Oil Filters

As you may (or may not) have noticed the oil filter on the Esprit is in a horrible position. The consensus is to remove/install it "from the top" not from under the car. Be aware that the starter is nearby as well as a couple vacuum lines (among other things.) It is fairly easy to pop off electrical connections and vacuum connections (thus preventing your car from starting or running properly.)

There are multiple suggestions as to what filters to use on the S3/TE, some of this information is incorrect. Some filters that may fit earlier/later cars will not fit the 3rd generation cars. The information presented here is based on the design/layout of the carbureted engines and the EFI cars may be different.

Choosing a Filter

First let me say that the parts catalog for a particular brand can't always be trusted. I bought three different branded filters before I found one that fit.

K&N HP-2004
Although the K&N is one of the best filters you can buy, the suggested HP-2004 just doesn't fit our car. The threaded hole is recessed too far into the filter and it doesn't contact the threads on the engine. Additionally it doesn't have a pressure relief valve (the OEM Lotus filter does.)

K&N HP-1002
I am currently running a K&N-HP1002 on my 87 HCi and I love it! The 1" nut on the back makes removal and installation relatively easy, and on this car, that's quite an advantage. I highly recommend this filter!

NAPA branded filter
After the first K&N (HP-2004) didn't fit, I ran to the closest auto parts store and bought another filter. I referenced the catalog (under "Lotus: All Esprit",) and bought this filter. Getting home I realized (after trying to fit the filter) that the filter is too long for the space. The end of the filter doesn't clear the starter. Not to mention after some research, the NAPA filters aren't that good and it also doesn't have a pressure relief valve like the stock Lotus filter.

Mobil 1 M1-204
The Mobil 1 filter is supposed to be one of the best filters you can buy (as far as quality, etc.) Mobil 1 is available at AutoZone. Has anyone successfully used this filter?

Mobil 1 M1-102
I have used a Mobil-1 Filter #M1-102 on my 87 HCi. It fit perfectly and was small enough to give room for the oil filter wrench. I'm confident it's a very good quality filter, but I've moved to the K&N-HP1002 due to the convenient 1" bolt on the back of the housing.

Purolator L20081/L14670
Other Lotus owners have suggested the L20081 filter, but Purolator's book suggests a L14670. They both appear almost identical under visual inspection (the L14670 is slightly shorter.) I purchased both, and installed the L14670 on the car (I didn't try fitting the L20081 yet.) On a positive note, both filters have the pressure relief valve like the OEM Lotus filter.

Wix 51348
This filter is smaller in diameter and length, making it easier to install. This is a plus for the 86/87 owners who have no access from the top.

NAPA only carries NAPA branded filters, so don't even bother stopping there. AutoZone doesn't seem to carry Puralator, but they do carry Mobil 1. Western Auto/Advance Auto Parts/Parts America (the same company) does carry Puralator filters.

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Oil

Synthetic oil is very good (as far as longevity and wear reduction,) but on older engines you may see seeping with synthetic. Part of the reason is because Synthetic oils are generally a thinner consistency for a given SAE rating. You may want to switch to a blended oil or organic oil if you see slight oil leaks from your Esprit.

Mobil 1 is one of the better store bought synthetic oils you can buy (you can pick it up from almost any store.) If you wish to go above and beyond Mobil 1, the two popular choices are Red Line and AMSOIL. Red Line can be bought at some auto parts stores (like Advance) or through mail order from Jegs or Summit Racing. AMSOIL is only sold through AMSOIL dealers (there are a variety that sell online.)

According to AMSOIL's independent tests it is apparently the better oil, however recent tests did not include Red Line as part of the testing. In addition the fact that AMSOIL is not sold through regular channels seems to be a practice that doesn't inspire confidence.

Why does Lotus Recommend RACING OIL ?
I've done some research on Oils lately and discovered an interesting fact about oils labelled "Racing Oil". There's a very good reason that Lotus recommends Racing Oils that you all should be aware of. Evidently, older oil formulations included substantial quantities of what are called "anti-scuff" additives, which helped significantly reduce valve and rocker ware in non roller-rocker cars (like ours). These anti-scuff additives (primarily Zinc and some other metalic substances) were deemed "unfriendly" to the environment and as such were almost entirely eliminated in automotive oils some years ago. Many long-time mechanics that I know, confirm a noticable increase in rocker-area ware since this change was made as a direct reslut of the formulation change. The good news is, all these anti-scuff additives still exist in the proper quantities in Truck Oils (like Rotella) and in anything properly labelled as a Racing Oil (like the Lotus recommended Valvoline 20/50 Racing Oil). Just thought you'd want to know.

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Tools

I bought (and have used) the oil extractor from Griot's. A clever idea that just doesn't work on our cars (the dipstick doesn't go far enough down into the oil pan.) I will want to re-test this to double check that it can't remove all the oil via the dipstick. The oil extractor can come in handy for other tasks though (whenever you might need to vacuum oil into a catch tank).