Lotus Mode -E10 Compatible?

[Victor Meldrew]

Lotus Model Production Year E10 Compatible?
Elan 1989 – 1991 No
Esprit (4cyl. carburettor) 1987 – 1989 No
Esprit (4cyl. fuel injection) 1989 – 1999 Yes
Esprit (V8) 1998 – 2004 Yes
Elise (Rover) 1996 – 2004 No
340R 2000 No
Exige (Rover) 2001 – 2002, 2004 No
Elise (Toyota) 2004 onwards Yes
Exige (Toyota) 2004 onwards Yes
Europa 2006 – 2010 No
Evora (Toyota) 2009 onwards Yes

Pulled this from the Lotus web page. Looks like the S1 is considered not compatible with E10. I normally use Shell V Max...

Sorry if this has already been posted.

[UncleRon]

I have read some contradictions on whether the K Series Elises, Rovers & MG's are E10 Compatible or not. Land Rover have now confirmed that all petrol Land Rovers since 1996 including the K Series engined Freelander 1 are all E10 compatible so I would be surprised if the 1996 on K Series Land Rover is E10 compatible and K Series Lotus's of the same era are not.

I wonder if it's more an issue that since the demise of MG Rover there is no longer an engine/car manufacturer to contact and get E10 approval from?

[Victor Meldrew]

The engine might be fine but no guarantee everything else will be.
It could be more related to the fuel pump and ancillary equipment unique to the Elise. The Rover stuff might be fine the God knows what parts bin Lotus raided to build the fuel system on the Elise.

[ScottJ-PS]

I came a across an MGF forum where some members in France have been using E10 for past 10 years without ill effects. Would Lotus have built a bespoke fuel system or just got it in a crate with the engine .

As a S2 K series owner I also have concerns .

[Shug]

Looking at what I think would be bespoke to the S1/Rover S2 - fuel lines between pump and fuel rail? No issues there - hose won't be problematic. Fuel pump? Is that non MGF - not sure why it would be other than space or location, but don't know. The only thing is the tank and, more importantly, the sealing. The tank sealing was always a bit heath robinson with a big fudgy access plate with a gasket - might that be susceptible to perishing? Not really likely, I suppose as it's never submerged in fuel (unless you've got it properly wrong) so I'd have to think it would be a non-issue if other K series stuff has been proven to run fine.

Ironically, my 2012 MV Agusta (which I sold on a while ago) would have had serious issues as the tanks on them were known to swell badly with E10 - later ones came sealed internally. I think MV ended up having to replace quite a few.