Exige 420 sump gate valves replacement

[David Standing]

I know there was a previous thread on this, but I didn't want to hijack it so am starting a fresh one.

My 420 FE is due its Y2 service shortly.

I am replacing the sump gate valves, and with Lotus ones, if only so I know I won't potentially have a warranty issue if there were an engine problem down the line.

I have got pricing for the service from two dealers, and one is quoting £850 all in for the Y2 service including gate valves changing, the other is quoting £740.

That's not an issue as such (although I thought fixed price servicing would be the same at any Lotus dealer).

The question is that one dealer wants the car overnight, the other can do the service/gate valve change in one day.  I am presuming they will use a liquid sump sealant, hence the overnight stay with one dealer, to let it cure, and I presume the other dealer will do the job early in the day so it has time to cure before I pick it up last thing.

So, does anyone in the know know how long the sump sealant takes to cure?  Can it be done in a day?

 

[DH2]

We always leave overnight to be sure the sealant has cured and cannot wash into the oil.

Dave

[David Standing]

Thanks Dave for the quick reply.

I'm guessing by your location 'we' is a certain outfit in Waldringfield 😉

Good point regarding leaving it overnight, I tend to favour a belt and braces approach, I may ask the 'same day' dealer what the Lotus service notes say......but then I can just say to them I will pick it up next day regardless.

[jmcvaughn]

Quick thread hijack, but same topic!

I'm coming up to the 4th year service on my 410. I've umm'ed and ahh'ed over whether to fit a Moroso oil sump and whether the baffles need replacing after 2 years and around 5k miles (car is at approximately 9.5k now).

No track usage (well, do 7 crawling laps of Curborough in the soaking wet on Cup 2s count? :D) and no particularly hard driving (thanks "40 everywhere" people). I've frequently heard they aren't worth doing at the intervals specified by Lotus for "normal" usage, but opinions welcome

[Tex]

I had mine done at 2 1/2 years and they were unworn, although i had tracked it.

For regular track use i would follow schedule, but for road , 5 years would be fine 

[DH2]

3 hours ago, David Standing said:

I'm guessing by your location 'we' is a certain outfit in Waldringfield 😉

Correct.   Service notes don't specify a time, just a 5910-type sealant.  If you get buried in the datasheet for that, it could be up to 21 days cure time  

1 hour ago, jmcvaughn said:

I've frequently heard they aren't worth doing at the intervals specified by Lotus for "normal" usage, but opinions welcome

It is a rubber based item submersed in hot/cold oil, so will degrade (hence being a service item), hard to say how quickly, lots of variable factors I would say.  Like many things, only you can decide how comfortable you are with the risk.

Dave

[David Standing]

Following on from this, I am told the sump gate valve job involves fitting a new exhaust clamp on reassembly, as it is single use, which I believe is part no A132S6022F, clamp assembly, double torca.

Fair enough, but I see from the DeRoure parts listing this clamp is £69.12 inc vat.  Having recently bought a couple of similar double clamps from my local Motor Parts Direct, they were about £10 each!

I won't skimp on critical parts, but £69 for a simple exhaust clamp?!  I am sure there is an identical pattern one out there for about £59 less!

Any of the experts (calling Dave 😉 ) have any suggestions?

 

[DH2]

You can usually get away with reusing the existing one.  They are designed to pull in to shape as you tighten then up, hence they might say you need a new one.

They are a terrible fudge really... who puts a butt join in an exhaust system anyway!?

Dave

[David Standing]

Thanks Dave

Good point, I guess you could take that one step further and say who would put any joint in apart from a welded one!

I still think a decent quality lined sleeve clamp would be perfectly adequate.

[DH2]

I reckon this is what you want: https://www.profusionexhausts.com/components/clamps/joint-coupler-clamp/  It's visually identical to the Lotus "Torca" item.

I've ordered some bits from these guys yesterday (a V-band connector), I'd have taken a punt on one in the same order had I known.

Dave

[David Standing]

Thanks Dave

I spent a while down a rabbit hole this morning looking for alternatives and saw that one, but it doesn't have an inner sleeve like the Torca one.

I did find this, however, which does have an inner sleeve, and I think would do the job:

https://progressiveparts.com/product/vag-centre-exhaust-clamp-68-72mm

[DH2]

9 minutes ago, David Standing said:

it doesn't have an inner sleeve like the Torca one.

Good point, hadn't spotted that.  I'll have a proper eyeball at one next time I'm under an appropriate vehicle.

[David Standing]

Thanks! 👍

[jmcvaughn]

Just a quick thanks to all you folks, much appreciated!