first oil change ?

[dpmill]

Is it ok to use syn. oil at first change. and at what mileage ? is 1700 miles to soon?

[Neil]

I think you have to wait until 6000 miles to allow your engine to "bed in" properly.
Follow the reminder it'll tell you when to change the oil.

[lonestarbuzz]

yeah, i'd follow the reminder as well. unless it has been over 12 months.

i'd change it with dino oil. i've HEARD that you don't want to use synth at the first change. i did use it on the first change, my engine drinks about 2 extra quarts of oil between changes. i am going to go back to dino oil on the next one and see if it still happens.

i don't know if the oil usage is directly due to changing with synth on the first change, but i thought i should let you know.

[Honda007]

Seems like kinda alot buzz even for a Honda, How long do you normally wait to change the oil?

[RMurphy]

I went with exactly what the user manual said. First oil change definitely isn't in 1700 miles (unless you've gone way over the recommended time interval) and is more like 7500 if I'm remember correctly. I believe it has something to do with the oil from the factory having special additives for the brand new engine which are supposed to protect it during break in period and they want you to leave it in longer.

Pull your owner's manual and check that out. I know I found the info there.

[desmo4]

I follow Redlines recommendation, change every 12000 and change the filter every 3000.
1700 is a little early.

It's a common myth that synthetic oil will stop the break in. Actually it will slow it down and result in closer tolerances. The car will use oil for 15000 miles or more and then it will diminish sharply.

Jonathan

[lonestarbuzz]

Originally Posted by Honda007

Seems like kinda alot buzz even for a Honda, How long do you normally wait to change the oil?

it does seem like a lot. i push to about 7500 miles between changes. sometimes it only uses about a quart. like i said, i think this will change with dino oil. most of the folks i have talked to said they changed back to dino and now it barely uses half a quart.

[dpmill]

Originally Posted by Honda007

Seems like kinda alot buzz even for a Honda, How long do you normally wait to change the oil?

3-5k on oil change intervals,

[RayYay]

I had this same question when I did my first oil change. I was confused too, but I just followed my reminder, which came on at about 3800 miles. I changed it with synthetic, so now my next oil change should be around 9800 (according to EZLube).

I am now at 7017 miles and my oil reminder gauge is at 20%. Does this seem normal?

[AeroS2000]

Use Castrol GTX its a good oil

[dpmill]

I believe it has something to do with the oil from the factory having special additives for the brand new engine which are supposed to protect it during break in period and they want you to leave it in longer.

Pull your owner's manual and check that out. I know I found the info there.[/quote]
I thought the leave it in longer was probably the EPA influence. I did read the manual I have 3 other Honda's and on my wife,s car the maintenance minder put it at 12k miles. way to many for my liking

[Neil]

From what I have read, I think you should have waited longer before going synthetic .
Your reminder is based on regular dino oil. Synthetic oils are better wearing thus last longer. Porsche models have synthetic from the factory. Their first oil change is thousands of miles from new.

[Neil]

I also read that the factory fill oil with additives dont last that long, so after a couple of thousand miles its just oil.

[RMurphy]

I pulled my manual (mine's a 2007). I also did a search for the Honda S2000 Owner's manual online and found the 2008 PDF version. They are virtually identical. So I cut and pasted from the PDF.

Here's what I found:

Break-in Period
Help assure your vehicle’s future reliability and performance by paying extra attention to how you drive during the first 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:
*Do not change the oil until the
scheduled maintenance time.
*Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration. Do not exceed 5,500
rpm for the first 600 miles (1,000
km) of operation.
*Avoid hard braking for the first
200 miles (300 km).

You should also follow these recommendations with an overhauled or exchanged engine, or when the brakes are replaced.

---

Synthetic Oil
You may use a synthetic motor oil if it meets the same requirements given for a conventional motor oil: it displays the API Certification Seal, and it is the proper weight. You must follow the oil and filter change intervals shown on the information display.

---

In the section of the manual about the Maintenance Minder:

Your vehicle displays engine oil life and maintenance service items on the information display to show you when you should have your dealer do engine oil replacement and indicated maintenance service. Based on the engine operating conditions and accumulated engine revolutions, the onboard computer in your vehicle calculates the remaining engine oil life and displays it as a percentage.

If the message ‘‘SERVICE’’ does not appear more than 12 months after the
display is reset, change the engine oil every year.



On my S, I did the oil and filter at 5100 miles; however, I believe the maintenance minder was at like 10% still and I think I was probably early on it. Just did my second oil and filter change at 10,700 and that time I waited until it read 5%.

YMMV

[RayYay]

Nice write up RMurphy! So what increments does the oil life % go down? My meter has not gone lower than 20% so I am curious. Does it go to 15, 10, 5, and then SERVICE? I thought it was only in 10% increments?

[RMurphy]

Thanks RayYay.

Well, the manual says it goes like this:

The remaining engine oil life is
shown on the display according to
this table:

Calculated Engine -----Displayed
Oil Life (%) --------------Engine Oil Life (%)
100 % - 91 %-------------100%
90 % - 81 %---------------90%
80 % - 71 %---------------80%
70 % - 61 %---------------70%
60 % - 51 % ---------------60%
50 % - 41 % ---------------50%
40 % - 31 % ---------------40%
30 % - 21 % ---------------30%
20 % - 16 % ---------------20%
15 % - 11 % ---------------15%
10 % - 6 % ----------------10%
5 % - 1 % ------------------5%
0 % -------------------------0%

--- (then we get into negatives! -RM)

If you do not perform the indicated maintenance, negative mileage is displayed and begins to blink after the vehicle has been driven 10 miles (10 km) or more.

Negative mileage means your vehicle has passed the maintenance required point.

Immediately have the indicated maintenance done by your dealer.

Sorry about the wacky formatting. --Roseanne

[RMurphy]

PS It also says this:

The 15 and 10 percent oil life indicator reminds you that the time is coming soon to take your vehicle in for the required maintenance.

(note the use of the term soon above -- RM)

When the remaining engine oil life is 5 to 1 percent, you will see a ‘‘SERVICE OIL LIFE’’ message along with the same maintenance item code(s), every time you turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position. The maintenance minder indicator ( ) also comes on and remains on in the instrument panel.

So that kind of tells me that they *expect* you to wait until the 5% or lower point before taking it in. Just my read on it, anyway. --RM

[RayYay]

Cool thanks for the info RM! I'll prob just do mine at 10%.

You're from Playa Del Rey? I was at Venice last week, those roads up there are harsh for our S2000s. Dunno how u guys drive up there!

[RMurphy]

Originally Posted by RayYay

I was at Venice last week, those roads up there are harsh for our S2000s. Dunno how u guys drive up there!

Not to hi-jack the thread, but....
I don't drive the S much around town. I have a company car I drive most of the time which is more appropriate for the type of (ab)use my daily driver has to endure. I don't spend a lot of time in Venice either. As you have accurately noted, it's not the environment for which the S was designed.

On most weekends when I decide to take the S out, I head toward Malibu where there is a winery with a wine club to which I have a membership. The wines are certainly good, but the membership is really just an excuse to have to drive Stunt Road and Mulholland to get there. Shhhh! Don't tell my husband. He thinks it's all about the wines.

Which leads me to another question.... I'll have to start a new thread.

[philiam]

"there is a winery with a wine club"

Is that the one out on Mulholland? Seems like a strange place to sample the grape and head down Mulholland and Stunt.

[RMurphy]

Originally Posted by philiam

Is that the one out on Mulholland? Seems like a strange place to sample the grape and head down Mulholland and Stunt.

Malibu Family Wines. 31800 Mulholland Highway. You probably drive past it on your way south toward The Rock Store, Phil.

Since I'm coming from the south, the winery is at what amounts to the *end* of the drive for me, but I can see what you mean by it being a bad idea to be doing it the opposite direction. Mostly I head up there with some cheese and crackers and do one of the tastings. They don't use measuring pourers so I frequently find myself telling them to pour light or I have to pour off the extra myself (seems so wasteful, but...). I camp out for awhile and enjoy the solitude ('cept for when Harleys drive by) before heading back.

There is another tasting room called Cornell at 29975 Mulholland Hwy. Been there once or twice. Neat little place. Interesting artwork too. They gave me a free wine corkscrew which has turned out to be my favorite. It's a two stage type that allows for better leverage.

But now we're *really* off-topic here...

[philiam]

[RMurphy]

Nice winery pic. What's that yellow blob out front?

Yep... that's Cornell. It's south of Malibu Family Wines.

[gomarlins3]

I would wait until at least a few thousand miles.

[flyingarmadillo]

Originally Posted by dpmill

Is it ok to use syn. oil at first change. and at what mileage ? is 1700 miles to soon?

According to a friend who is a Honda mechanic, the factory oil IS synthetic, made by Exxon for Honda (really Mobil 1 since Exxon now owns Mobil). So there's no problem running synthetic.

[ZigZag]

I bought my '07 with only 2400mi on it, from a Toyota dealership.While they obviously thought they were providing a good service, they changed the oil before I picked it up. Probably what they do with all "used" cars. I was a little concerned, but what can you do after the fact. Doesn't seem to have mattered. I do not seem to be using any oil. I just went 3400mi since the last change. and didn't need to top up. But I was a little choked when I realized what they did.

[H20]

I changed to synthetic at 4500 miles on my 07. Used a quart getting to 4500 and not a drop since. I'm about 8000 now.

[dpmill]

I just realized, the oil is over a year old .I bought the car 2 weeks ago w/ 100 miles on it . Its a new non current 2008 manufactured in May of '08. ? Change or wait? I now have 1700 miles

[philiam]

I'd wait. Oil doesn't wear out. You might want to change the filter and put some new oil in to make up the difference. Just break it in as a new car.

[flyingarmadillo]

Originally Posted by dpmill

I just realized, the oil is over a year old .I bought the car 2 weeks ago w/ 100 miles on it . Its a new non current 2008 manufactured in May of '08. ? Change or wait? I now have 1700 miles

The owners manual says to change it at least once a year regardless of mileage. So I'd change it just to be safe.

[philiam]

Originally Posted by flyingarmadillo

The owners manual says to change it at least once a year regardless of mileage. So I'd change it just to be safe.

I think their talking about a car that's been driven more than that. Oil doesn't spoil and by adding some to replace the filter you're freshening up the additives. It's still in the break-in stage.

[dpmill]

Oil might have a long shelf life, on a shelf. But in an engine I believe the cycles of hot and cold and the moisture makes it acidic IMHO.

[philiam]

Here's a good place to learn about oil.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/