Check anything critical against a manual. This list was posted by one member in 2015 and the post doesn't say where the figures came from. Replies in the thread disputed two of them, which are marked Check below, and queried a third, the spark plug figure. For wheels, suspension, brakes and steering, confirm the figure against the service manual (see the manuals on the guides page) before relying on it.
The engine section is for the Z20 LET, which is the Turbo engine, so it doesn't cover the NA engine. The rest of the list doesn't say whether it applies to both. Engine rows with extra degrees after the torque (for example 35 + 45° + 15°) are angle tightening: tighten to the first figure, then turn the bolt through each further angle in turn. The numbered footnotes in the original table (1) to 4)) were copied without their text, so we don't know what they refer to.
Two engine lists. A second, longer list was posted in 2012 under the title "Z20LETH Engine Torque Settings", and it has its own section below, "Engine (Turbo), second list". It names many bolts differently from the first, so we haven't tried to pair them up; if you can't find a bolt in one engine section, look in the other. Two figures clearly disagree with the first list and are marked Check: the wheel bolts (110 Nm against 90 Nm) and the crankshaft toothed belt gear (an extra 5° turn). Its footnotes (1) to (8) were also copied without their text, and the thread doesn't give a source for the figures.
Jump to: Body and chassis · Body equipment · Front suspension · Rear suspension · Brakes · Engine (Z20 LET, the Turbo) · Engine (Turbo), second list · Clutch and gearbox · Fuel and exhaust · Steering
Body and chassis
| Hinge bolts, door | 45 Nm |
| Towing eye bracket screws | 25 Nm |
| Rear sub-frame screws Check Disputed. One owner says the cars he has seen have M12 bolts, and 45 Nm is too low for those. He quotes the Lotus Elise manual, which says 86 Nm for all four bolts on each side, with thread-lock (Permabond A130) on the upper bolts and an anti-corrosion shim plate between the sub-frame and chassis. | 45 Nm |
| Support arm screws, roll bar | 45 Nm |
| Engine damping block nut, left and right | 45 Nm |
| Bracket screws, right, engine damping block | 85 Nm |
| Bracket screws, left, engine damping block | 45 Nm |
| Engine damping block screw, rear to transmission | 86 Nm |
| Engine damping block screw, rear to rear sub-frame | 49 Nm |
| Shock absorber screw to rear sub-frame | 45 Nm |
| Upper wishbone screw to rear sub-frame | 45 Nm |
| Lower wishbone screw | 45 Nm |
| Lower wishbone nut | 49 Nm |
| Wheel bolts | 90 Nm |
| Hinge bolts, front bonnet | 20 Nm |
| Hinge bolts, engine cover | 14 Nm |
| Screws and nuts, front clamshell to radiator case | 14 Nm |
| Screws, front clamshell to windscreen frame | 14 Nm |
| Screws, front clamshell to sill | 14 Nm |
| Screws, front clamshell to A-pillar | 14 Nm |
| Nuts, rear header panel to roll bar | 10 Nm |
| Screws, soft top guides to roll bar | 11 Nm |
| Screws, rear clamshell to rear bulkhead | 14 Nm |
| Screws, rear clamshell to rear sub-frame | 16 Nm |
| Screws, engine cover lock to rear clamshell | 16 Nm |
| Screws, rear clamshell to sill | 9 Nm |
Body equipment
| Seat to Floor | 25 Nm |
| Fixings, hard top bracket | 10 Nm |
| Seat belt to seat (anchor bolt) | 35 Nm |
| Seat belt to roll bar (upper anchor point) | 35 Nm |
| Inertia reel assembly to roll bar (lower anchor bolt) | 35 Nm |
