The 3,000 mile or 3-month thing is ONLY so the dealer can make more $$$$$$$$$. The FACTORY does NOT say that.

 

PS to my last comment.

Personally, I don't have any problem with changing oil every 3,000 miles - - in fact, I lecture my kids to do it. And, I do it every 3,000 miles on all my cars as well. It's any easy number to remember. It's the life-blood of your engine. It's cheap insurance. I, for one, never accepted the 7,500 miles between changes but I'm an old fart and we would have never done that in the old days!! Times have changed -- hell, 100,000 on a set of plugs. . . who would of thought.

As for the S2000, now that I'm past the "initial break-in oil" I will be on the 3,000 mile schedule myself. But, it's my personal choice. The factory doesn't seem to think it's necessary. As for the 3-month thing ... that's CRAP unless your driving in the worst conditions imaginable in my opinon.

 

I just chect the owner's manual and it doesn't say anything about 3750 miles or 3 months - whichever comes first. It just says 3750 miles under severely driven conditions (see above). The first time you are supposed to bring it in for service according to mileage and or time is at 15,000 miles or one year - whichever comes first.

 

John, here's more than you probably ever wanted to know on the subject of the "First Oil Change", when to change, and switching to synthetic. Enjoy.

Break-In Oil

per Honda owners manual: Replace oil at 7,500 miles unless you drive in severe conditions. Severe is defined as short trips of 5 miles or less, hot weather of 90 degrees or more, lots of stop and go driving, mountain driving, and/or muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads. Replace oil at 3,750 miles if you meet these.

per Honda

 

Thanks dlq04. Now I'll probably wait until I hit six months or so. Your reply was the best I've seen. This club is great for all of us. We all learn from one another about the cars of our lives.

 

I love this board. I never noticed that. The maintenance schedules say to change the oil at 3,750 for severe conditions and 7,500 miles for normal conditions. There is no time given. The maintenance schedule for severe conditions says to do the next oil change and maintenance at 7,500 miles or one year. The normal conditions schedule says to do the second oil change at 15,000 miles or one year.

It looks like there is no official AHM recommendation for doing any oil change until either you've gone one full year or you've gone 7,500 miles or you've gone 3,750 severe condition miles.

I'm planning to do my first oil change sometime between November and January. I've got 2870 on the odometer and 2220 miles on this oil and this engine short block.

 

After reading this thread I am trying to figure out when to change the oil for the first time. I have a 2000 s2k which I purchased in June of 2001 with 5 miles on it (the last one 2000 model the dealer had so he gave me a break). The car is coming up on being one year old but I only have 1500 miles on it and plan on putting it in storage in late October for the winter. Should I change it prior to storage or leave it in and changing when I take it out of storage in April or May or leave it in until I hit the 3750 miles?

Any suggestions.

Jerry

 

Ya, drive it!

With only 1,500 miles on the break-in oil, if it were me, I'd hold off till I hit the 3,750 miles... hopefully you can hit that by next Spring.

 

American Honda Motors does recommend the SECOND oil change at 15,000 miles (7,500 miles for severe service) OR one year, whichever comes first. AHM recommends an oil change at least annually, according to these schedules, irrespective of miles.

I'd change it when you put it into storage just to be sure you're storing it with oil containing no water or gasoline contamination.

Here's the links to the AHM maintenance schedule faqs.

https://www.s2ki.com/faqs/showfaq.php?threadid=17413

By the way, although it starts snowing in Sheridan in September and continues to May, I don't "store" mine. I put on Blizzaks and drive it at least once a month. That cold air really makes the F20C perform.

And I love driving top down, ski cap and gloves on, heater on full blast.

 

Barry, he said he has 1,500 miles on the car; not 15,000. I stand by my recommendation.