I pick up my new S2000 tomorrow and you can bet I am stoked.

That said, I am interested in advice with respect to engine break in for this particular car.

I will start by saying that I do not subscribe to the school of "hard break-in" because I value reliability and my warranty over any (rather insignificant) power gains from such an approach.

With past cars and motorcycles I have always kept rpm low for the first 500 miles, tried to use all the gears, and varied the engine speed in those gears, not cruising at a constant rpm for an extended time.

So, with that as a back drop, I would value any insight for this particular car on break in.

Also, what are the thoughts on synthetic oil after the first 500 miles. I have heard opinions for and against, but never any rationale to back them up.

Thanks.

 

I just picked up my 2005 yesterday.

This is my 2nd S2000. My previous was a 2002 model.

As for break in....looks like you already nailed it with your previous break-in method. The only difference is that Honda recommends 600 miles before you let her rip. Some people experience some oil consumption...some do not. Doesn't hurt to check it every so often. The manual recommends that you check it at every fuel fill-up.

You might not want to change your oil at 500 miles. Honda puts in a special "break-in" oil from the factory. Supposedly high in moly. I'm changing my oil at about 3500 miles.

As for synthetic, the consensus on the board was to wait 10,000 miles before switching over. This has to do with the Fiber Reinforced Material (FRM) cylinder walls.

 

Thanks - BTW, the switch to syn at 500 was a typo -- I meant 5000. Regardless, I've learned something. I'll change the oil at the suggested first interval and switch to syn at the 10,000 mark.

Yesterday, eh... Has the buzz worn off yet?

I think the manual will be my preferred reading material next week. Almost nothling like curling up with a good book! (Don't read and drive.)

I am stoked about picking it up tomorrow. The only uncertainty is whether or not the transport truck get's to the dealership tomorrow. If it does, good weekend. If not, I have to wait until Monday.

 

[QUOTE=CrazyPhuD,Mar 18 2005, 01:56 PM] you have a MY04 almost no MY04 burns oil....that comparison is meaningless....

 

i recently graduated from UTI, a well known automotive technicians school. one of the first questions i asked my instructors at school would be "what is the best break-in procedure?" and like the replies we have seen in response to this article the answers i got varied. although i think most of my instructors did say to break-in the car like it will be driven for the rest of its life. both sides do have their strong points but i think i would break the car in as the manufacturer says.

PS: i did use that break-in procedure on my 04 600rr, bike feels fine with no oil consumption.

 

I think you need to relax a little bit. I've been here but not constantly enough to see every thread on the site every day for the last 4 years. As for search, I'd love to, but at the moment the search function is not working properly. I'm not stupid, nor a newb, so please don't insinuate otherwise.

 

What's interesting is I beat the snot out of my first S2000 during the break in period, and it dyno'd at 203whp after 18,000 miles. lol. whether that's related or not who knows. In fact, I'd say it burnt off less oil than my current S2k.

 

My friend bought a new Yamaha R1, dual exhaust under the seat. This is his second R1, subsequent models. The last one, he broke it in easy and noticed the engine wasn't smooth until many miles later. He broke the new one in the hard way and noticed it was smooth after 20 miles...

I'm about to purchase my s2k in a week and I'll try to break it in the 'hard way'. I'll give you my feedback (hopefully with some numbers) after a week.

 

I used hard break-in method with my lawnmower, although I followed the S2K owners manual with my $30K automobile. Go figure.

 

i just wanna use this as an example. im not hacking on you dude, i dont even know you.
many of you here are coming from the standpoint of new cars, which in turn have even better technology, and closer tolerances than anything prior. especially since we all have hondas.
now think on this side of the coin. when is the last time you saw a race motor get a break in? any form of motorsports. nascar, nope. lemans, nope. F1, nope. NHRA, nope. ive always built all my own race motors, and many of my friends. our joke is, when we slap it on the dyno *its either gonna break in, or BREAK OUT* LOL. and you have this motor, that you just finished. you fire it up, do the perscribed cam break in, let it cool down and then readjust the valves. then fire it up, set the dyno and beat the piss out of it, trying to get a solid baseline, and tune it a bit. then, we take it, put it in the car, drive it down the street, till its fully warmed up, and rail it like its going out of style. thats just the way life is with older stuff. and i dont think its gonna hurt this newer stuff. whens the last guy you know who bought a sportbike, and then *broke it in*. yeah right.
LOL, my buds chevelle, we assembled his 406, ran it on the dyno, (567 hp) threw it in the car (67 chevelle T 400 reverese manual VB). we drive up the street and turn down this long road by the college, cars not warm, im like, uhhh dude! he warms the hoosiers, LOL, flashes the converter and jumps off the brake like a hot potatoe, LOL, car looked just like the one in my sig. and to this day (4 years later) it runs perf, and burns no oil.
anyways. i could ramble all day about going fast, bottom line, break your car in the way you want. as ive said before, that 600 mile break in, isnt for the motor, its for all the rest of the parts that need to seat. synchros, diff etc.
dave