Engine Break-in procedures related to Oil consumption?

The Oily Bits S1 Specific Topics
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Looking at the other posts regarding high oil consumption, I was wondering if this could be related to breaking-in procedures.Could a very hard engine run-in lead to high oil consumption? after all, this time is for all the new surfaces to slowly mate avoiding excessive wear.Doing it properly would lead to tighter tolerances, hence less room for oil to pass to the combustion chamber.I know that we are al eager to rev the new toy, but does the people that ran it in slowly, respecting the recommendations have zero or small oil consumption?

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UldisI would be very surprised if many of us were “hard” on the engine during the running in period. The cars are supplied with mineral engine oil for running in, which is then changed to fully synthetic at the first service at 1K miles.In normal road driving, you’ll probably use 1 litre every 1K to 1.5K miles - not too bad really. However, on a trackday, expect to use up to 1 litre per 150/200 miles - again not too bad!

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Is the Rover engine that rough then?I mean, I kind of relate this engine to a big motorcycle engine. I used to race motorcycles in the past, and this doesn’t seem to be a characteristic with bike engines.But I get the impression that you think this is natural.So why is it natural? (something inherent to the design of this particular engine?) or could it be that you’ve been driving Lotus for too long?Uldis

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Hi UldisI’m fairly new to Lotus - got the Exige new in Jan 2001 [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]Fairly high oil consumption appears to be a characteristic of the VHPD engine. The consumption I quoted, seems to be the norm for previous posts on the subject. Unfortunately, Steve Green’s car had an unsatiable thirst for the stuff, & is presently at the factory for their investigation in conjunction with Scholar engines. Russ & myself “said” hello to it on Tuesday at Hethel [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]PS Why are you worried about it, don’t you have an unlimited supply at work? [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image][This message has been edited by Pesky (edited 04 July 2002).]

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Must take my car in for repair - it does’nt use any oil between services!!Do you think if I loosened drain plug a bit it would help?

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ToneYou’re not trying hard enough then! [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]I don’t know about you, but I find that ascertaining the oil level with the damn dipstick, can be tricky! It usually takes 2 or 3 goes before I am happy with the reading. Last trackday at Anglesey, Russ, Shaggy, MikeB & myself were all cursing the eratic dipstick readings!!!

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PeskyYou’ve got an ‘erotic dipstick’?

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Well, we all are supposed to feel responsible for the world’s reserve’s, aren’t we?But…ooops! it’s synthetic oil, so, who cares! [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]No, really, it’s just the fact that while racing motorcycles I never saw this happening.They’re still a 4-in-line DOHC, 4V/cyl, EFI type of engine.But there you have the oddity, Tone. His car isn’t oil-thirsty. How did you break it it Tone? any tips? Well whatever. If there is no conclusion I would think that it’s the way these engines come assembled. Some do, some don’t.Maybe it would need a thorough blueprinting to see its real potential.PS- Pesky, you’re not trying to read the oil level with the engine running, are you? [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image]

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quote:Originally posted by Uldis:PS- Pesky, you’re not trying to read the oil level with the engine running, are you? [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image]Yes, plus the car is always parked on a 45 degree slope when I test the oil level [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image] Am I doing something wrong? [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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Nope, that’s the standard procedure. Just don’t forget to rev it up just before taking out the stick to read it. [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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Hi all,FWIW mine doesn’t seem to use much oil either, even though it regularly hits the rev limiter!Mike

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I blame my cars lack of oil consumption on Rob Gibbons care and attention - got nothing to do with me. I have been known to take it over 3000 rpm on occasions!maybe it’s the extra long dipstick I bought a few months ago?

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quote:Originally posted by Pesky:In normal road driving, you’ll probably use 1 litre every 1K to 1.5K miles - not too bad really…In 17K miles and 9 track days I have not needed to put more than 1/2 litre in every now and then; but I have had the oil changed every 3k and/or every other track day. I think that oil consumption is quite variable, I have run for 2-3K miles road only use with no need to top up.Even when I have run been running hard at an all day open pit sessions, I have checked the oil at the begining of the day and although I could imagine that I would maybe use 1/2 litre certainly no more than that.I’m sure Pesky is right about running in discipline, although the first 1500miles was murder I did go by the book, but I think the consumption might be different for each engine as it comes off the production line.Still its nice to hear that Pesky’s Dipstick gets such regular exercise [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image]PS just been away to Canada for 2weeks, Exige Withdrawl symptoms in under 24Hours, the only consolation was that after 2000Km I only saw 1 roundabout and 3 bends [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/frown.gif[/image]

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quote:Originally posted by X111GED: Still its nice to hear that Pesky’s Dipstick gets such regular exercise [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image]PS just been away to Canada for 2weeks, Exige Withdrawl symptoms in under 24Hours, the only consolation was that after 2000Km I only saw 1 roundabout and 3 bends [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/frown.gif[/image]Wotcha Roy, LOL [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]PS Reason for early posting is not due to exercising my dipstick - about to take Pesky jnr to airport, to catch plane to Kos for a week’s “dipsticking & topping up” with his mates - lucky b**** [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image][This message has been edited by Pesky (edited 17 July 2002).]

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quote:Originally posted by X111GED:…saw 1 roundabout…THERE’S A ROUNDABOUT IN NORTH AMERICA!!!I bet a CCTV camera on that would provide some amusing footage! [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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quote:Originally posted by IDG: THERE’S A ROUNDABOUT IN NORTH AMERICA!!!Big warning sign on the approach “Round Road” I did see some confused Canadians, they selected the exit they wanted and took the most dirct route, prety sensible really I must try it myself.

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Hi RoyHope you had a good time!Got my clutch pipe fixed - now made of braided hose and totally unbreakable.My Alternator has gone for a 2nd time and is currently at Lakeside getting fixed!Mike