Caterham Oil change question

[Kitcat]

Does the Caterham oil cooler need to separately drained when doing an oil change? Or, does the oil cooler drain using the standard technique?

 

My understanding is the Crossflow has a 4 quart oil capacity, but I never seem to be able to get more than 3 quarts in when changing the oil & filter.

 

Mike

[blami]

My Caterham does not have a crossflow but it does have a Mocal oil cooler and it uses the standard Caterham hoses and mounts. It must be drained separately.

 

I disconnect the hoses, unbolt the cooler, and turn it upside down and let it drain.

 

Bart

[Kitcat]

Thx Bart (I shudda asked 12K miles ago:)). If Martin hadn't mentioned in passing on his gas-filed engine post it never wld have occurred to me.

 

Mike

[rnr]

You dont really have to drain the oil all the way especially if you are doing frequent oil changes. On the Elise for example you have two front mounted oil coolers and 10-15 feet of hose connecting them to the engine but Lotus does not require that you drain the coolers. Instead you just chane the oil in the pan which which mixes with the old oil in the coolers and essentially distributes the waste on the first startup. This is on a car with specified oil changes every 7.5k miles which is nowhere near the 3-5k changes that most folks here will do.

[MHKflyer52]

That is a very good question. I would suspect that there is about a quart of oil in the lines if not more and as long as they are. I do not think it would hurt the oil system for a street driven car that much as long as there have been no issues with the engine or the oil system. I would bet that if serviced at a dealer they drain the hoses when the car is up on the rack to drain the oil but one never knows and I sure do not know. I do know that my oil cooler and the two lines in my car hold just under a quart of oil and when I drained the cooler it was the first time that I had done that since I installed the current engine but will be done from now on every time I change the oil in my 7. (Note my oil cooler was full of fuel and oil from my tank being over pressurized which is not normal)

[Kitcat]

Ahhh, the oil lines.... Well, I just finished the oil change and pulled off the oil cooler and drained it and refilled it-I wld estimate it holds abt 2-3 oz's. Never thot abt the oil lines tho. Since I change my oil every 1-2K none of it ever gets too dirty.

 

Mike

[rnr]

I would bet that if serviced at a dealer they drain the hoses when the car is up on the rack to drain the oil but one never knows and I sure do not know.

 

If you are referring to the Elise then I can guarantee that they do not drain the lines. The service manual specifies that you leave it as is and to flush the coolers only in cases of major engine failure where the coolers may have been contaminated with debris. The oil coolers and lines hold 3.2 liters (~3.4 quarts) so it is significant amount of fluid.

 

Again there is no harm in changing the oil in the coolers but I just want to say that it may not be necessary especially if you are on a frequent oil change schedule.

[MHKflyer52]

If you are referring to the Elise then I can guarantee that they do not drain the lines. The service manual specifies that you leave it as is and to flush the coolers only in cases of major engine failure where the coolers may have been contaminated with debris. The oil coolers and lines hold 3.2 liters (~3.4 quarts) so it is significant amount of fluid.

 

Again there is no harm in changing the oil in the coolers but I just want to say that it may not be necessary especially if you are on a frequent oil change schedule.

 

I agree especially if you have had no issues with cementation.

I am amaized that their is that much oil in the lines and oil coolers on an Elise, I figured about a quart total. So I take it that the Elise holds about 8 qts of oil if completely drained and refilled.

My 7 holds 4.5 qts in the sump and another 3/4qt in the oil lines and cooler for a total of 5.25 qts of oil.

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Just consider it an easy way to identify the oil on the dipstick after a fresh change. ;-)