Service Intervals - K-Series R500
Discussion
Ok, I know about the standard service interval sheet as provided by Caterham and as listed on the Lotus Seven Club website, but interested to know what significant differences there should be for a K-Series standard R-500 which is mostly used for leisurely road blats and two track days per year (which don't see the engine screaming at the limit)? Existing mileage is approx 7,000 miles, annual mileage varies between 900 to 1,800 a year and the car is running great no problems. I only ask, as in the past I have been very extravagant with all fluids replaced very regularly plus cambelt changes. I'm not interested in budgeting, if it needs doing, it gets done, but these are hard times and I need to justify.
Ult-jim
Any negative comments about high powered K-series engine durability not required! Thanks.
Ult-jim
Any negative comments about high powered K-series engine durability not required! Thanks.
Can only talk about racing that spec engine but to keep them in one piece it was 20 hours between oil changes and 100-150 hours before a refresh. That way they never went pop which is way more money and good blocks are getting harder to find now I believe.
It's highly stressed so on the road I'd say 75 hours to oil change (easy job) which is about 3000 miles at road speeds and 9000 miles for refresh.
Main thing is to warm it up gently first then they last way better, ragging it before 60c oil temp isn't good for them, you need all the steel and alloy bits to have expanded to working specs.
Still love the engine though, so much character and still prefer the front end feel of the K 500 to the Duratec even though it's quicker overall.
It's highly stressed so on the road I'd say 75 hours to oil change (easy job) which is about 3000 miles at road speeds and 9000 miles for refresh.
Main thing is to warm it up gently first then they last way better, ragging it before 60c oil temp isn't good for them, you need all the steel and alloy bits to have expanded to working specs.
Still love the engine though, so much character and still prefer the front end feel of the K 500 to the Duratec even though it's quicker overall.
9000 miles for a refresh!!! --what are they made of!!! --ok they are highly sressed on the track but not surely on the road ? .Current F1 engines are running half a season or more and these things need a'refresh' at under 10k? at a gestimate of £10k+for an engine I would expect 30K mileage if not more --- but I'm living in the past
Ok I don't thrash my car and respect the engine. I must say I have been a little paranoid (too much reading on here I expect) so have probably gone over the top with oil changes, and brake, coolant changes, cambelt changes and the rest, but when the car is in France I need it to be reliable and so far its performed well. I will calculate a few numbers later if I have time based on the hours & miles given by others. I guess I should stop worrying about it and just drive it!
As said below, the key thing is to allow a proper warm up prior to giving it the beans.
Speak to Dave Andrews (DVAPower.com) to get chapter and verse on his thoughts on service /rebuild intervals, and any tips on how to maximise the interval times/mileages. Unless you regularly go near the redline, then there isn't any particular stress on the engine, (i.e. no more than any other engine). It has steel internals anyway, so those parts should be OK. Decent warm up is the key.
If you do elect to get it rebuilt, a full dyanmic balance by Steve Smith (vibration free) will do a lot to help with the stresses within the engine. (crank, rods, clutch, flywheel, etc)
Speak to Dave Andrews (DVAPower.com) to get chapter and verse on his thoughts on service /rebuild intervals, and any tips on how to maximise the interval times/mileages. Unless you regularly go near the redline, then there isn't any particular stress on the engine, (i.e. no more than any other engine). It has steel internals anyway, so those parts should be OK. Decent warm up is the key.
If you do elect to get it rebuilt, a full dyanmic balance by Steve Smith (vibration free) will do a lot to help with the stresses within the engine. (crank, rods, clutch, flywheel, etc)
but love it and after a night out don't care .... Euro millions rollover ... Dream Ult-Jim said:
Hi Fergus & Rubystone, Who is Steve in Bicester? I'm interested as I live not too far away when I am back in the UK. I guess he is someone experienced with K-series engines?
http://vibrationfree.co.uk/Will balance the rotating components in your engine to within F1 tolerances. This will give you a turbine of an engine, rather than something which shakes the chassis at idle! Give you far more room for "extra revs" as the forces involved in an out of balance engine can amount to 100s of kilos at high revs. Will also allow your engine to spin up faster, as less energy is going into centripital acceleration of out of balance bits.
Speak to DVA or Steve for chapter and verse.
http://vibrationfree.co.uk/about-us/testimonials/s...
Edited by fergus on Monday 6th August 16:27
one eyed mick said:
9000 miles for a refresh!!! --what are they made of!!! --ok they are highly sressed on the track but not surely on the road ? .Current F1 engines are running half a season or more and these things need a'refresh' at under 10k? at a gestimate of £10k+for an engine I would expect 30K mileage if not more --- but I'm living in the past
Don't forget that a refresh is an easy job on these, takes half an hour to pull the engine, and same to pop it back in. The refresh is really just bearing shells and maybe rings plus a head gasket and clean up chance to reset the throttle bodies and clean them up and bbalance. Not huge sums of cash and means you can really work the engine without issues.Having steel internals in an alloy block originally designed as a 1.4 for a metro means it's never going to be an F1 engine but it's still IMHO the best match to the Caterham so far weight for power and balance.
rubystone said:
James,cmaybe we should both go and see him? Are you bringing your car back to the UK?
I am flexible with my schedule after the 12th Sept if work goes to plan, and yes I would be interested to meet up for a blat and meet Steve and DVA sometime then. I'm planning on doing the Abingdon Track Day on the 14th, all weather dependent of course. I will be in touch closer to the that time.Forums | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff