[From Technical FAQ 2.1 2005]

There are many posts on 'oil' during running-in and first change but please humour me as a 'keen new owner' (why else would I join this site!). I've gone to the recommended FAQ 2.1 (a v. helpful doc) as the authoritative source but I'm still puzzled. Here's the story:

1. Handbook: use premium-grade, detergent, fuel-efficient (preferably Honda) ACEA A3/B3motor oil 10W-30 (or 5W-40 in extreme temperatures)

2. I couldn't find 10W-30 or Honda oil anywhere, even at dealers

3. I asked car supplier who said, 'Your car has standard multi-grade mineral oil 10W-40'; supplier later came back and said use GTX 5W-40 (but probably meant 10W-40)

4. Meanwhile, I had spoken to Honda UK - they recommended Castrol SLX Longtec 0W-30. I find that Castrol has actually replaced that oil with Castrol Edge!! H UK also couldn't answer the obvious question - what oil has Honda put in the S2000 to start with?

5. I decided to email Honda UK, give all car details and ask: what type of oil is in it: mineral; semi-synth; or fully synth? I can then just choose accordingly for top-up. Two emails but no response. Called them on Saturday 5th May and got message: 'we are closed for training and re-open Monday 23 Oct' ! (This is the same customer relations who couldn't tell me what my soft-top is made of and referred me to the handbook, which doesn't say - although FAQ 2.1 says it's vinyl - it looks like fabric but I guess the FAQ must be right, although could it have changed since 2005? But that's another question; let's stay with the oil!) .

6. Oher Honda dealers have said 'Honda put semi-synth in at the factory' and 'Honda put fully-synthetic oil 5W-30 in all (yes, all) Hondas at the factory'.

7. By now, I'm baffled and return to Technical FAQ 2.1 which clearly says 'stay' mineral (implying that mineral is in there to begin). Has something changed since FAQ 2.1, 2005? Or are those who have said confidently that Honda put in semi-synth or fully synth in the S2000 simply wrong?

Perhaps I'm just wasting your time and mine; maybe it's not critical which top-up goes in and whether it mixes mineral, semi-synth or synth: just get the viscosity in the correct range and buy an established ACEA A3/B3 product from Mobil, Castrol or Shell etc. But then why all the strictures about using the correct oil, in the handbook, in the Technical FAQ and in the forums? If there's a difference between the oils, I want to use the best one for my car, and I want to top up with the same type (mineral, semi-synth or synth) that is in there now.

If you've got this far - thanks for staying with it I'm left with two questions: a) does my new car have mineral or semi-synth or fully synth in it? b) how could there be such confusion and contradiction?

Meanwhile - I had another great early morning open-top drive today. Magic!

 

Factory fill and service fill are often two different Oils. The factory fill is likely to be a high in Moly oil.

I'd be happy to use magnatec as a top up 10w40, or any other decent 10w40 Group 3 oil ('semi-synthetic'). Mixing oils is not a concern

Then after the first oil change go for you prefered oil.


Castrol got rid of Longlife branding, with so many different oil names it was getting confusing. Now there are just '3 levels' of oil: GTX, Magnatec and Edge available to joe public to try and avoid confusion.

 

magnatec will be fine. More important to run the engine in following the handbook.

There is massive confusion within Honda UK technical about this. Almost no point in asking them.

Once run in then depending on how you plan to use the car any good well known brand fully synthetic or semi synthetic will be fine. If you plan to track day the car then ask the race wizards. If you plan fast raod use then I'd stick to a freely available product like Castrol Edge.

Again - mixing oils is not a problem so it does not matter what you put in as long as it's the right grade and a good make. More important is to keep the level topped up so check regularly during the run in period.

 

There seems a danger of almost becoming too pedantic to the point of paranoia on this subject.
Yes we know it's a 'race bred engine' and all that, but putting matters into perspective in the real world of day to day driving, unless you intend to race the thing then the mineral oil that is in the car when delivered, and semi or fully synthetic ( dealers may give you a choice ) at the first oil change is fine.

 

Thanks - good to be getting some driver/user experience and advice here although I did have a 'yeah but no but yeah but no but' moment , BB at your

That's one of the main things I failed to establish - I would be fascinated to know your source of info. As indicated, my sources said variously and confidently that what's in it is mineral, er, semi-synth, er, fully synth.

 

You can get 10W30 - I use Redline 10w30 it is available from Fluke motorsport or Demon Tweeks

If you search "Oil" using the search box at the bottom of the forum, you'll see there is MUCH discussion on the subject.

 

Its likely it is not a fully synthetic oil. This would be too slippy.

I know Toyota 2zz, similar engine technology has a high moly first fill. not sure what base oil it uses though

 

Thanks AE and Si2K. Don't you find it baffling that Honda UK and their dealers are in the kind of confusion that aldfort and I mention, about what the factory actually puts in the engine? I do, but maybe others are used it.

It's a pity that Honda UK don't read the posts here and get their act together (nice car, shame about the customer relations).

 

Dealers don't usually know that level of detail - remember they hardly sell any of these cars vs the regular ones. 7500 in the last 7 years.

In fact, I doubt any car dealer would know what oil was factory fill on any car.

Honda do indeed get feedback, I supply them quite a bit through the club.

 

Thanks AE. It's helpful to get your broader view although I do think that what I'm raising is fundamental: Honda tell me to check the oil every time I refuel and to top up with the correct one but the handbook-recommended oil is not generally available and when I seek an alternative, no 'official' source knows for sure what's in there already.

I can live with it, since everyone else does, but if I were Honda I'd want to show that I could deal (consistently) with the question - like telling the dealers and customer relations staff.

It's good to know that you give them feedback. Meanwhile, I guess I've flogged this one to death.