R500D Oil usage ?
Discussion
Interested in the level of oil consumption other R500 owners (or indeed R300/R400D owners) are typically seeing, along with associated driving style (mild/med road, fast road, track..etc.). I bought mine at around 4000km, done about 4000km since then. Used ~4L of oil already. This has caught me by surprise..not expecting such a high oil usage. Any advice, please? Thanks!
It sounds like you are on the high side, but IMHO not excessive. I wouldn't be too concerned about consumption unless there's visible smoke with power on, or off. Sound obvious but check it is being burnt and not lost from over filling the dry sump - also, if it is not a factory car, that the sump venting has been correctly blocked off on the inlet side of the engine.
It is still a low mileage engine so it is unlikely to be excessively worn, and may even get better. But it is also possible that it has a valve stem seal problem, or a ring problem. It all comes down to the history and builder. Is it a Caterham factory car?
If you are really worried, then best option is to have it stripped and rebuilt.
It is still a low mileage engine so it is unlikely to be excessively worn, and may even get better. But it is also possible that it has a valve stem seal problem, or a ring problem. It all comes down to the history and builder. Is it a Caterham factory car?
If you are really worried, then best option is to have it stripped and rebuilt.
Edited by DCL on Tuesday 14th October 17:40
I`d not panic and that seems fairly normal given my limited experience. I was warned that driven properly and keeping it high in the revs that the Duratecs will use oil. It was mentioned to me that Half a litre at lunchtime on a trackday is not uncommon either.
I`m a bit OCD about the oil level in mine after the previous owner drove it dry of oil ( and on a couple of trackdays pretty easy to do ). I can be a pain to check as with mine it is nose cone off (dry sump)but its worth it. I like to keep mine ever so slightly over full so that I get about an inch in the overflow tank. That way I know there is plenty in it when on track and cornering hard.
Might just add that my mileage is similar to yours with zero sign of smoke on start up , driving or overrun etc. I think what I`m trying to say is ... its normal !
I`m a bit OCD about the oil level in mine after the previous owner drove it dry of oil ( and on a couple of trackdays pretty easy to do ). I can be a pain to check as with mine it is nose cone off (dry sump)but its worth it. I like to keep mine ever so slightly over full so that I get about an inch in the overflow tank. That way I know there is plenty in it when on track and cornering hard.
Might just add that my mileage is similar to yours with zero sign of smoke on start up , driving or overrun etc. I think what I`m trying to say is ... its normal !
I have a C400 (Duratec) race car which has always blown a fair amount of oil into the breather when on track. It's had 2 or 3 engine rebuilds by different people and it's always done it for some reason. Makes a bloody mess too unless the catch tanks are sealed properly!
It has a dry sump tank situated to the left of the bellhousing at the end of the passenger footwell, so I'm not sure if that bears any relationship to the R500 setup.
It has a dry sump tank situated to the left of the bellhousing at the end of the passenger footwell, so I'm not sure if that bears any relationship to the R500 setup.
thanks Guys. really appreciate the fast response and detail. So sounds like mine is using maybe more than normal, but very dependent on driving style. I have done a lot of km on the autobahns here in Germany and with the 6 speed Caterham box, this means high revs
And a long black forest tour with no speed cameras and not much traffic
DCL, my car is a factory build (no. 91) 2010 and all bog-standard. Cheers.
And a long black forest tour with no speed cameras and not much traffic
DCL, my car is a factory build (no. 91) 2010 and all bog-standard. Cheers.
Tim75 said:
my car is a factory build (no. 91) 2010 and all bog-standard
If you'd like to send me a picture I'll add it to The Caterham RegisterTim75 said:
thanks Guys. really appreciate the fast response and detail. So sounds like mine is using maybe more than normal, but very dependent on driving style. I have done a lot of km on the autobahns here in Germany and with the 6 speed Caterham box, this means high revs
And a long black forest tour with no speed cameras and not much traffic
DCL, my car is a factory build (no. 91) 2010 and all bog-standard. Cheers.
Thats sounds like alot of fun and oil burning high revs alright !! And a long black forest tour with no speed cameras and not much traffic
DCL, my car is a factory build (no. 91) 2010 and all bog-standard. Cheers.
Could just be symptomatic of the way it was run in when new. If it was run in very gently then it might be that the piston rings aren't seating fully and thus a bit of oil is being allowed to blow by.
Alternatively, and has been said already, could be the valve stem seals.
If you leave it for a week or so and then start it up do you get any smoke?
Alternatively, and has been said already, could be the valve stem seals.
If you leave it for a week or so and then start it up do you get any smoke?
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff