Sorry, could not resist....

 

You tighten the S filter by hand? That works fine for other cars. But you're aware that with this engine, to make sure it doesn't spin loose and destroy car with engine fire you need to torque it down per instructions printed right on the side of filter?

This filter looks like any other, but its got a unique locking mechanism of metal ridges around the gasket that must be torqued to engage.

The high rpm and high oil pressures this engine uses mean a regular filter or an S specific filter not torqued down to spec can come loose.

VTEC diverts some oil flow, so engine is designed with higher than normal oil pressure.

Engines and entire cars have been lost due to not following these instructions. It can happen at any time. Or it might never happen. But it'll always be a ticking time bomb that might go off unexpectedly at any moment. When it does, it happens all at once with no warning.

Torque your filter per spec.

 

I tend to disagree a little bit.
In my opinion, there is no locking mechanism, it is just a simple "Toyota - Denso torque stop" P-shaped gasket as used on numerous japanese filters on all japanese car makers. Honda just have adressed the problem of filters get loose at the S2000 by the specification of a higher torque value exclusively for the S2000 filter. The S2000 filter also dont make Metall- to-metall contact to the engine block.

In my personal opinion, this "Toyota - Denso Torque stop" gasket design is crap for the S2000 engine, because the filter dont sit "Really thight" and could easily, effortles be opend when it´s time for a change. This is disturbing when you compare this with a Filter with a regular, traditonal square shaped gasket or a filter with a O-ring gasket where you need tools, sweat and swears when you try to open the filter again. Which gasket design is better on a engine that is notorius for vibrating oil filters loose?

However, no matter wich filter you use, never, never, rely on "Handthight" when you install a filter on a S2000.

 

That is not correct. Not only does it make metal-to-metal contact, it RELIES on this contact to keep it tight. Put a wrench on it and tighten it like the drain plug. Do not use the Honda method “turn x amount from contact”. Everyone’s CONTACT point would vary, which means the end torque would also vary.

Anyone tightening the filter by hand is asking for oil filter spin-off.

Yes someone will comment “I never had a problem”. IF you are strong, and IF you drive normally, you MIGHT get lucky and not have the filter come off.

It is almost EVERY year at the S2000 NYST track days that someone has a hand tightened filter spin off on the track. Including this year. Engine replaced a few months ago. Hand tightened filter by someone on this forum for 20 years.

 

Back when i used the -004 Filter, i allways used my Torque wrench, set to the maximum setting (24 Nm), oiled the filter gasket, and installed the filter until it makes "Click". The torque wrench is a almost new HAZET. Cames with a calibration certificate from the factory.

The filter never made metall-to-metall contact, i allways could turn the filter at least 1/8 turn or even 1/4 turn more and it still did not bottom out. (!)
I dont see any scratches, burrs, grooves or other signs of the metall-to-metall contact on the gasket surface of the water-oil cooler where the filter sits. The surface looks like new. So, not only me, none of the previous owners or mechanics has achieved metall-to-metall contact while installing the filter.

I allways could open the filter easy without much effort at the next oil change. I never ever had a oil filter that could be opened so easy at a oil change in my life like the Honda -004, despite i was using a torque wrench and follwing the instructions from Honda to the point.

So, what i am doing wrong?

 

HAZET make great torque wrenches. Mine are old, well broken-in Snap-on.

 

I followed the Honda instructions for 7/8ths of a turn using the oil filter markings for 9 years and never once had the filter remotely come close to being loose. It always torqued down fine when checked with a torque wrench. The Honda oil filter tool was a blessing despite being pricey, made short work of oil filter changes.

 

The right tool sometimes (often times) cost more.

 

Did the filter actually make Metall-to-metall contact? Could you turn the filter further after you did a 7/8 turn?

 

Snap on makes great tools. Very good reputation also here in Germany. I know some professional mechanics here that uses them.