My car is coming up for it’s 1,000 mile service. The question is do I let the dealer supply the oil or use my own. I spoke to Lotus Tecnical, (about harnesses actually), but also asked them about oil. They said the dealer should use fully synthetic at 1,000 miles.
I’ve used Silkolene Pro S 5w-40 and 10w50 in the past on previous performance cars as it’s a fully esther based synthetic. In fact I think I stil have some. So do I go for this and what grade or what do you recommend. Also, I read on Exiges.com that someone had used a Moly additive but this seem risky.
Its funny you should bring this up, I was just comparing the Toyota and Lotus workshop manuals…
Toyota recommend 5W30 for low temps (sub 10�C ambient) and 10W30, 10W40 or 20W50 for ambients of -18, -12 and -7�C or greater resp…
Where Lotus came up with 5W-40 I dont know. I suppose it covers all the bases but leaves the spec a little weakened as the oil needs to stay in grade over a wider temperature which requires much trick viscosity improver rather than nice oily…er … oil!
Anyway, Lotus says 5W40 oil such as Texaco Havoline Fully Synth… and API SL/CF, SJ/CF and ACEA A3.
I’d go with Silkolene Pro S 5W/40, its a good pure esther oil which is very stable and shouldn’t shear thin and already has a fair chunk of moly in it which is a good solid lubricant which should protect the finger followers in the 2ZZ.
That’s what I was thinking. I was wondering whether to go for teh 10w-50 Pro S. Lotus recommend Castrol RS 10w-60 for extreme driving, e.g. track days.
I got this response from Opie Oils. BTW Lotus recommend 5w-40 Havoline Fully Synthetic or Castrol RS 10w-40 for more extreme and track use: -
Thanks for the mail.
The Silkolene will be ideal for the Exige and in terms of quality is in a different league to the Castrol RS, now known as the Edge Sport 10w-60 it is still a hydrocracked mineral base and not a true synthetic, same goes with the Havoline (made by fuchs in stoke who also make silkolene).
There can be no warranty issues as not only does the oil meet the specs required for the engine it far exceeds them too.
The additives you speak of are the ester base stock, this is polar thus has many protection and performance qualities.
I known main dealers throw in whatever they had available. especially true where the franchise also deals with a range of manufacturers. JCT600 used to alwaysd use Shell because they were a main dealer for Ferrari.
I think for peace of mind you are better providing your own (providing you can trust them to actually use it!) and it will also be a large saving on your wallet.