I have a AP1 *2002* and its my weekend warrior kinda deal, i drive the hell out of it almost every chance i have, and it takes the beating wonderfully, aside from the TCT i need to order... but with that being said, i want to know what the best oil for it is, i currently use Mobil 1 extended performance, and swap it out every 4000 miles, and i use a K&N filter, its worked fine for me in most situations, but im wondering what my best options would be? Whats the "Proven" oil and filter for an s2000 to keep it going strong?

(i read PAGES of this stuff, and they start out good then plummet into useless debating and opinions, which i something that dosent help me at all, the oil im using now is the same i use in my 99 GSR (turbo) and my 02 Celica GTS, but im sure there is something better and a little more tuned towards my s2000, thanks. I heard rumors mobil one was bad on a TCT...)

 

ImportedPower: "I read PAGES of this stuff, and they start out good then plummet into useless debating and opinions."

Yeah, that's about where we are with the topic .. on this board as well as others I haunt. Truth is, most SL or SM rated 10W-30 oils will work fine in your car for modest intervals. Some are better than others but that's where we are.

I don't think there is a definitive answer. Even UOAs don't tell the entire story. And consumption varies from user to user as engines and driving styles differ.

I think you are left with opinion ... but try to get many, many opinions from different sources. Take an average, look for recurring good points, etc ...

What you are using now is pretty decent, BTW.

 

First, for filters, go with the PCX from Honda. It was designed for the specific application and is well proven.
On oil, after spending some time on BITOG, and lacking the budget for the exotics, PYB for conventional changes and Pennz-Platinum for the long intervals has been my pick with uneventful (the best kind) results. I follow manufacturer recommendations on weight. Honda built a tough lump in the F20 and I don't think it needs any super-premium lubricants to provide miles of enjoyment, there will be many that disagree. I too have read about the Mobil 1-TCT issue which is a pretty easy fix if it occurs. The rest of the internals should be in great shape from the Mobil and if it concerns that much, consider one of the Pennzoil or Castrol synthetics. Level and interval are where most people need to focus their attention. My opinion, go with one of the big players and find something else to worry about.

 

I personally don't beleive the rumours about Mobil1 and TCT's, many owners have lost TCT's on every oil brand being used. The fact of the matter is that the Honda TCT is a very poorly designed/produced part. These parts have failed with very little use for many owners. Somehow someone figured out how to blame Mobli1 for a poorly designed part. This is quite likely the worst part installed on this otherwise wonderful car.

Mobil1 EP is a very good oil, you can't really go wrong with it, I like it better than the regular version of Mobil1. I recall seing good UOA's of this oil from members of this forum. The K&N filter is pretty good too, I like the Honda filter but the K&N is a pretty good piece.

I like what I'm seeing with my Amsoil engine oil, I won't know for sure unitl I get my UOA results back in the very near future. I know my oil consumption has dropped a decent bit since switching from Castrol Syntec and I like that, that's about all I can say.

Like Bror said every recommendation you get will be solely based on opinion, I've yet to find anyone who can definitively tell you that one oil is better than the other for this engine. Run an oil that you can readily find that is in your budget range and agrees with your driving style and mileage use. Your engine is unlikely to wear out due to the composition of any over the counter oil that you use.

 

Just my experience, but when i used mobil 1 in my s2000, the TCT actually would randomly start chattering and making racket at startup and sometimes when sitting there idling.

Since i stopped using it, i haven't heard the TCT again.

 

Gee.....another oil thread.

NO ONE knows what oil is best....too many variables.

I use Penn Plat 5-30 in ALL my cars listed below....WHY? .. because it meets/exceeds the OEM specs for the cars I use it in.GM,Honda & Mitsu.

For Oil filters....I use WIX in ALL my cars. I take my car care cues from the racing world.Most of the NW cars I drive use WIX.

Wix is a good blend of filtration and flow.I run the Wix 51334 in my 03S2K.

As always,IMO.
\rlr
Carolina

 

I saw one of the few posts with facts posted up saying that Valvoline Synpower 10w-30 and a Pureolator Pure-One filter worked amazingly in a 2002 s2000 like mine, but after looking, i cant see many others talking about it, i know its redundant as hell, but im one of those guys who is rather obsessive about keeping his cars in top shape... (currently spazzing because some idjit that wired the GSR i bought felt that stereo wiring was ok to use in an engine bay, right beside a turbo.)

 

I refuse to put mobil1 in any of my cars, for what its worth. Every car I've owned has chewed up mobil1 like that's what it's made to do. My pennzoil plat has treated me very well (went 6500 miles before reading at the half mark on the dipstick).

 

I go by an oil's performance on industry standardized tests - none of the ...I love the way the oil works in my car" rhetoric... which is crap.

When you look at the bottom line on performance tests - Amsoil is the best. I use Amsoil ATM 10W30.

My car has over 65,000 miles on the clock and it still has less than 2% leakdown in all cylinders. It's hard to build a motor that tight - let alone drive the snot out of it for over 65,000 miles and have it stay that tight. Low leakdown numbers = almost non-existent wear. Proof is in the pudding (if your pudding is industry standardized tests or motor leakdown tests).

 

There's good reason for that (already discussed above) and this thread isn't going to change anything. Pick a good oil, get some UOA's and keep an eye on things.