| Seat belt buckle to seat | 35 Nm |
| Door lock striker | 25 Nm |
| Steering wheel assembly to steering column, nut | 25 Nm |
Front suspension
| Steering tie rod lock nuts | 45 Nm |
| Lower wishbone to pivot points bolts | 45 Nm |
| Pivot bushes of upper wishbone bolts | 45 Nm |
| Shock absorber to chassis bracket bolt and nut | 45 Nm |
| Shock absorber to lower wishbone bolt | 45 Nm |
| Stabiliser bar with pivot bushes to chassis clamp bolt | 25 Nm |
| Steering arm to hub carrier bolts | 45 Nm |
| Tie rod to steering arm, nut | 30 Nm |
| Upper swivel joint to steering arm nut | 45 Nm |
| Wheel bearing assembly bolt Check Doubted by one owner. Another quotes the SELOC wiki: the four hub bolts to 90 Nm, and an M16 nut to 220 Nm. | 210 Nm |
| Wheel bolts | 90 Nm |
| Wheel hub assembly to hub carrier | 90 Nm |
| Brake caliper to hub carrier | 45 Nm |
| Stabiliser bar to link rod | 45 Nm |
Rear suspension
| Lower wishbone to chassis, front pivot bolt | 45 Nm |
| Shock absorber to anchor bracket on chassis bolt | 45 Nm |
| Track control rod to rear pivot of lower wishbone bolt | 49 Nm |
| Upper wishbone to chassis bolts | 45 Nm |
| Upper swivel joint carrier to hub carrier bolts For the rear hub carrier bolts, one owner found a Lotus figure of 68 Nm for the revised grade 10.9 bolts. See the hub carrier bolts guide. | 45 Nm |
| Wheel bolts | 90 Nm |
| Track control rod to hub carrier | 65 Nm |
| Driveshaft to wheel hub | 220 Nm |
| Brake caliper to hub carrier | 48 Nm |
| Brake disc to hub carrier | 12 Nm |
| Lower wishbone to hub carrier For the rear hub carrier bolts, one owner found a Lotus figure of 68 Nm for the revised grade 10.9 bolts. See the hub carrier bolts guide. | 45 Nm |
| Shock absorber to lower wishbone | 45 Nm |
Brakes
| Wheel bolts | 90 Nm |
Engine (Z20 LET, the Turbo)
| Road wheel, bolts | 90 Nm |
| Ribbed V-belt tensioner, bolts | 35 Nm |
| Alternator lower support bracket, bolts | 35 Nm |
| Alternator top support bracket, bolts | 25 Nm |
| Alternator side support bracket, bolts | 25 Nm |
| Timing belt tensioner, bolt | 20 Nm |
| Lower timing belt cover, bolts | 6 Nm |
| Upper timing belt cover, bolts | 6 Nm |
| Crankshaft pulley, bolts | 20 Nm |
| Mounting bracket to support bracket for right side damping block, bolts | 50 Nm |
| Right side damping block, nut | 50 Nm |
| Spark plug One owner was surprised by this, as his are barely more than hand tight. Another says Turbo plugs have crush washers, so the aim is a good seal, and that hand tight with a ratchet is probably tight enough but not over-tightened. That is an owner’s view, not a figure. | 25 Nm |
| Ignition module, bolts | 8 Nm |
| Con-rod bearing cap to con-rod, bolts | 35 Nm + 45° + 15° |
| Crankshaft bearing cap to cylinder block, bolts | 50 Nm + 45° + 15° |
| Oil filter to oil pump | 15 Nm |
| Oil drain plug | 10 Nm |
| Oil pressure switch | 40 Nm |
| Camshaft pulley, bolt | 50 Nm + 60° + 15° |
| Camshaft bearing cap, bolts | 8 Nm |
| Camshaft cover, bolts | 8 Nm |
| Camshaft position sensor, bolt | 6 Nm |
| Crankshaft sprocket, bolt | 130 Nm + 45° |
| Crankshaft pulse sensor, bolt | 8 Nm |
| Accessory bracket to cylinder block, bolts | 35 Nm |
| Ribbed V-belt idler pulley, bolts | 20 Nm |
| Transmission fluid drain plug | 35 Nm |
| Left side damping block, bolt | 50 Nm |
| Lower front support bracket for damping block to chassis, bolts | 25 Nm |
| Lower front support bracket for damping block to transmission,bolts | 49 Nm |
