Lotus Evora, Service Notes

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Lotus Service Notes Section EJ
Page 3
EJ.1 - INTRODUCTION
Terminology
The powertrain of the Eagle is mounted transversely, with the crankshaft of the engine running parallel
to the rear axle line. The front of the engine is to the right of the engine bay and the rear to the left. When
refering to powertrain components, this logic will be used, e.g. the left hand side of the engine is towards the
front of the engine bay.
General Description
The 2GR-FE engine fitted to the Eagle is supplied by Toyota, and comprises a 3.5 litre 60° V6 unit mounted
transversely (front of the engine towards the right) in the 'mid engine' position between the cabin and rear wheel
axis. The cylinder block/crankcase and cylinder heads are cast in aluminium alloy with the block featuring an
open deck construction and integral cast-in iron liners. The forged steel crankshaft runs in 4 main bearings,
with each of the 3 crankpins accommodating two forged steel connecting rods, those of the RH cylinder bank
foremost. Each cylinder head houses twin overhead camshafts operating two inlet and two exhaust valves
per cylinder, via roller followers mounted in steel fingers, the pivot posts of which provide for zero valve clear-
ances by hydraulic means. The bifurcated ports are arranged with the inlets positioned inside the 'V' and the
exhaust ports outboard. The inlet camshafts are driven by a single roller chain from the crankshaft nose, with
each exhaust cam driven by a short, link chain from its neighbouring inlet camshaft.
In order to optimise power, economy, emissions and noise, the engine control system includes; dual VVT-i
(Variable Valve Timing - intelligent) to provide phase shifting of both inlet and exhaust valve timing; ACIS (Acous-
tic Control Induction System) to vary the effective intake tract length to the benefit of both high and low speed
power output; ETCS - i (Electronic Throttle Control System - intelligent) to facilitate traction control, skid control
and cruise control; AICS (Air Intake Control System) to reduce intake noise in the low to mid range of engine
speed without sacrificing efficiency at high engine speed. The engine management system is programmed by
Lotus using the T4e controller.
The engine is mated to a type EA60 6-speed manual transmission supplied by Toyota, and installed in
the engine bay with transmission on the left hand side. Primary mountings for the power unit pick up off the
front of the engine and to the top rear of the transmission case, and connect with the suspension towers on the
rear subframe via voided elastic isolators. Secondary engine steady mountings are used to control powertrain
roll under drive torque and inertia effects, and are fitted low down on either side of the block, attaching to the
chassis rear crossmember and to the subframe via elastic isolators.
EJ.2 - AIR CLEANER ELEMENT INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT
To inspect the air cleaner element, the airbox cover complete with resonance chamber, may be removed
from the throttle body and air cleaner base unit without disturbing the clamshell.
1. Remove the LHR wheel.
2. Release the clamp securing the convoluted intake hose from the airbox to the throttle body.
3. Release the rear bank cam cover breather hose from the convoluted intake hose.
4. Release two vacuum hoses from the airbox reservoir, one from an intake tract), the other to the intake flap
valve solenoid.
5. Unplug the harness connector from the airflow sensor.
6. From within the LHR wheelarch, remove the access panel in the wheelarch liner and release the two
overcentre clips on the airbox. Unhook the airbox cover from the base and withdraw. Thoroughly clean
the cover.
7. Clean all around the airbox base before removing the cleaner element, taking care to avoid contaminating
the base unit with dust or dirt. Fit the new element into the base, and refit the cleaned cover, ensuring
that the moulded tongues are fully engaged in the base unit. Fasten the two overcentre clips, and check