Lotus Elise Service Notes page 136

ENGINE
Lubrication
The lubrication system is of the full-flow filtration,
forced fed type. The oil sump is of either pressed
steel or alloy manufacture. Pressed steel sumps are
sealed to the bearing ladder using a positively
located gasket incorporating compression limiters.
Alloy sumps are sealed to the bearing ladder with a
bead of sealant applied to the sump flange.
Oil is drawn, via a strainer and suction pipe (1) in the
sump, into the crankshaft driven oil pump (2) of the
trochoid type which has an integral pressure relief
valve (3), excess oil is diverted into the intake (4) of
the oil pump. Oil is pumped through the full-flow
cartridge type oil filter (5), mounted on an adapter
attached to the oil pump housing. The low oil
pressure sensor (6) is also screwed into the adapter
and registers the oil pressure in the main oil gallery
on the outflow side of the filter.
The main oil gallery (7) is fed through the oil rail
below the main bearing ladder in which drillings
direct the oil to the main bearings. Cross drillings in
the crankshaft from No. 2 and 4 main bearings carry
the oil to the big-end bearings. A passage in the oil
pump housing connects to a drilling (8) in the
cylinder block to oilways (9) in the cylinder head.
K8 engine: Oil is fed through the cylinder head to a
drilling (10) in the one piece camshaft carrier to
supply oil to each hydraulic tappet and camshaft
bearing.
k16 engine: Oil is fed through the cylinder head to
twin full length oilways (10) in the camshaft carrier to
supply oil to each hydraulic tappet and camshaft
bearing.
VVC engines: The VVC mechanisms are lubricated
by oil fed via the inlet camshafts.
An oil temperature switch (11) is fitted in the oil filter
head for certain models. In the event of engine oil
temperature rising above a pre-set level, a warning
light will illuminate on the instrument panel.
Crankcase ventilation
A positive crankcase ventilation system is used to
vent blow-by gas from the crankcase to the air
intake system.
K8 engine: Crankcase gas is drawn through a gauze
oil separator in the camshaft cover and passes via a
hose into either the carburetter or throttle body
ahead of the throttle disc.
K16 engine: Crankcase gas is drawn through a
gauze oil separator in the camshaft cover and
passes via hoses into the throttle housing.
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION 2 1