Mr.Matchbox

Beginner question:

Does the F20c Engine need oil top ups regulary between oil changes?

ericmdub92

Yes - some people see around a quart (or more) of consumption per 1000 miles.

I advise checking your dipstick every time (or every other time) you fill up with gas and topping her off.
If you're at the track it doesn't hurt to look at the level between sessions!

zeroptzero

absolutely, this is the most important maintenance function. I'd hazard a guess that the majority of engine failures have been due to lack of oil, Check your oil at every fuel fill up. You can be a quart low and be perfectly safe on the street, but start doing any hard cornering and high rpms (which is always tempting in the s2000) and then you have issues combined with low oil.

EELPIE

Yes oil level and missed shifts are the prime killers of this engine.

I personally am a "cold oil level checker"

I check before I start out.

The problem with checking at a gas station could be that the oil has not had enough time to return to the oil pan.

Over filling can be as bad as under filling. I am not sure how overfilled it has to be before the crank starts contacting oil in the sump.

But that causes foaming and air in the system is not good.

My 2 cents

Chibo

I think it would take a pretty big overfill to get to that point during normal running. I run half a quart or so over in my car for extra insurance... but I've seen it puke out half a quart in a session before I did the breather mods.

Chuck S

Any oil level between the Upper and Lower marks is fine. Honda specifically notes:The upper mark is maximum permissible oil level. No need to keep adding oil an once at a time to keep it at the upper mark.

-- Chuck

rpg51

I recall a post by Billman a while back in which I think he expressed concern that overfilling - even just a little, created a small danger of very bad things happening. I think it was based on an actual experience. Be careful. Personally, I never overfill.

starchland

zeroptzero

overfilling .25 quarts over is a common track procedure use by members who track their cars. I'd say that is perfectly safe and someone has figured it to be helpful as you can burn up some large amounts of oil if the track has some long right-hand high speed sweeper curves. I wouldn't do it on the street as it isn't necessary. The danger point could be .5 - 1 quart over, and is likely where Billman has seen cars hydrolock due to oil being sucked through the intake system. Just my two pennies.

Mr.Matchbox

Thank you all!