All,

What is a reasonable breakin period for the S2k? I recently bought mine and tried not bring it up to 4,000 rpm. Even though it wanted to very much pass it. I have heard many comments from dealers and other car people but not S2k owners. I believe the dealer told me 600miles.

Also how about maintenance. At what mileage should I change honda's oil? I would like to convert to the synthetic world. What's the best brand oil/filter within reasonable prices.

Thanks

 

PAIVAG - 600 miles is recommended before you VTEC. I know it is difficult to wait for that, but if you do, you can be assured everything has broken in nicely and you can then VTEC to your hearts content. As for the oil and other stuff, do a search on changing oil. There have been many threads on this. I believe that the oil should not be changed for the first time until 3000 miles (?) due to additives Honda adds to the first oil fill that help the break in. No harm will come, I believe if you change at 1500, but it has been recommended you wait until 3000.

Again, use the lookup feature. There are quite a few threads on this subject and you can glean some really good information. Also recommended when you are ready to change the rubber on the wheels. Good luck with your new baby. Have fun, but be safe.

 

Do you not have an owner's manual? It answers all of these questions.

 

Take a look at this thread for starters on break-in oil https://www.s2ki.com/article/articleview/6/1/8/
And then look at this for break-in
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...&threadid=98763
At the very least make sure to check your oil level each time you get gas and keep it near the H mark. Use a quality 10W-30 dino oil till 10000 miles. Supposedly the US Honda oil filters are relabeled Frams. Frams are about the lowest quality oil filter you can get. The readily available "quality" oil filters are the Mobil 1 MI-104 filter, or a K&N oil filter. These cost about $12.

Like the man said do a search and you'll get a lot of info on which to base your determination on what to do with your car.

 

One of Honda's top technicians, winning their mechanic's contests every year said to me one time that you should drive the car the way you will for the rest of the time you own it from the time you pick it up.

That being said, I still drove easy for about 500 miles anyways, but he said the breakin period is just a common thing that you will see, but it was there for the older cars that actually needed it, today's cars do not for the most part since they are designed and produced much better than in the past.

 

Yeah, many people are a little TOO paranoid about break-in periods.... I did what "One of Honda's top technicians" said to do =)

No problems at all with the engine after 23K , its the damn drivetrain (tranny, diff) that has given me some shiznit!

 

I always enjoy these discussions. Like Honda has nothing better to do than waste paper printing break-in suggestions?

There's always some top mechanic who advises driving your car "like you stole it" from day one, but guess what, they make their money from working on cars when they break out of warranty - exactly when damage you do by not following break-in is likely to show up.

It seems that keeping it out of VTEC for the first 600 miles isn't a whole lot to ask for a $30K car that you presumably want to keep more than a few years, isn't it?

Now if you're leasing it for 3 years, then all bets are off and you should feel free to VTEC with 10 miles on the odometer.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gloffer
[B]Take a look at this thread for starters on break-in oil https://www.s2ki.com/article/articleview/6/1/8/
And then look at this for break-in

 

BillK,

The mechanic I talked to was a good friend of ours, actually charges me for minimum services and provides it all free of charge because I am very good friends with his son and we have bought 2 cars from the dealership thus far. He's not making an extra cent by telling me to drive that way and has the Honda Service Awards to prove his success in the business.

Its not that Honda doesn't have anything better to do, it is just that it was the norm and to get rid of it would be strange so they just leave it in on their new cars.

You can not compare a 1965 big block motor with a 2002 Hi-Po motor, the machining is much more precise, the components are stronger and overall construction has been improved in today's cars. The old motors needed that breakin, but not many of today's cars do, especially imports.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by oshp515
[B]
your kidding about the filter thing??!!