V8 ENGINE NUMBERS.. THE FACTS

[Guest Chelsea Martyn]

Straight from the horses mouth, so this eliminates any confusion.

I'll use my engine number to demonstrate

LL918990930122

LL918= Engine type number in this case the 3.5ltr V8

99 = Year Buill 1999

09 =Month Build September

30122=Lotus serial number that is a continuation of all engines ever built.

30123 may be on another V8, but could have been assigned to an Elise / 4 pot engine.

So the important bit of year and month is accurate and essential to anyone avoiding a Loctite sealed engine from new, unless it has been carried out in aftersales for example

Edited November 30, 2005 by Chelsea Martyn

[PVK 596Y]

Straight from the horses mouth, so this eliminates any confusion.

I'll use my engine number to demonstrate

LL918990930122

LL918= Engine type number in this case the 3.5ltr V8

99    = Year Buill 1999

09    =Month Build September

30122=Lotus serial number that is a continuation of all engines ever built.

          30123 may be on another V8, but could have been assigned to an Elise    4 pot engine.

So the important bit of year and month is accurate and essential to anyone avoiding a Loctite sealed engine from new, unless it has been carried out in aftersales for example

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As an aside, and not wishing to muddy the water, but I thought Elises had Rover K-series (or Toyota nowadays) engines, and therefore would have Rover/Toyota serial numbers which would not be part of the Lotus sequence. Anybody with an Elise care to check?

Paul.

[Guest Chelsea Martyn]

As an aside, and not wishing to muddy the water, but I thought Elises had Rover K-series (or Toyota nowadays) engines, and therefore would have Rover/Toyota serial numbers which would not be part of the Lotus sequence. Anybody with an Elise care to check?

Paul.

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Hi Paul

Are they stamped with Rover or Toyota engine numbers? or special batch to Lotus?

I am offering the info that has been told by Lotus themselves...

Edited November 30, 2005 by Chelsea Martyn

[PVK 596Y]

Hi Paul

Are they stamped with Rover or Toyota engine numbers? or special batch to Lotus?

I am offering the info that has been told by Lotus themselves...

Feel free to actually contact them and post a thread if they tell you something to differ my info from them. I am not saying I am right or wrong. Lotus are cagey about V8 build dates for the sealant change reason. I am offering the forum an answer to engine identification from Lotus, and from that information to allow them to process this given knowledge of build dates etc so they can be aware of what sealer was used until June 2000 etc.

My threads of humour on chat can have the p!ss taken out of them as much as you like... it's a general chat, coming together, and uniting through laughs kind of place in the forum IMO.

But when I take a good hour from my working day to try and offer facts from the best source available, i'd appreciate it if you came back with something more than an assumption, which in turn make my opinions seem nothing more than conjecture.

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Hold on a minute mate, I was not making any assumptions, just asking a simple question about engines not built by Lotus. In no way was I trying to make your statement about V8 numbers seem like conjecture, nor taking the piss.

Sorry if I offended, but you do seem to be a touch over-sensitive.

[Guest Chelsea Martyn]

Hold on a minute mate, I was not making any assumptions, just asking a simple question about engines not built by Lotus. In no way was I trying to make your statement about V8 numbers seem like conjecture, nor taking the piss.

Sorry if I offended, but you do seem to be a touch over-sensitive.

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Look

I spent a long time on the phone today getting info for people that have been wondering for a fair while what year build engine is in their car......

Examples:

If my engine ends in ****** does that mean i'm safe

Even if you get a car on n 02 plate how do you know it's not been in storage for years and has an old engine with Loctite sealer

I've removed the rant, for no other reason than I am now explaining that for this thread I'd like forum users to have information given to them by Hethel or another Lotus approved source.

The whole point was originally to determine when the engine was made to allow a risk assessment on potential faulure due to sealant types.

I'm not really bothered about the Rover or Toyota lumps, I'm trying to help the V8 owners that feel worried about their findings on Loctite sealed engines, and offer some help in how to identify them.

No hard feelings before you ask!

[PVK 596Y]

Look

I spent a long time on the phone today getting info for people that have been wondering for a fair while what year build engine is in their car......

Examples:

If my engine ends in ****** does that mean i'm safe

Even if you get a car on n 02 plate how do you know it's not been in storage for years and has an old engine with Loctite sealer

I've removed the rant, for no other reason than I am now explaining that for this thread I'd like forum users to have information given to them by Hethel or another Lotus approved source.

