Strangest thing happened today but I will give you a little history first. I have had my S2000 since March and it has always had a faint lifter noise since new. I brought it by my dealer to listen to it and he explained it was normal for DOHC engines and that the noise I was experiencing was quite normal. He said that it is normal to have even louder lifter noise at start up because the lifters are pumping up. I had the opportunity to listen to other S2000 and they appeared to be a little quieter than mine. I decided to take it in for the first oil change on Friday (4000 miles). They used Valvoline dino oil. When I picked the car up it seemed to be even a little more noisey to me but was full at the top mark. I drove the car and it got a little quieter. I was getting off the expressway at about 6000-7000 in vtec on a long sweeping turn and when I stopped the car the lifter noise was really loud. I thought ohh sh_t what now? The lifter noise went away almost immediately so I figured that I would pull the car over and check the oil again anyways. Oil full. The strangest thing happened. All my lifter noise is gone. I couldn't even hear the car idling. Wow, what the heck happened? I typically can hear my car when I pull next to other drivers but not anymore. What do you think happened. Perhaps the valvoline is a lighter viscosity and it loosened a sticky lifter? My car is purring beautifully now.

John

 

Valvetrain noise is very acceptable unless there is an oil consumption issue. There are no lifters in the F20C. Camshaft followers would act as the closest thing though.

 

I refer to the noise as lifter noise. I stand corrected. The dealer didn't refer to lifters, he actually said something like vtec pumping up or something. The noise actually sound like lifters though. I can't believe how quiet it is now. I did have oil consumption in first 2000 miles but has lessened since.

John