Oil Useage

doulou · Post by **doulou** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:18

Can anyone tell me how much oil a 1990 Excel SE should use? The car has covered 65K and drives well with no visible smoke or leak. Using Mobile 1 I've covered about 200 miles in the last 3 months and need to top up with about a litre.

amarshall · Post by **amarshall** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:35

Lotus recommended a good 20W50 when the engine was new. Thinner oils will result in increased oil consumption...

Last serious oil discussion seems to have been :
http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=165

doulou · Post by **doulou** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:39

What oil do you recommend? - Mobile 1 or Castrol RS? - A previous link suggests that using the Castrol last lomger than the Mobile 1

Lotus-e-Clan · Post by **Lotus-e-Clan** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 15:22

You will use less oil with Castrol RS 10/60 - definitely -- simply cos it's thicker and won't get sucked down inlet valve guides or blow by piston rings. I've been using it for a number of years and I'm very happy with the lower level of oil consumption - but that depends *how* you drive of course!

doulou · Post by **doulou** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 18:29

Oh - I drive very sensibly

- I will try the Castrol - cheers

Skeggy · Post by **Skeggy** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 19:07

As per the old tread I use 20/50 - any good quality will do.
Oil and filter change at 6000 miles.

I also add STP, only because we always did with our race engines.

My '86 se doesn't use any appreciable amount of oil maybe 1/2 a pint over 1000 miles. I think that is just the usual leaks

rather than it burning any.

I would certainly not use a modern synthetic oil. The engine was not designed for it. But thats just my opinion.

Lotus-e-Clan · Post by **Lotus-e-Clan** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 20:22

Skeggy wrote:
I would certainly not use a modern synthetic oil. The engine was not designed for it. But thats just my opinion.

Skeggy

Modern synthetics *are* recommended by many. Club Lotus and Official dealers included recommend Mobil 1 15/50 or Castrol 10/60 for the 907/912/910 engines but *not* the thinner 0/40 or 0/30 intended for modern engines with tight tolerences. BTW Millers synthetic 10/60 is good too.

I used Mobil 1 0/40 for a while because I couldn't get Mobil 1 15/50 at the time and it *drank* the stuff. And this is also a problem topping up relying only on service stations - they don't stock thick synthetics! But now I stick to 10/60 and get plenty in for top-ups (although the need is diminished)

So appologies if you meant *thinner* oils (mineral or synthetics) that are meant for tightly-built modern engines.

Cheers
Peter

doulou · Post by **doulou** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 13:02

Thanks for all the responses, i will try 10/60 oil and see how it goes. The car is not losing the oil through leaks for sure my garage is completely dry.

Cheers Doulou