The whole point was originally to determine when the engine was made to allow a risk assessment on potential faulure due to sealant types.

I'm not really bothered about the Rover or Toyota lumps, I'm trying to help the V8 owners that feel worried about their findings on Loctite sealed engines, and offer some help in how to identify them.

No hard feelings before you ask!

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I wasn't going to ask, but I'm glad you haven't.

My post was, as I said, an aside. It was nothing to do with your efforts to decode the V8 engine Nos, for which I am sure the owners on this list are grateful.

I can appreciate that you have no real interest in Elise engines, and that's fair enough. My query was not specifically aimed at you, but was an attempt to see if non Lotus-built engines are included in the sequence of numbers. I doubt it, but am happy to be proved wrong; it was only a casual query.

No hard feelings either.

Paul.

[CarlC]

Martyn,

Just wanted to express my thanks for making the effort on behalf of myself and probably many others for following this query up and getting the offical line. Your efforts are appreciated and if it wasnt for the few like yourself putting the time in of your own back then we wouldnt have such a great forum and community.

You have my thanks.

[bobbak]

Hi yep I agree these last few threads have proven invaluable in determining the weight of risk attatched to buying a seemingly safe car with regards to the sealant used during manufacture, showing that based on year plate or v5 incorrect assumptions can be made.

However while like those owners who from this info find themselves wondering not if but when the hot line to the bank manager for a rebuild is going to be used I find myself asking another question.

Q: If Lotus recognise that there was a failing with regard to the use of loctite and by the very fact that they changed the sealant spec for future builds, they must even now still have a certain liability for the rebuild costs.

I would love to know the official stand point on this ?

regards rob

[Guest Chelsea Martyn]

Q: If Lotus recognise that there was a failing with regard to the use of loctite and by the very fact that they changed the sealant spec for future builds, they must even now still have a certain liability for the rebuild costs.

I would love to know the official stand point on this ?

Edited December 1, 2005 by Chelsea Martyn

[steve duffell]

Straight from the horses mouth, so this eliminates any confusion.

I'll use my engine number to demonstrate

LL918990930122

LL918= Engine type number in this case the 3.5ltr V8

99    = Year Buill 1999

09    =Month Build September

30122=Lotus serial number that is a continuation of all engines ever built.

          30123 may be on another V8, but could have been assigned to an Elise    / 4 pot engine.

So the important bit of year and month is accurate and essential to anyone avoiding a Loctite sealed engine from new, unless it has been carried out in aftersales for example

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hi

thats interesting, my engine number is 4918980930117, my car is first registered 1-4-1999, april fools day!!! bloody hell, hope the laughs not on me!! my engine was built in sept 98 a tear before yours and only 4 others built in between!!

comments??

[superdavelotus]

My Engine Number is LL91890730362, which makes it built in July 1999. So what was the cut off date Martin? Did mine have the old crap in or the new sealer?

It's just out of interest and I had a new engine build in 2003 so i was just curious.

Martin how come I've got a much later engine number than yours but it was made in July 1999 and yours in Sept 1999?

Edited December 7, 2005 by superdavelotus

[hedgerley]

It was interesting discussing this issue with my PO. He had already priced in a discount on his 98 V8-GT because of the liner issue - no remedial work had been undertaken. He was getting sick and tired of explaining this time after time as every one who enquired asked the same question then walked away, despite the very low price.

So, I come along having driven several, all priced considerably higher. At 29k miles, mint condition, full history and absolutely no sign of liner leakage, I snap it up at a good

[superdavelotus]

Is yours a titanium V8 then? I nearly bought one off Ebay a few weeks ago with 28K on the clock but someone beat me to it.

[hedgerley]

Yes it is Titanium, yes it did have 28k on the clock but no, not off eBay. I bought it privately. I'm very pleased with it.

[superdavelotus]

Sorry meant to say that it was on Ebay but the seller said that he'd had an offer elsewhere but I couldn't get there in time. Hope you enjoy your new car, I have a V8 GT too in the same colour. Done lots since I've bought it in June.

