DIY - Oil Change Reference for 2GR-FE

[Porter]

For the lazy folks like me who like direct links to things....

Oil Filters, Toyota part number 04152-YZZA1:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=04152-YZZA1
Careful on these, some have received counterfeit goods through Amazon. Choose your seller/source wisely. They are only 5-7 dollars at the Toyota dealer, so remember you can always go there as well.

Another great filter option is the Purolator Boss, which is the premium filter in MANN+Hummel's product line which includes brands such as Wix, MANN Filter, etc. These have tested very well in online reviews recently. Here's their matching part number PBL25608 on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XQ5NYKF

Drain Plug Gaskets, Toyota part number 90430-12031:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=90430-12031

Oil Filter Housing Tool and Drain Tool Kit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078RJ2L25/

Magnetic Drain Plug - Not necessary, but nice if you're paranoid
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YVKL6DQ/

6QT case of Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 0W-40 (meets API SP, API SN+, API SN)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JMCCE6U/

More info on Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Synthetic: https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/products/full-synthetic-motor-oils/pennzoil-ultra-platinum.html
Great for standard oil change intervals of 5,000 mi, and a recent top recommendation of several very nerdy oil shootouts on Youtube. But it needs changing at 5k miles, don't extend it. Use a "Euro" spec ACEA A3 or better like the factory Total Quartz 9000 Energy 0W-40 if doing extended drain intervals like 10k miles. I wouldn't recommend extended 10k oil change intervals on a nice thing like a Lotus though, come on people. The owner's manual is nonsense, that's regulatory compliance and not appropriate maintenance.

Another great oil if you want the very best product available, Amsoil Signature Series 0W-40:

https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-signature-series-0w-40-100-synthetic-motor-oil-azf/

Slightly more expensive than the Pennzoil, but probably slightly better absolute performance. Maybe 5%?

Both oils are state of the art current oil technology. Both are significantly better than the (now) legacy offerings from Motul, Liqui Moly, Mobil 1, and others.



[edit] - fixed the broken links

 

[LuckysDad]

Anyone know how many quarts we'll need?

 

[MYFASTEFE]

Anyone know how many quarts we'll need?

6

 

[Time2Fly]

Are there any filters you'd recommend?

Is 5w-40 Lotus' recommend oil weight?

 

[Porter]

Are there any filters you'd recommend?

Is 5w-40 Lotus' recommend oil weight?

Stock Toyota filter is completely fine. The Lotus part is a Toyota filter with a Lotus part sticker stuck on the bag.

 

[Time2Fly]

What about the oil weight?

 

[Porter]

What about the oil weight?

Factory oil weight is 0W-40. Per the owner's manual.

Hilariously, the spec oil (Total Quartz 9000 Energy) is not commonly available in the US, and Lotus have not specified a US-market product that they consider directly equivalent.

The oil I linked above is the most high quality affordable option that I'm aware of that's broadly available at retail in the United States, though it's not designed for "Euro" style extended change intervals. That's what the ACEA ratings are about, jacking up the detergent package so you can change the oil less for environmental reasons. It's not actually good for the engine to go 10k+ without changing the oil, that's a regulatory thing. So be aware.

 

[FlyNavy01]

Because I'm a data nerd, I plan to send my oil into Blackstone Labs for analysis after the 1k mile break-in and again around 5-8k to compare. A lot of variables depend on the environment the car is driven (temps, dust, etc.) but I'll post the future results here for anyone interested.

 

[Porter]

Because I'm a data nerd, I plan to send my oil into Blackstone Labs for analysis after the 1k mile break-in and again around 5-8k to compare. A lot of variables depend on the environment the car is driven (temps, dust, etc.) but I'll post the future results here for anyone interested.

Same, though I'm doing mine through SPEEDiagnostix. No quality difference, just a different looking chart.

 

[scc.131.fe]

Because I'm a data nerd, I plan to send my oil into Blackstone Labs for analysis after the 1k mile break-in and again around 5-8k to compare. A lot of variables depend on the environment the car is driven (temps, dust, etc.) but I'll post the future results here for anyone interested.

I also use Blackstone for my cars. I was going to call them and see how they segregate their averages for the 2GR-FE families. Will our data be compared to averages for Lotus 2GR uses only? Supercharged only? Or all 2GR submissions?

 

[crashprash]

For the lazy folks like me who like direct links to things....

Oil Filters:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=04152-YZZA1

Oil Filter Housing Tool and Drain Tool Kit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078RJ2L25/

Drain Plug Gaskets
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=90430-12031

Magnetic Drain Plug - Not necessary, but nice if you're paranoid
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YVKL6DQ/

6QT case of Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 0W-40 (meets API SP, API SN+, API SN)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JMCCE6U/
Great for standard oil change intervals of 5,000 mi and a recent top recommendation of several very nerdy oil shootouts on Youtube. But needs change at 5k miles, don't extend it. Use a "Euro" spec ACEA A3 or better like the factory Total Quartz 9000 Energy 0W-40 if doing extended drain intervals like 10k miles. I wouldn't recommend extended 10k oil change intervals on a nice thing like a Lotus though, come on people. The owner's manual is nonsense, that's regulatory compliance and not appropriate maintenance.