| Lower front damping block, bolt and nut | 85 Nm |
| Lower rear support bracket for damping block to chassis, bolts | 25 Nm |
| Lower rear support bracket for damping block to transmission, bolts | 49 Nm |
| Lower rear damping block, bolt and nut | 85 Nm |
| Oil return pipe to turbocharger, bolts | 8 Nm |
| Turbocharger oil return pipe to engine cylinder block, union bolt | 30 Nm |
| Turbocharger oil feed pipe, union | 20 Nm |
| Turbocharger oil feed pipe to engine cylinder block, bolt | 35 Nm |
| Primary catalytic converter to exhaust manifold, clamp | 8 Nm |
| Exhaust manifold to cylinder head, nuts | 8 Nm |
| Timing belt guide roller, bolt | 25 Nm |
| Intake manifold to cylinder head, nuts | 22 Nm |
| Vacuum reservoir support bracket to intake manifold, bolt | 25 Nm |
| Fuel rail assembly to intake manifold, bolt | 8 Nm |
| Throttle body to intake manifold | 9 Nm |
| Knock sensor to engine cylinder block | 20 Nm |
| Flywheel to crankshaft, bolts | 65 Nm + 30° + 15° |
| Clutch pressure plate to flywheel, bolts | 15 Nm |
| Transmission to engine cylinder block, bolts | 60 Nm |
| Coolant temperature sensor | 10 Nm |
| Starter motor to transmission, bolts | 40 Nm |
| Starter motor to engine cylinder block, bolts | 45 Nm |
| Cut off valve bracket to engine cylinder block, bolts | 25 Nm |
| Thermostat housing to cylinder head | 15 Nm |
| Coolant pump to engine cylinder block, bolts The cam belt guide records one owner using 20 Nm for the water pump bolts, which was not from a manual. | 25 Nm |
| Dynamic oil level sensor | 8 Nm |
| Heat shield to exhaust manifold, bolt | 8 Nm |
| Oxygen sensor | 40 Nm |
| Engine lifting eye to cylinder head, bolt | 20 Nm |
| Cylinder head to cylinder block, bolts | 25 Nm + 90° + 90° + 90° + 15° |
| Coolant bypass housing, bolts | 15 Nm |
| Coolant distribution housing, M8 bolt | 20 Nm |
| Coolant distribution housing, M10 bolt | 30 Nm |
Engine (Turbo), second list
| Adapter DIS ignition module to cylinder head (m8 | 20 Nm |
| Adapter DIS ignition module to cylinder head (m10) | 30 Nm |
| Starter to transmission | 40 Nm |
| Starter to cylinder block | 45 Nm |
| Balancer shaft unit to crankshaft bearing cap | 20 Nm + 45° |
| Balancer shaft unit to cylinder block | 20 Nm + 45° |
| Exhaust Manifold with turbocharger to cylinder head | 8 Nm |
| Battery Support to body | 15 Nm |
| Fastening clamp to fuel pressure regulator and fuel distributor pipe | 5 Nm |
| Torsional vibration damper to toothed belt drive gear | 20 Nm |
| Throttle body to intake manifold | 9 Nm |
| Dynamic oil level control to oil pan lower part | 8 Nm |
| Intake manifold to cylinder head | 22 Nm |
| Accelerator pedal to bulkhead | 12 Nm |
| Engine vent flange to cylinder block | 25 Nm |
| Alternator to alternator support lower fastening bolt | 35 Nm |
| Transmission to cylinder block | 60 Nm |
| Alternator support to cylinder block | 35 Nm |
| Left engine damping block support to transmission | 35 Nm |
| Engine damping block support to cylinder block | 50 Nm |
| Compressor bracket to cylinder block | 35 Nm |
| Rear engine damping block bracket to transmission | 80 Nm |
| Engine damping block bracket to engine damping block support left | 55 Nm |
| Engine damping block bracket to engine damping block support right | 55 Nm |
| Engine damping block bracket to engine damping block left | 55 Nm |
| Engine damping block bracket to engine damping block right | 55 Nm |
