2ZZ-GE oil starvation problem?

15076 Views 6 Replies 7 Participants Last post by LittleRocket, Mar 11, 2004

MattG

Discussion Starter · Sep 15, 2003

I talked to a friend of mine who owns a Celica GTS, and he told me that the motor has a poorly designed oil pickup that starves the engine during hard cornering. He's heard that many engines have failed on the track due to this problem. In the SAE paper on the 2ZZ-GE, it states that the engine can withstand 1.0G without sucking air. Even if that 1.0G number is correct, it doesn't seem very high...couldn't peak cornering loads be well above that in a track-configured Elise? That same SAE paper states that there are no baffles in the oil pan(!).

Has anyone heard about this supposed problem, and whether Lotus is going to make any changes to this area?

I was also informed that due to the close shift pattern, 6th to 2nd mis-shifts are not uncommon (which of course will wreck your engine if you don't catch it fast enough).

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Robert Puertas

· #2 · Sep 16, 2003

The gearbox problem has occurred during drag racing, when a full-throttle 3-4 shift accidently happens to be a 3-2 shift.
Oops!
Instant over-rev.

Oil pan baffles are easy.

If it's a genuine problem, especially with a higher redline, you gotta think Lotus has addressed it.

I just hope we get the new Torsen lsd, too.

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payneinthe

· #3 · Sep 16, 2003

I was also informed that due to the close shift pattern, 6th to 2nd mis-shifts are not uncommon (which of course will wreck your engine if you don't catch it fast enough). [/B]

They're also common in the S2000. I accidentally did that myself (at a low enough speed to not cause damage). Ever since, I always shift 6-5-4, instead of 6-4. Problem solved.

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LarryB

· #4 · Sep 16, 2003

Here's a thread about oil pump problems, link.
Have driven a 6sp a bit. It will take some adjusting to, hopefully the breakin - while we all take it easy

will get us trained.

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Lumn8r

· #5 · Sep 16, 2003

LarryB said:
Have driven a 6sp a bit. It will take some adjusting to, hopefully the breakin - while we all take it easy will get us trained.

Me too, but perhaps this one is a bit different from my Dodge diesel.

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fzust

· #6 · Mar 9, 2004

3 to 4 mis-shift

To avoid the 3-to-4 mis-shift, I back-hand the shifter. That is I point my right thumb down and grab the shifter with my right hand fingers curling clockwise around the shifter. It is impossible to shift to 2nd that way. However in a 6 speed, it is probably easy to go 3rd to 6th.

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LittleRocket

· #7 · Mar 11, 2004

I have been runnig the 6 speed for a year or so in my MR2. Missed shifts during a spirited run are not a problem as long as you pin yourself into the seat with the seat belt AND get solid mounting bushings for the shifter cage. The soft rubber ones make for a squishy gate.

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