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11-05-2009, 02:20 PM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10
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Engine Life?
How long does a lotus elise engine last? Who has the highest mileage Elise here? Does life directly correspond with service and days tracked? Are there any known bad engine batches? What is the most common failure?
Just questions of the day... Thanks in advance, AK |
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11-05-2009, 02:35 PM
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#2 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 172
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You might want to search around for reliability reports on the Toyota Celica GT-S, it's the same engine and there are many more of them. The Elise engine is a reliable Toyota engine, but it's a high RPM engine which are a bit less reliable than lower RPM siblings. The biggest factors affecting this engine, as with all engines, will be how well it was maintained and taken care of. If someone changed oil often and drove it gently while the engine was cold, it should last a while. I think the easiest way to damage this engine is to over-rev it and break the oil pump. The valvetrain is incredibly sensitive to oil starvation.
Tracking is stressful on engines, but I wouldn't immediately assume that a tracked engine will have a shorter life, because people who track their cars tend to take much better care of the engine. Tracked engines will, naturally, see more wear so I would expect an old engine that had been tracked to have lower compression than one with the same mileage that hadn't been tracked, for example. |
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11-06-2009, 06:18 AM
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#4 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10
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Does anyone here have or are close to having six figures on their odometer? I understand the engine is the same as the Celica GT-S but don't we have a Yamaha top end (valvetrain) that is specific to the Lotus?
What would you say is the best oil change interval for a non tracked, daily driven Elise? Anything to look out for? Don't these motors have a dry sump oil setup? Wouldn't that more effectively keep the top end oiled? AK |
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11-06-2009, 06:38 AM
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#5 (permalink) | |
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Registered User
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Quote:
No. Lotus gets intact engines from Toyota. They don't open them up. They put on a different intake, and of course a different ECU, but the internals are all stock Toyota. I believe Yamaha had a hand in the design, but its the same motor in the GTS. No dry sump. If you want to extend the life of the engine, dry start up is a major culprit. You can install an accusump as a pre oiler to get the engined lubed before you start. I did that with an 84 Esprit I had. Takes up space in an already space limited trunk...er....boot. If you're not tracking the car, and using the proper synthetic oil, just follow manufacturer recommendations. 3000 miles is probably a waste and too soon given light duty and today's oil technology, but old habits are hard to break. I try to do it every 3K but don't lose sleep if I miss it and it goes to 4K. Others go up to 7500. |
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11-06-2009, 09:26 AM
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#6 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Glendale, AZ
Posts: 333
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Guest car
my parents have a Celica GT-S, initially it was mine, that has 312,000 miles and still runs strong...it has been abuse by all our guest when they come and visit.......besides regular maintenance the car has been trouble free (oil+filter change, spark plugs,tranny fluid, boots) ....that should speak volumes on the quality of the engine and the importance of regular maintenance......just like anything else you take care of it it will take care of you.........
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05 Lotus Elise R/K Supercharger, Stage II, Moroso Oil Pan, RTD Brace, High Volume All Aluminum Radiator, Stainless Steel Break Lines, Oil Catch Can, ACT Clutch, HID, Carbon Fiber Spliter, Reverie Side Scoops, CF side skirts, FF gauge pod, BWR gauge pod, Cup Air Box, S111 front & rear tow hooks, upgraded tail lights-LED, Driving lights, LETSLA, ... 
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11-06-2009, 09:49 AM
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#7 (permalink) | |
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User, Registered
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 1,833
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Quote:
Great...just what we need, another troll.
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Francis 2006 Chrome Orange Elise: LSD/TC, Nitron SAs with 425/650 springs, BWR 7/8" Front Bar, Eliseparts bumpsteer kit, VF Stage 2, 2bular Header + Sport Cat + 8x24 GT3 Muffler, ECU Tune by Jermaine, Smaay's fuel rail, ACT XT clutch, Saikou Michi dual catch can, Moroso pan, Manly's mount inserts & FF Engine Damper 2000 Black Integra Type R: - 213,000 miles...running again! |
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