| Turbocharger oil feed line bracket to turbocharger | 12 Nm |
| Turbocharger oil feed line cylinder block bracket to cylinder block | 35 Nm |
| Auxiliary coolant pump bracket mounting bolt to transmission | 35 Nm |
| Auxiliary coolant pump bracket mounting nut to transmission | 22 Nm |
| Vacuum reservoir bracket to intake manifold | 25 Nm |
| Rear toothed belt cover to oil pump and camshaft housing | 8 Nm |
| Rear toothed belt cover to cylinder head | 8 Nm |
| Heat shield to exhaust manifold | 8 Nm |
| Crankshaft pulse pick up to cylinder block | 8 Nm |
| Refrigerant line to receiver dryer | 20 Nm |
| Refrigerant line to refrigerant line intake side air cleaner housing | 20 Nm |
| V-belt tensioner to alternator support | 35 Nm |
| Ribbed V-belt tensioner to compressor support | 25 Nm |
| Clamp to starting catalytic converter and exhaust manifold | 8 Nm |
| Knock sensor to cylinder block | 20 Nm |
| Fuel return line to fuel pressure regulator | 15 Nm |
| Fuel distributor tube to intake manifold | 8 Nm |
| Fuel supply line to fuel distributor pipe | 15 Nm |
| Coolant pump to cylinder block | 25 Nm |
| Coolant pipe to cylinder block | 20 Nm |
| Crankshaft bearing bridge to cylinder block | 50 Nm + 45° + 15° |
| Intercooler to radiator | 5 Nm |
| Bearing flange to transmission | 25 Nm |
| Oxygen sensor to front exhaust pipe | 40 Nm |
| Alternator shackle to intake manifold/alternator/coolant flange | 20 Nm |
| Fan housing to radiator | 5 Nm |
| Vacuum reservoir solenoid valve to vacuum reservoir bracket | 4 Nm |
| Front engine damping block to transmission | 60 Nm |
| Rear engine damping block to bracket | 55 Nm |
| Left engine damping block to body side member | 20 Nm |
| Right engine damping block to body side member | 35 Nm |
| Rear engine damping block to front axle body | 55 Nm |
| Front engine damping block to front axle body | 55 Nm |
| Engine transport shackles to cylinder block | 20 Nm |
| Camshaft bearing caps to cylinder head | 8 Nm |
| Camshaft pulley to camshaft | 50 Nm + 60° + 15° |
| Camshaft sensor to cylinder head | 6 Nm |
| Oil drain plug to oil pan | 10 Nm |
| Oil pressure switch to oil pump | 40 Nm |
| Oil filter to oil pump | 15 Nm |
| Oil pump to cylinder block | 8 Nm |
| Oil pump cover to oil pump | 6 Nm |
| Turbocharger oil return line to turbocharger | 8 Nm |
| Turbocharger oil return line to cylinder block | 30 Nm |
| Oil intake pipe to balancer shaft unit | 10 Nm |
| Turbocharger oil feed line to turbocharger | 30 Nm |
| Turbocharger oil feed line to cylinder block flange | 35 Nm |
| Turbocharger oil feed line(cylinder block)to turbocharger oil feed line | 20 Nm |
| Oil intake pipe to oil pump | 8 Nm |
| Oil baffle plates to balancer shaft unit | 8 Nm |
| Upper part of oil pan to transmission | 40 Nm |
| Upper part of oil pan to oil pump | 20 Nm |
| Upper part of oil pan to cylinder block | 20 Nm |
| Lower part of oil pan to upper part of oil pan | 8 Nm + 30° |
| Swing arm to spring strut | 65 Nm |
| Con-rod bearing cap to con-rod | 35 Nm + 45° + 15° |
| Wheel to wheel hub Check This list says 110 Nm. The other engine list on this page, and the front and rear suspension lists, say 90 Nm for the wheel bolts. The thread doesn’t explain the difference. | 110 Nm |
| Hose clamps for air intake hose | 3 Nm.5 |
| Flywheel to crankshaft | 65 Nm + 30° + 15° |
| Coolant temperature sensor to coolant flange | 10 Nm |
| Vacuum reservoir bracket to intake manifold/cylinder block | 25 Nm |
