[cornbeef]

Alright, I'm bent over ready to take the bashing but I'm veryanic: I've searched the uberpost & forums but can't seem to work out the elise's oil change. I've always thought it was 7500 miles or within 12 months after the first service (the dealership said the same), however the service book says 4000 miles and the uberpost says 4000 for hard use hence myanic:

No flaming about how I should change it every 3000 miles no matter what, I just want to know what is the recommended Lotus schedule and what quantifies hard use

 

[Vicynax]

Pretty sure you know when you are putting your car through "hard use" besides tracking it. Other than that, 7500 is ok although I do my own oil changes once between 7500 if I have the time, if not, I just wait till the next one. Unless you are really pushing the car everytime you turn on the ignition, I really don't see a need for oil changes every 3000 miles. I just do it because I've too much time rotfl

 

[wallabyguy]

Manufacturers define hard use as basically anything short of living in the middle o Kansas and never taking the car out in anything resembling humidity. The northeast region of the united states qualifies as hard use. I would encourage you to be prudent on maintenance.

 

[Aedo]

There must be some reason for it (like keeping service departments happy) but the US and European service intervals are different for the same vehicle!! The European standard is 12months/10,000 miles(15,000km) whereas the US requires a shorter interval :shrug: - I think at 7,500 you're fine!

 

[wallabyguy]

Severe service driving includes:

Frequent short trips (less than 10 miles, especially during cold weather)

Stop-and-go city traffic driving

Driving in dusty conditions (gravel roads, etc.)

Driving at sustained highway speeds during hot weather.

 

[ivan1]

Then there are those that say change it every 6 months even if you havent reached the recommended mileage mark....

 

[TimMullen]

There must be some reason for it (like keeping service departments happy) but the US and European service intervals are different for the same vehicle!! The European standard is 12months/10,000 miles(15,000km) whereas the US requires a shorter interval :shrug: - I think at 7,500 you're fine!

Enviromental regulations. The Europeans are concerned about wasting resources with more frequent oil changes than necessary.

As for me, I don't consider my normal usage to "extreeme" - Driving in traffic, some stop and go, some open road is normal. Track usage or New York City cab driving would be "extreeme duty" and require more frequent changes, as would high speed driving around Death Valley. The vast majority of most people's driving is no "extreeme duty".

That said, I tend to go for 5,000 mile oil and filter changes, simpley because it's much easier to track and plan for (it's easier to see when the odometer is approaching the next multiple of 5,000 miles). No problems so far and my cars all tend to last for a couple of hundred thousand miles with no major problems... :shrug:

 

[cornbeef]

thanks everyone, just one of those -eek- moments when i thought i missed something and found two (now three different service schedules). i'm averaging around 6k a year so its working out pretty good for now then unless i ever break down and track it

btw robert your definition of hard use i'm sure is the one they use for warranty workrotfl