Ultimate S2000 Servicing Guide

The Honda S2000 is a model that requires very little introduction, since its launch in 1999,  Honda’s iconic 2 door convertible has secured itself a cult following of enthusiasts. Their combination of great weight distribution, rear wheel drive and a high revving i-VTEC engine in the front made for a sports car that can still hold its own on track to this day.

When it comes to servicing and maintaining the S2000, we’re very happy to say we can offer a wide array of quality parts and fluids for servicing them, along with our great catalogue of upgrades!

S2000 Air Filter Servicing

Starting with the air filter, Honda did an excellent job of designing the factory airbox on the S2000, to the point that even the factory air filter flows well. We’d generally suggest either Honda’s own air filter...

or, ideally for a little more air flow, the Spoon Sports Air Filter.

If you’re looking for more induction noise, and a little more power than standard, then checkout the K&N Performance Air Intake Kit. This replaces the factory airbox with a high quality cotton gauze filter, protected from the majority of the engine’s heat by a specially designed heatshield, and run into the throttle body through a smooth bore HDPE pipe.

 

As HDPE, unlike the aluminium pipe you might find in a cheaper intake, has a much lower thermal capacity, the air intake temperature remains to be quite low, meaning that in combination with the smoother airflow into the throttle body and better flowing air filter, the car should see a horsepower bump of around 9.5hp, along with a louder intake noise, which can allow you to enjoy VTEC even more.

S2000 Air Filter Interval

Honda recommend replacing the air filter every 30,000 miles or two years, though K&N's filters can be cleaned using their specialist cleaning kit, which is available via our website here.

S2000 Oil Servicing

Oil is, without a doubt, the most important part of any performance engine, but especially so in any high-revving Honda. For the UK and colder European climates, the best engine oil grade for the S2000 is 5W40. When it comes to brands, this is largely personal preference.

Fuchs Titan Race Pro S is our most popular option. Formerly known as Titan Race, this is a premium ester synthetic oil designed for both road and track use, with it commonly being seen in grassroot motorsport pits. It's formula contains additives designed to work with high lift camshafts and other heavily loaded valvetrain components - a must with a 9000rpm capable engine! It’s also designed for use in turbocharged applications, so it’ll happily cover a range of modified examples well too.

Millers CFS NT+ is another customer favourite. With their signature NANODRIVE triple ester formula, this oil offers ‘ultra low friction technology’ with high film strength, leading to excellent wear protection throughout the entire temperature range.

Whichever oil you choose, 4.8 litres is the amount needed when draining and replacing your S2000 engine oil, however we recommend buying 6 litres at a time so you can keep 1L in the boot for top-ups as needed.

S2000 Oil Change Interval

Whilst Honda will tell you to change your S2000 engine oil ever 7,500 miles, our recommendation is to carry out a change every 5,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first.

Whilst this is slightly more frequent than Honda suggests, the F20C is an engine known for consuming oil, so it's better to be diligent, in our opinion.

S2000 Oil Filters

If you’re changing your oil, you’re also changing your oil filter. Excellent filtration ensures that your all important oil gets circulated effectively and doesn't have any harsh contaminants in it. Both Honda’s original oil filter, specific to the S2000 or Spoon Sports’ high performance oil filter are available from our stock.

Our usual go-to is the original Honda filter, which is specific to the F20C and F22C engines. We recommend this for any example wanting to stick to the Honda 7,500 mile service interval, and they will do everything you can possibly expect from a roadgoing oil filter.

For those planning to regularly hit VTEC and sustain high RPMs, we recommend the Spoon Sports High-Performance Oil Filter. By utilizing a high-flow mesh, it provides superior oil flow and increased pressure for better engine protection under intense use.

Featuring a "shorty" profile reminiscent of the iconic HAMP filters discontinued in 2019, the Spoon filter includes an internal magnet to trap metallic particles. While difficult to outperform for the price, note that these have a dedicated 5,000–6,000km (3000-3400 miles) service life, making them ideal for track builds or owners who follow a more frequent maintenance schedule.

For ultimate peace of mind, we also suggest the Spoon Sports Magnetic Engine Drain Bolt. This captures magnetic swarf that naturally accumulates from component wear, preventing debris from recirculating and potentially damaging your engine. It also serves as a vital early-warning system for the health of your F-series - a small investment considering the cost of a replacement engine.

S2000 Spark Plugs

The best spark plug for the S2000 is NGK’s IFR7G-11KS. These are the go-to plug for both the F-series and K-series engines. A total quantity of 4 are necessary for the S2000. These are supplied pre-gapped for use with a naturally aspirated S2000, but if you do have a forced induction setup, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss different heat range options.