| Alternator support to alternator/intake manifold | 20 Nm |
| Thermostat housing to cylinder head | 15 Nm |
| Lower radiator bracket to front axle body | 15 Nm |
| Compressor to compressor support | 20 Nm |
| Condenser to radiator | 5 Nm |
| Safety valve closure bolt (oil pump) | 50 Nm |
| Front axle body to body (all bolts) | 90 Nm + 45° + 15° |
| Toothed belt cover - upper part to rear toothed belt cover | 6 Nm |
| Toothed belt cover - lower part to rear toothed belt cover | 6 Nm |
| Toothed belt drive gear to crankshaft Check Here it is 130 Nm + 45° + 5°. The other engine list gives 130 Nm + 45° and no second angle. The thread doesn’t say which is right. | 130 Nm + 45° + 5° |
| Toothed belt tension roller to oil pump | 20 Nm |
| Toothed belt guide roller to cylinder block(exhaust side) | 25 Nm |
| Toothed belt guide roller to cylinder block(intake side) | 25 Nm |
| Spark plug to cylinder head | 25 Nm |
| Auxiliary fan housing to radiator/condenser | 5 Nm |
| Steering column intermediate spindle to steering gear | 22 Nm |
| Cylinder head to cylinder block | 25 Nm + 90° + 90° + 90° + 15° |
| Cylinder head cover to cylinder head | 8 Nm |
Clutch and gearbox
| Clutch bleeder valve | 9 Nm |
| Clutch pressure plate to flywheel bolts | 15 Nm |
| Central release to transmission bolts | 5 Nm |
| End shield cover to transmission M7 x 1.0 bolts | 15 Nm |
| End shield cover to transmission M8 x 1.25 bolts | 20 Nm |
| Fluid drain plug | 35 Nm |
| Fluid filler plug | 35 Nm |
| Fluid level plug | 35 Nm |
| Left engine damping block bracket to transmission bolts | 45 Nm |
| Left engine damping block to engine bracket bolts | 45 Nm |
| Master cylinder to support bracket nuts | 20 Nm |
| Oil sump to transmission bolts | 40 Nm |
| Pressure line to central release union | 14 Nm |
| Pressure plate bolts | 15 Nm |
| Reverse lamp switch | 20 Nm |
| Right engine damping block to engine bracket bolts | 85 Nm |
| Transmission to engine bolts | 60 Nm |
Fuel and exhaust
| Fuel filter to bulkhead, bolt | 9 Nm |
| Fuel line clips to bulkhead, bolts | 9 Nm |
| Fuel tank to vehicle, bolts | 25 Nm |
| Fuel tank shear panel, bolts | 25 Nm |
Steering
| Steering column lower mounting bolt | 45 Nm |
| Steering column pinch bolt | 35 Nm |
| Steering column upper mounting bolts | 25 Nm |
| Steering wheel assembly to steering column nut | 25 Nm |
| Wheel bolts | 90 Nm |
Not on the list
Someone asked about the four bolts in each chassis-mounted rear lower wishbone bracket, and the front gearbox mount. The reply was that they are not the same: the wishbone mount bolts are M10, and the engine and gearbox mount bolts are M8, all 8.8 metric coarse. The rule of thumb, when a figure isn't listed anywhere, is 45 Nm for M10 and 25 Nm for M8. The asker had emailed Lotus technical support and later said that reply was "absolutely correct", but the thread doesn't give the figure Lotus quoted.
See also engine mount replacement, hub carrier bolts and rear toe links for torques quoted in those guides. The engine mounts appear in three sections of this list, for different bolts, so check which bolt each row means.
Help wanted
The source of the list isn't known, and nothing covers the NA engine. We would also like the factory figures for the rear lower wishbone bracket bolts, and to know which of the disputed figures are right for the VX220 and Speedster. If you have a manual page or a figure you have checked, please send it.