Noel....sorry ment no oil
Discussion
Personally I have never seen or read anything ( I trusted) that supports a view that synthetic oil is a better lubricant, than new/good mineral oil, it’s all about ‘life’. Having said that I use synthetic oil in my super sprint and I’ll use it in my Twin Cam when I finish it, both engines are rebuilt to ‘modern standards’ so I don’t think there is anything in this old engine stuff, other than ‘thick’ oil may increase pressure in a worn engine.
As for Mobile I have never meet any one at lotus who would recommend it in a private conversation, infact I have been told that when Lotus raced the Esprit, Mobil 1 was the limiting factor on lap times due to bulk oil temp, and that they had to change to Castrol to win. And that is what everyone in Lotus recommended for my 910 Esprit engine when I raced it.
To me the issue on oil is still’ change it often’, I tend to change oil based on time, so every year and that may be every 2000KM, but personally I’ll still use a synthetic, despite the fact that my head tells me I’m wasting money.
I have a friend who is into oils and his advice is that the biggest issue with modern oils is flat cam followers, modern oils are down on some minerals and can damage flat tappets, his advice is to use a 4 stroke bike oil as they are closer to the formula of older oils, So my Lotus Carlton runs synthetic bike oil.
As for Mobile I have never meet any one at lotus who would recommend it in a private conversation, infact I have been told that when Lotus raced the Esprit, Mobil 1 was the limiting factor on lap times due to bulk oil temp, and that they had to change to Castrol to win. And that is what everyone in Lotus recommended for my 910 Esprit engine when I raced it.
To me the issue on oil is still’ change it often’, I tend to change oil based on time, so every year and that may be every 2000KM, but personally I’ll still use a synthetic, despite the fact that my head tells me I’m wasting money.
I have a friend who is into oils and his advice is that the biggest issue with modern oils is flat cam followers, modern oils are down on some minerals and can damage flat tappets, his advice is to use a 4 stroke bike oil as they are closer to the formula of older oils, So my Lotus Carlton runs synthetic bike oil.
A 20 oil will offer a lot of resistance when starting up wearing the engine, battery and starter while taking time to reach and protect the top end.
A 10 0r a 5 will do a far better job.
When hot a 40 or a 50 will do.
Consider that engines have changed, even the humble cross flow has, the materials used to make the parts have improved, for example the crank which does not flex as much, revs higher and lives longer, oil has changed along with the engine to enable performance to increase, better start up protection, stronger film strength when hot so why use an outdated oil with a modern version of the engine.
Oil seals have changed, before 1978 they needed burnt oil to help the seal, flushing an engine was not advised, modern oil seals and gaskets like to be clean to do the job properly.
Oil has additives to stop it from burning up before the engine gets up to temperature, additives brake down, older oils need more additives to prop them up compared to modern oils.
So an old style mineral oil is refined to a price and propped up with additives which are cheaper to produce but tends to brake down quicker.
A man made oil is expensive but provides good start up protection when cold and excellent film strength and stability when hot.
A semi synthetic is a blend of the two to keep cost down.
Next you have everyone wanting to sell oil and the qualities vary, as a law was passed allowing an oil to be called part synthetic if an additive used was man made, you never know what you are getting, a lot of people buy on price and suppliers pray on this.
Next problem is, everyone has an opinion, including me, lol
The cross flow used in the 7 is from a modern Ford with a 10w40 semi synthetic recommended, I would use this as a minimum, better still a 10w40 fully synthetic which is harder to find or a 5w40 fully synthetic and a known brand.
Phil
A 10 0r a 5 will do a far better job.
When hot a 40 or a 50 will do.
Consider that engines have changed, even the humble cross flow has, the materials used to make the parts have improved, for example the crank which does not flex as much, revs higher and lives longer, oil has changed along with the engine to enable performance to increase, better start up protection, stronger film strength when hot so why use an outdated oil with a modern version of the engine.
Oil seals have changed, before 1978 they needed burnt oil to help the seal, flushing an engine was not advised, modern oil seals and gaskets like to be clean to do the job properly.
Oil has additives to stop it from burning up before the engine gets up to temperature, additives brake down, older oils need more additives to prop them up compared to modern oils.
So an old style mineral oil is refined to a price and propped up with additives which are cheaper to produce but tends to brake down quicker.
A man made oil is expensive but provides good start up protection when cold and excellent film strength and stability when hot.
A semi synthetic is a blend of the two to keep cost down.
Next you have everyone wanting to sell oil and the qualities vary, as a law was passed allowing an oil to be called part synthetic if an additive used was man made, you never know what you are getting, a lot of people buy on price and suppliers pray on this.
Next problem is, everyone has an opinion, including me, lol
The cross flow used in the 7 is from a modern Ford with a 10w40 semi synthetic recommended, I would use this as a minimum, better still a 10w40 fully synthetic which is harder to find or a 5w40 fully synthetic and a known brand.
Phil
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