we have 800 miles on a new s2000
owners manual recommend donot change the oil untill it is scheduled


mygut feel is to change the oil at 1000 miles and use Mobil 1 Synthetic oil instead of the standard
10-30 weight oil

what do you guys recommend?

what type of oil does the car come with?
what does Honda recommend?

 

DON'T DO IT!!!
Depending on how you drive, you should change it at 3750 miles (severe driving) or 7500 miles (normal driving). The oil in the car has special additives for everything to seat properly. The manual also, doesn't recommend any synthetic oil until after your first or second change. Mine was changed at arond 3800 miles with Castrol GTX. My next one will be the same.

 

Change it right way. In Australia you would have been obliged to have it changed at this time if you wanted to keep your warranty. Logic tells me, but apparently not everyone else, that fresh oil is better for your engine than old.

IMO, the only reason that Honda NA is telling you to keep it longer is because their marketing department wants you to believe that all engines are the same and if other manufacturers are going longer on the first oil change then so should Honda.

However, no other engine on the market revs as high as the S2k nor spends as much of its time higher in the rev band. I say change it asap - you won't be sorry. My S2000 is now 34 months old and has covered 25,000 miles, a lot of which was on the track. It gets an oil and filter change every 3,000 miles without fail.

 

Do yourself a favor and do a search on this subject. This engine is not built like other engines in the world and needs the break-in oil for as long as possible. Do what your manual says. If this were a marketing ploy, then Honda would tell you to change it more frequently. But they don't because it needs it.

 

Hmm, let me see... Follow the advice of the owners manual (even if it may be market driven) or follow my gut feeling. My gut feeling is also to change the oil as soon and as often as possible. But the problem with changing the oil so soon on the first oil change is that it doesn't allow the factory break-in oil enough time and mileage to help the engine break in. I think it's been established on this board that owners should not perform the first oil change until after the 3000 miles mark or has that changed?

 

I changed my oil at 2000kms to 10W30 Valvoline Conventional. I now have 4000kms and since then havent burnt a drop of oil. My next change will be at 6000kms and then at 10,000kms with Synthetic.


I dont see any issues changing the oil earlier. Japan and Australian RHD S2000's require a manditory 1000km service which changes the oil right away.

I know a few S2k owners who have done this and have not had any engine issues whatsoever. Id just say do what you feel is right, its your car.


Peace

 

It appears there isn't consensus on this. However, in response to those who say the "magic lubricants" need to stay in for at least 3,750 miles I ask the following questions.

1. If this is so, why doesn't it apply to Australian S2000s?
2. If the initial oil is special, just for the S2000, then why do other Hondas (and just about every other manufacturer) have the same recomendation for the time before 1st oil change.?
3. If it the S2000 is special because it revs so high why do motorcycle engines (which typically have redlines somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 revs) demand an oil change at 600 miles instead of letting the initial oil perform its magic powers for much longer?

I have seen the crap that comes out of engine oil on the 1st change and I for one would not like all those metal filings spinning around at high revs in my S2000, or any other vehicle for that matter.

 

I see your point 2k. My gut is leaning towards an eary oil change.

 

I did my first change at 3508 (looking at receipt right now)

I have not had any issues, and have never had to add so much as a drop of oil.

Honestly, I am not sure that it will make any difference either way, but I tend to wonder why anyone would go against the manufacturer recommendation, regardless of how it sounds to you.

It would make me sick if someone changed the oil at 1000 miles, had a failure and then had to listen to their District Manager deny a warranty claim because of going against the recommendation.

 

Again, it's your car. However, I'd following "your" owner's manual. If you didn't and something bad were to happen (not saying anything will), will you take your car to Australia to get the warranty fix?