[edit] - fixed the broken links

Thanks for this. Is the OEM drain plug magnetic?

 

[Eagle7]

For the lazy folks like me who like direct links to things....

Oil Filters:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=04152-YZZA1

Oil Filter Housing Tool and Drain Tool Kit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078RJ2L25/

Drain Plug Gaskets
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=90430-12031

Magnetic Drain Plug - Not necessary, but nice if you're paranoid
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YVKL6DQ/

6QT case of Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 0W-40 (meets API SP, API SN+, API SN)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JMCCE6U/
Great for standard oil change intervals of 5,000 mi and a recent top recommendation of several very nerdy oil shootouts on Youtube. But needs change at 5k miles, don't extend it. Use a "Euro" spec ACEA A3 or better like the factory Total Quartz 9000 Energy 0W-40 if doing extended drain intervals like 10k miles. I wouldn't recommend extended 10k oil change intervals on a nice thing like a Lotus though, come on people. The owner's manual is nonsense, that's regulatory compliance and not appropriate maintenance.



[edit] - fixed the broken links

Try this instead for the motor oil:

https://www.amazon.com/Pennzoil-550036272-6PK-Platinum-0W-40-Synthetic

 

[Porter]

Thanks for this. Is the OEM drain plug magnetic?

It is not. The suggestion was just for people like me who are paranoid.

 

[Porter]

Try this instead for the motor oil:

https://www.amazon.com/Pennzoil-550036272-6PK-Platinum-0W-40-Synthetic

View attachment 41001

Why would I want to do that? Just to go longer between oil changes?

Extending the oil change interval doesn't make sense to me unless this is a consumable daily driver that someone intends to get rid of in 50k miles.

If you intend to change the oil every 5k miles, the Ultra Platinum I originally linked is better oil. Or, quite frankly, Amsoil Signature Series 0W-40 which is excellent as well. It consistently tests to be one of the finest motor oils available and is just slightly more expensive than the Pennzoil Ultra when purchased by the case.

 

[Time2Fly]

Why would I want to do that? Just to go longer between oil changes?

Extending the oil change interval doesn't make sense to me unless this is a consumable daily driver that someone intends to get rid of in 50k miles.

If you intend to change the oil every 5k miles, the Ultra Platinum I originally linked is better oil. Or, quite frankly, Amsoil Signature Series 0W-40 which is excellent as well. It consistently tests to be one of the finest motor oils available and is just slightly more expensive than the Pennzoil Ultra when purchased by the case.

It's going to be my daily driver, so I'll be changing the oil every 5k. Just need to get all the right stuff.

 

[Aero]

Helpful links Porter. Might try the Amsoil on the Emira.

At least at my local Toyota dealer, you can order parts online (dont call) thru your local dealer site at a good discount and pick them up at the counter desk. The counter clerk told me about this years ago and actually told me never to buy from him as a walk in.
I got the Emira/Toyota V6 OEM filter for $4.56 guaranteed to be OEM. Theyll sometime just give you the crush washer. Some have said Toyota OEM parts thru Amazon/Ebay are sometimes counterfeit.
Not all dealers will have this. The rip off one in town does not do this. The one closest to me does. Here's what the link looks like. If you're talking to someone or have them contact you its not it.

autoparts.toyotaofdecatur.com

 

[Porter]

In case anyone wondered about the practical difference between modern oils by quality tier... this is truly what you're paying for. Amsoil SS and Pennzoil Ultra Premium are both right in the same top tier performance category and both flow extremely well when cold compared to most other oils, including some very expensive synthetics.

 

[Porter]

Helpful links Porter. Might try the Amsoil on the Emira.

At least at my local Toyota dealer, you can order parts online (dont call) thru their local dealer site at a good discount and pick them up at the counter desk. The counter clerk told me about this years ago and actually told me never to buy from him as a walk in.
I got the Emira/Toyota V6 OEM filter for $4.56 guaranteed to be OEM. Theyll sometime just give you the crush washer. Some have said Toyota OEM parts thru Amazon/Ebay are sometimes counterfeit.

Great point, and a good warning. I've updated my post above.

 

[scc.131.fe]

And, if anyone finds the oleo content in this forum interesting or lacking, head on over to bobistheoilguy.com and spend some time reading there.

Fellow needs and engineers, you'll thank me later.

 

[Porter]

And, if anyone finds the oleo content in this forum interesting or lacking, head on over to bobistheoilguy.com and spend some time reading there.

Fellow needs and engineers, you'll thank me later.

Yep! Excellent info and community over there.

The short story: change your oil, folks.