Lotus Esprit

Manual transmission fluid capacity & service interval

Lotus Esprit manual transmission fluid capacity ranges from 2,5 to 3 liters. Service intervals include checking at 10000 km or 6, 12 months, and changing at 20000 km or 12 months, 60000 km or 72 months. The data covers 5 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
Esprit GT3 (1996-2004)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 3 liter
  • Check 10000 km/ 12 months
  • Change 60000 km/ 72 months
  • Code: 5/1
Esprit V8 (1996-2004)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 3 liter
  • Check 10000 km/ 12 months
  • Change 60000 km/ 72 months
  • Code: 5/1
Esprit Turbo SE (1989-1993)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 3 liter
  • Check 10000 km/ 6 months
  • Change 20000 km/ 12 months
  • Code: 5/1
Esprit S3 (1981-1987)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 2,5 liter
  • Check 10000 km
  • Change 20000 km
  • Code: 5/1
Esprit Turbo (1981-1987)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 2,5 liter
  • Check 10000 km
  • Change 20000 km
  • Code: 5/1

Additional Notes

  • The Lotus Esprit S3 and Esprit Turbo, both covering 1981-1987, share an identical manual transmission fluid capacity of 2.5 liters, along with matching check and change intervals of 10,000 km and 20,000 km respectively.
  • The 2.5-liter capacity listed for the 1981-1987 S3 and Turbo models reflects a service fill figure, meaning the amount required when draining and refilling the transmission under normal maintenance rather than a full overhaul.
  • Starting with the Esprit Turbo SE (1989-1993), the manual transaxle fluid capacity increases to 3 liters, a value that carries forward into the GT3 and V8 variants of 1996-2004.
  • The Esprit Turbo SE (1989-1993) pairs a 3-liter transaxle capacity with a change interval of 20,000 km or 12 months, whichever comes first, under normal use conditions.
  • The check interval for the Esprit Turbo SE transaxle is set at 10,000 km or 6 months, making the time-based check trigger notably shorter than the 12-month check interval specified for the GT3 and V8 variants of 1996-2004.
  • The Esprit GT3 (1996-2004) and Esprit V8 (1996-2004) both carry a 60,000 km or 72-month fluid change interval, which is three times longer than the 20,000 km interval applied to the earlier Turbo SE transaxle.
  • All five configurations across the 1981-2004 range are specified under normal use conditions, meaning none of the listed capacities or intervals are tied to a severe-duty or first-change-only designation.
  • The shift from a standalone kilometer-based interval in the 1981-1987 models to a dual kilometer-and-month interval in the 1989 onward models reflects the addition of a time-based maintenance trigger alongside the distance-based one.

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