S2000 Spark Plug Interval

The iridium plugs are the tried and tested, and generally should have a service life of around 40,000 miles, though if you drive the car more enthusiastically it’s probably best to check them every ~10,000 miles, or in the event of any unusual idling or misfires.

S2000 Fuel Filter

Fuel Filters are another commonly overlooked filter, partly as on the S2000 they’re mounted in the tank as part of the fuel pump hanger assembly, however the fuel filter really should be something you consider replacing reasonably regularly. Whilst fuel quality standards are generally reasonably good in the UK, over time a mixture of fine dirt and corrosion can sometimes find their way to be caught by the filter, gradually either blocking it or wearing away at it.

Once these filters begin to degrade, the unwanted material in your fuel can sometimes contribute to premature wear of your fuel system, including the pump and injectors, leading to issues such as low fuel pressure, poor injector spray pattern and even total failure. These generally show initially as idling issues but they can escalate into valvetrain, piston and cylinder wall damage, reduced power (due to knock from pre-detonation), and can quite easily cause your S2000 to not start.

S2000 Fuel Filter Interval

Honda hasn't published a service interval for the fuel filter, but they do suggest checking the fuel lines and connections every 15,000 miles. We’re happy to supply a replacement fuel filter for your peace of mind.

S2000 Cabin Filter

The cabin filter is a commonly overlooked service item when it comes to convertibles - but don’t make that mistake! Whilst some might think the air in your car doesn’t need filtering on a convertible, all of the airflow for your heating system, including your air con, passes through your cabin air filter.

Regularly changing it should not only improve the efficiency of your heaters and air con, but it can also reduce moisture build-up in the interior, leading to lower condensation on your glass and even reducing the risk of smells and even mould. Mould can not only damage your interior fabrics, gradually eating away at them, but more importantly it can also lead to various health issues, including eye and skin irritation and a number of different breathing issues. If you want to breathe clearly in your S2000 no matter if the roof is up or down, change your cabin air filter.

S2000 Cabin Filter Interval

Honda recommends a 30,000 mile or 2 year service interval on these, whichever comes first.

S2000 Gear Oil

We recommend Honda’s MTF-3 for the S2000 gearbox. This is specially formulated to maintain your synchros and bearings within the Honda gearbox, and help to protect them from shock loads and general wear over time. 

The gearbox capacity on the S2000 is 1.5-1.7L, so 2x 1L bottles will be necessary.

S2000 Gear Oil Interval

The recommended gear oil service interval is every 30,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first. Depending on use, you may wish to do this sooner.

To better monitor the health of your transmission whilst changing the oil, we’d recommend fitting a Spoon Sports Magnetic Drain Bolt. This will not only give you an indication of metal build-up in the gearbox itself, but it’ll also catch most stray metal filings and keep them away from the gearbox internals, further protecting your bearings, synchromesh's, seals and the gears themselves from premature wear.

S2000 Differential Oil

Honda recommends Gear Oil 3 (the successor to HGO-3) for S2000 differential services. The diff capacity is roughly 0.75L, so a single 1L bottle is sufficient.

This high-quality mineral oil is formulated with "extreme pressure" additives, making it ideal for both daily driving and track use. For high-load applications, we also supply larger differential casings to increase fluid capacity and improve cooling.

Neglecting your differential oil can lead to bearing failure and gear damage due to metal swarf buildup and increased operating temperatures. In extreme cases, a failing diff can cause the rear wheels to lock, posing a significant safety risk. 

S2000 Differential Oil Interval

Honda suggests a replacement every 30,000 miles or 2 years, whichever comes first. Fortunately, the S2000 features a magnetic drain bolt from the factory to help monitor and capture internal wear.

S2000 Coolant

Honda’s own Type II Premixed coolant is our recommended coolant for all Hondas, including the S2000. Their silicate free coolant has antifreeze additives to keep it liquid as low as -36°c, and as it’s premixed you don’t need to worry about measuring the ratios to achieve that level of freeze resistance.

It also contains anti corrosive additives to protect your coolant channels, thermostat and radiator and help maintain a high cooling system efficiency. This can be used with all of the cooling upgrades we offer for the S2000, and all of the OEM parts.

S2000 Brake Fluid

Last but not least, Brake Fluid is an essential to maintaining safety in your S2000, Honda advise that it’s changed every 3 years, regardless of mileage, as it will naturally accumulate moisture that will lower its boiling point over time - however, if you do experience brake fade during those 3 years, we would recommend replacing your brake fluid.

We offer Honda's own DOT4 brake fluid if keeping things OEM if your preference, although if you plan on heading to the track you may want to consider a more performance focussed alternative, such as Dixcel's 328 Racing fluid.

In either case, you'll require 1L in total to fully flush the brake lines, so 2x small 500ml bottles in total will be needed.

If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch.