VH P*SH D - Oil Selection

[Gourlay83]

Alan - did you measure as per manual ? Run, switch-off, then measure within 20 secs. If you top up with too much, it just gets chucked in the overflow tank.

Yeah, as i found out. Now has an over flow tank that doesn't overflow all over the car. Followed the procedure though.

Alan

P.S did you know the tank had a massive crack in it, you could smell fuel from boot so had a closer look. Cracked around the filler neck

Quite enjoying getting the thing sorted out actually, properly quick car.

[kerryxeg]

Incidentally, how far will it go on a tank. I remember meeting up with a 7 on the applecross road (no idea what engine). He was running with some biker mates, they were filling the 7 from the bikes in a passing place. Maybe you'll need the Sutherland secret fuel station map (which is ok on Sat but a bit sparse on Sunday)!

[Stu160]

Hi Alan

How many hours were you on track, 1l sounds in the ball park, look at it another way, you can wait longer between oil changes, as you are putting fresh oil in on a regular basis

Stu

[Gourlay83]

Incidentally, how far will it go on a tank. I remember meeting up with a 7 on the applecross road (no idea what engine). He was running with some biker mates, they were filling the 7 from the bikes in a passing place. Maybe you'll need the Sutherland secret fuel station map (which is ok on Sat but a bit sparse on Sunday)!

It's actually quite good, half a tank used going down to knockhill on Saturday.

The fuel tanks 30 l i think, plus a couple of litres of oil in the engine for it to use

Alan

[Shug]

To put it in context Alan, me old mate, the V8 in the old M5 used about a litre of oil per 1000 miles. That was it's design parameters - they did it from new and owners were informed that it was a characteristic of the engine. I daresay it would use similar in a trackday. Nobody ever claimed they were badly built piles of crap

Think of it as a design trade-off with the increased tolerances of forged pistons and stop talking yourself into an unnecessary rebuild.

I will, of course, delete this post if the thing blows up in central France.

[wul]

Alan, only done 1000 miles in my Elise. Most of them were on the motorway driving it home from Birmingham. i would say i have added 0.5 litres and it is now on minimum. The track day revealled that there is oil leaking from the top of the engine on the exhaust side gearbox end. Probably crank case pressure squeezing out oil from the cam oil seals at high revs. Oil is currently 5W 40 fully synthetic. I am going to buy some engine flush and refill with 10W 40 semi synthetic to see if that silences the tappety noise that the engine has always made. Time will tell if I need to do any major mechanical work to the top and/or bottom end.

[Gourlay83]

To put it in context Alan, me old mate, the V8 in the old M5 used about a litre of oil per 1000 miles. That was it's design parameters - they did it from new and owners were informed that it was a characteristic of the engine. I daresay it would use similar in a trackday. Nobody ever claimed they were badly built piles of crap

Think of it as a design trade-off with the increased tolerances of forged pistons and stop talking yourself into an unnecessary rebuild.

I will, of course, delete this post if the thing blows up in central France.

It's the France thing i'm worried about, couldn't give a toss if it packs in close to home. Just don't want to spoil me and Jen's holiday.

and just clarify, i was only asking about oil selection. You lot jumped on the KABOOM wagon . I have ordered a proper catch tank, and 8l of 5w 50 oil. I will monitor the oil level but doubt i will rebuild it before France.

Cheers
Alan

P.S remember i come from a Honda background, where they build engines that don't use oil or water (mad i know ) So this is all new to me

[Andy G]

Dont worry Alan, the racepod can carry many things, including sickly cars!

Might mean you have to slum it in the R400 between tracks though

Definately sorting my European breakdown for this trip

[Dominic]

Dont worry Alan, the racepod can carry many things, including sickly cars!

Might mean you have to slum it in the R400 between tracks though

Definately sorting my European breakdown for this trip

How many decks is there in the race pod?

[campbell]

Dont worry Alan, the racepod can carry many things, including sickly cars!

If it does let go and spoil Jen's hols, you might need to put her in there until she calms down!

[Andy G]

At one stage I fancied putting in a home cinema system so that you could sit in the car and watch movies while being towed about. A bit like a rubbish cinema!

Still a beer fridge and some dancing ladies and it could yet be an epic addition to the frolic

[thinfourth]

Alan - did you measure as per manual ? Run, switch-off, then measure within 20 secs. If you top up with too much, it just gets chucked in the overflow tank.

Yeah, as i found out. Now has an over flow tank that doesn't overflow all over the car. Followed the procedure though.

Alan

P.S did you know the tank had a massive crack in it, you could smell fuel from boot so had a closer look. Cracked around the filler neck

Quite enjoying getting the thing sorted out actually, properly quick car.

If its done the traditional 7 thing of being sick on your shoes then has it burnt the oil or puked it?

[Chucks]

Alan - did you measure as per manual ? Run, switch-off, then measure within 20 secs. If you top up with too much, it just gets chucked in the overflow tank.

Yeah, as i found out. Now has an over flow tank that doesn't overflow all over the car. Followed the procedure though.

Alan

P.S did you know the tank had a massive crack in it, you could smell fuel from boot so had a closer look. Cracked around the filler neck

Quite enjoying getting the thing sorted out actually, properly quick car.

If its done the traditional 7 thing of being sick on your shoes then has it burnt the oil or puked it?

Has anyone actually got a manual that references the dry sump?
Mine will tend to run 20deg hotter on track than it ever will on road. This obviously leads to a bit more expansion of the oil & a some more puked into the catch tank. I'll tend to stick a bit back in after a track day but am I just wasting oil as that volume will then get puked out again the next trackday?

[Chucks]

Whilst we're on dry sumps, was fannying aboot on the Caterham store & noticed this,

http://www.caterhamparts.co.uk/product. ... oduct=3017

I assume it's a strainer on the ds pump suction & would require either pulling the sump or the pump to be pulled. Anyone change or clean these regularly.