, with OEM filters more or less as good. This was a few years ago, but I suspect the vodoo vs. the science is about the same today.

[Ridgeman580]

Originally posted by JLSELISE
Break-in periods have changed a lot over the years. But I agree with Mason that it is best to follow manufacture's recommendations. I would be extremely surprised if the Elise comes with any kind of special break-in oil, or an unusual break-in procedure. Modest revs and thorough warm-ups are generally all that is required. And the idea of changing oil and filter after 300 miles is wasteful and totally unnecessary with modern engines. As an engineer with some expertise in manufacturing processes, I was invited to tour Toyota's Suzuka engine plant in Japan several years ago. The quality level and cleanliness in all aspects of their opertions are exceptional. The idea of having to worry about metal shavings and other foreign matter in your new engine is simply ludicrous these days. As for synthetics, I'm not sure, but I thought V8 Esprits are delivered with Mobile 1, and that oil is of course recommended for all subsequent changes. My M100 and Audi run great on it, but I would not use it in the S3 because the seals and tolerances of that era are not compatible with that oil. BTW the recommended oil change interval for the Audi is 10k miles (including the first oil change)--and this is a motor that revs to 7k (frequently), has twin turbos and 250 solid BHP.

The new ad I've been seeing from Mobil 1 looks impressive. Basically, it's use their oil regularly and they will guaranty the engine for 200,000 miles.

[Boxstereo]

http://www.mobil1.com/index.jsp

[Feffman]

I've run Mobil-1 (after the engien is broken in) for years in my Esprit and never had any engine trouble. That being said, I'm switiching to Redline oil in the Esprit witht he upcoming oil change.

Mark

[wwkorv]

They also measured filtering of different brands of filters and found FRAM to be the best, with OEM filters more or less as good. This was a few years ago, but I suspect the vodoo vs. the science is about the same today.

Gag, choke, splutter!!

If I may suggest you cut a few filters apart yourself and read some different reports. If you think Fram is good then I bet some will try and tell you that Goodyear actually makes good tires and Champion makes a good sparkplug!!
These companies have massive marketing campaigns which costs money. Money that does NOT go into R&D. OEM filters ARE NOT made by car manufacturers. It is an outsourced part. my 2 cents....Mobil 1 filters or Amsoil filters.

[adam]

"They also measured filtering of different brands of filters and found FRAM to be the best,"

Fram filter are about the crappiest ones you can buy. This statement almost makes me not believe any of the rest of this post.

I have done filter disection on several filters. Fram is by far the worst. It has a very unevenly spaced finns on the filter element, cardboard seals, which is held together, with what looks like, elmer's glue. They have no rubber or metal parts with the exception of the outter gasket and housing. And the housing is about 1/2 the thickness of most other quality brand on the market. They don't have anti-drain back system/valve.

I could go on and on.

[adam]

Here's a pretty good study:

Oil Filter Study

[gtveloce]

Originally posted by adam
"They also measured filtering of different brands of filters and found FRAM to be the best,"

Fram filter are about the crappiest ones you can buy. This statement almost makes me not believe any of the rest of this post.

COMPLETELY AGREE !!!
I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the FRAM filter for the first time.