atomcrusher

Here in South Africa the S2000 is sold with a 3 year / 100,000 km maintenance plan built into the new purchase price. This is transferable to subsequent owners.

Mine is now in for it's first service (only done 11,800 km, but it is over 12 months old.)

Honda covers all parts / labour / oils, so this will cost me zilch (yes - of course I've paid for it anyway in the purchase price..)

Now, I am a great fan of using synth engine oil after, say, 10,000 km in all vehicles I have had, and I asked them to put full-synth oil in at this service.

The service manager said, "no, we used Castrol Magnatech, which is a semi-synth oil, and that is what Honda recommends .... the full-syth breaks down after about 10,000km"

Now, I reckon that's nonsense, and I suspect Honda here are just trying to save $$$ by not using full-synth. But as there is a maintenance plan, I risk voiding warrantee if I go ahead and put in full-synth oil at my own expense.

Can anyone tell me what Honda UK says about this? i.e. do they specify synth after a certain km's?

MB

Semi synth is fine, and what the manual states so you wouldn't be able to force them to use FS.

Personally I have always used F/S as I drive the car hard and I think its the correct thing to do given the marginal cost.

If you track the car then I would go for FS.

Si2k

Fully Synthetics main benefit on road cars is that it lasts longer, hence why it can do 35,000 miles in VAG engine on active service intervals.

With such short drain intervals, such as the S2000s 9,000 miles (and especially topping up that a lot of F20Cs need) then a semi is fine.

Of course if you take it on a track then I would advise fully sythetic. Although I have used Magnatec,

Anyway its only oil, bit like going to the pub and getting Fosters instead of Stella. Both get you drunk

atomcrusher

Thanks - that's what I wanted to know ... i.e. that Honda UK also says semi-synth.

Here in SAfrica most consumers have an inherent distrust of vehicle dealers & service centres, as the perception exists that they will cut their costs, while inflating their prices, to the detriment of their customers.

I doubt I'll still be owning the S2000 after the service plan expires .. I don't keep my cars very long - they are likely to either get stolen or hi-jacked, or written off by the over-loaded, unroadworthy mini-taxis & heavy vehicles that plague our roads, and driven by folk who buy their licenses on the black market.

UK Paul

After Fosters though you piss on your flowers, after Stella you twat your wife then go for a piss.

MB

Same as here then Atom

Where abouts in SA are you from?

Sounds like Joburg?!

I have a lot of family around Cape Town area.

Visited last year - what a place! Top of my list. Loved it.

atomcrusher

Long story MB ... born 1951 in Liverpool .. folks emigrated to (the then) Northern Rhodesia in 1955, and I grew up there. 1966 moved to Cape Town and finished my schooling, then back to the then Southern Rhodesia. Was in Rhodesian Army for too many years.... Moved to Joburg 1977 - lived here ever since - this is where the $$$ is, and we spend it by buying up all available sea-front property from the Capies

The S2000 loses a lot of its potential power (being normally aspirated) here on the Highveld at 5,500 ft above sea-level, but still knocks most 2000 cc NA other makes. Its no fun driving the S here around Joburg, and I use it mainly weekends out in the country, or down to Mpumalanga escarpment area (near Kruger Park) ... magnificent roads, even better weather, no cops ... Heaven!

A couple of pics taken on my last trip to Mpumalanga (the old Eastern Transvaal) lower down on this page here: http://lc100gx.googlepages.com/home

MB

Interesting history and Nice pics!

So I guess you own most of property on the aptly named Camps bay?

I dont ridea bike, but have a keen interest and I love the VTR - just sounds so good. I guess you cant ride it much for fear of being shot at!

The car looks even better, didnt know you got GPW there

My old man was born in Harare

Most of the family we had there have been booted out

PS - just to get back to the oil, the manual just stetes a viscosity and use an oil which is SG / SH or SJ. That gives them scope to just go for a semi synth. Again, it will be fine but you could alwyas offer to pay the extra if you want FS.

AquilaEagle

Nice!!

atomcrusher

I've just collected my S2K from the local Honda dealer, after the performed the 12 month (annual) service. Cost zero, as the S2K is sold new here, inclusive of a full maintenance plan, for ZAR 365,000 incl. VAT of 14% ( ca. GBP 25,050). They used Castrol Magnatech oil which is a semi-synth. (Specifications: Meets: SAE 10W-40, API SL/CF, ACEA A3/B3, MB 229.1