so my friends son has just bought an 02 s2 and he just had it serviced at Ipswich Honda dealer, next morning he starts it up and cam chain is very noisy but on the service invoice they have used 0-30 oil is this ok for the f20c engine ?

ginger

 

Seems strange they would put something else than what is specified.
Owners manual specifies 10W30, but many use 5W40.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/uk-ireland-s2000-community-25/forum-favourites-tyres-oil-brakes-tct-etc-1085229/

At the least, take it back and get them to put the correct oil grade in.

 

5W40 is the recommended, any decent brand will do. I use Driven DT40 but there are many out there.

 

The "30" part denotes the weight or thickness of the oil, as 10w30 was the original oil recommended by Honda, other 30 weight oils should be fine. I put 5w30 in mine and prefer it to the 5w40 which is thicker. More free revving, smoother.
There was a popular thread on the American part of the forum as to why a 30 weight oil is better than a 40 weight oil for the s2000, all about the size of the channels that supply oil to the head.
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/s2000-un...ht-oil-875256/

I believe the first number relates to how useful/thin the oil stays at very low temperatures and isn't related to viscosity at normal UK temperatures. 0w being specified for areas reaching minus 20C. Many of the people on that thread recommend 0w30. Doesn't make it right I guess, but I split the difference and went 5w30 as we don't see the temperatures to justify 0w30 here.

 

The first number denotes the weight (Viscosity) of the oil when cold.
So a 0W30 will be thinner when cold (starting car first thing in the morning) when compared to say 5W30 or 10W30.
That is why sometimes a noise can be heard when the car is cold, but once warmed up, it goes away.

I would still take the car back and get them to at least put the oil in the car that was recommended by Honda. (Especially as the service was at a Honda dealer).

The rattle could also be the TCT, which is a known issue. There are many MANY threads on it and some DIY fixes that work short term all the way to long term fixes (Getting a "Ballade TCT" part from US)

 

5W-30 or 0W-30 is fine, especially if it's pure synthetic. 10/5/0W-20 is probably fine too. No need to obsess.

Literally all engine wear occurs during start-up and warm-up before a good oil flow. 30 "weight" engine oil is what our cars need at operating temperatures but is too thick to properly flow when cold. Lubrication depends on oil flow. 40-weight is worse 'cuz it's thicker. Hence a multi-grade oil. 10 is still too thick when cold but is better. 10W-30 is the spec. 5W-40 in cold temps.

Grab a cup of coffee/tea and read Bob is The Oil Guy for an easy to understand explanation and the difference with synthetics. In addition Blackstone Labs recently published details on engine wear running 0W-20 oil in 10W-30 spec engines and found no difference in engine wear. I've run an oil analysis every oil change and nothing bad shows up running 10W-30 pure synthetic. I'm sure there are labs in the UK which can do this.

Engine oil does more in our cars than simply lubricate the engine. For example VTEC works by oil pressure. That alone is enough to stick to spec or very close to it.

-- Chuck

 

Just a quick update Honda dealer says, quote " 0-30 is standard oil across all honda engines now, its all we use"


Thank guys.

 

Incredible! It may be the standard oil for Honda cars made now , but it defiantly wasn't when this S was built. That's like trying to run a tiger moth on jet fuel because that's what aircraft use now, unbelievable.

That's why I always supply fluids, garages know squat!

 

That seems contrary to what my dealer specified on the recent service I had on mine (where 5w40 was used)......

 

Remind me why I don't use Honda Dealers?

Oh yeah....