See my pics here.

http://community.webshots.com/user/superdavelotus

[hedgerley]

Ah ha! At last a picture of a Titanium V8-GT with the Oz Novas. I am contemplating doing the same in the New Year but was trying to imagine what they might look like against the silver/grey. She who must be obeyed has just taken a look and approves, so that decision is made! I have the 02/03 light conversion on order so will be doing that first in January. This car is really getting to me....

[Guest Chelsea Martyn]

My Engine Number is LL91890730362, which makes it built in July 1999. So what was the cut off date Martin? Did mine have the old crap in or the new sealer?

It's just out of interest and I had a new engine build in 2003 so i was just curious.

Martin how come I've got a much later engine number than yours but it was made in July 1999 and yours in Sept 1999?

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Hi Dave

I hope all is well.

To answer the first point Lotus say it was a running change in 2000, no specific dates, but on the LEW liner problems page, it states there that it was June 2000 before the change took place, so yes you are in the Loctite generation, unless the work has already been carried out of course.

The second point is that my engine number is wrong, there was a smear on the V5 document and it looked like '99' it is in fact '98' so my engine is a 1998 power plant, fitted to a car first registered in March 2000.

Which really now is a clear reason to identify the engine build date by the number, and not the registration of the car.

I hope this helps

[superdavelotus]

Martyn,

I have spoken to one or two Lotus specialists about this problem, which incidentally only becomes a problem when the car overheats. This can be caused by a number of reasons.

As a good measure, I was told to put in wurth high performance sealant in my water system. Similar to rad weld, I don't have the part number to hand.

I have been told by a good source that Jaguar put a similar or same product in every car on a major service to prevent any leakage through liners and to help leaks around the system.

Iam not that technically minded so don't know the pros and cons. Put it another way, I can't see any harm it will do to your car by putting this in your system and if it helps the liners when they need it then it has to be a bonus.

I think the trick is to never let your pre 2000 engined V8 seriously overheat.

Iam lucky (well I hope Iam?) as I have a virtually new engine inc block, crank, pistons, liners etc. I still think I will put the wurth product in. I think it's a fiver or so a bottle, if anyone wants a bottle but can't source it then drop me an email (no shameless plugs this time).

[scoule]

Iam not that technically minded so don't know the pros and cons. Put it another way, I can't see any harm it will do to your car by putting this in your system and if it helps the liners when they need it then it has to be a bonus.

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The harm I'd fear is that this stuff effectively lines the engine and radiator .. I'd hazard a guess that this will harm thermal conductivity from both liners etc to water in the block, and from the water to the copper of the radiator.

Many years ago I was stuck in the south of france with a leaking radiator - since it had plastic end caps, I couldn't get it soldered up, nor wait a week and pay

[Guest Chelsea Martyn]

Martyn,

I have spoken to one or two Lotus specialists about this problem, which incidentally only becomes a problem when the car overheats. This can be caused by a number of reasons.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi again

I have heard that theory too, then got told when Lotus were deliberately getting the engines to overheat on test beds to see if that was the reason that they failed, some did and some didn't, some failed prior to overheating, which made that theory a hit and miss ratio, if the test bed story is officially correct...

BTW I believe the stuff that Jaguar use is that Barrs stop leak.

I hear that a raw egg cracked open into the expansion tank also works! A home remedy for sure!

[superdavelotus]

Steve,

I don't think the product works like you've decribed it. This stuff does not coat parts like oil based products, it stays the same viscosity until it reacts with air which usually occurs at the leak at the radiator end. The symtoms you are describing is a blocked radiator with no fins so no cooling capacity. This will have appeared to have made the engine run hotter.

The harm I'd fear is that this stuff effectively lines the engine and radiator .. I'd hazard a guess that this will harm thermal conductivity from both liners etc to water in the block, and from the water to the copper of the radiator.

Many years ago I was stuck in the south of france with a leaking radiator - since it had plastic end caps, I couldn't get it soldered up, nor wait a week and pay

[superdavelotus]

Only works martyn if you can put an egg directly in the radiator filler neck (if your car has one). If you put it into your expansion tank then you'll soon have a poached egg in seconds! LOL

I hear that a raw egg cracked open into the expansion tank also works! A home remedy for sure!

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[Guest Chelsea Martyn]

Only works martyn if you can put an egg directly in the radiator filler neck (if your car has one). If you put it into your expansion tank then you'll soon have a poached egg in seconds! LOL

I hear that a raw egg cracked open into the expansion tank also works! A home remedy for sure!

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