Hey,

I am at about 5200 miles and I have 30% oil life. Should I look at getting an oil change soon or wait until it's at the recommended 5%? My oil level is good and the oil is not black, it still has an orangish tint. However, I noticed my car "jerks more" while downshifting which is something I noticed in my old car when the oil was low/dirty. Also, the recommended service A is just an oil change and check fluids right?

THANKS!

 

I have almost exactly the same mileage you have, and my oil life is also 30%. I am going to wait until 10-15% before I change. Some people say as the mileage on the oil increases, the MID goes down faster, but I haven't noticed it yet.

What would the oil have to do with the transmission jerking while downshifting?

Yes, the A service is just an oil change and fluid check, but if it says A1 that would mean to rotate the tires also.

Be sure and find out what the dealer is going to charge for either oil change or tire rotation, or both. Some people have reported charges as high as $80-100 for the A service, which is ridiculous.

 

I personally would change now - the TBN of the factory fill is likely less than 2, and the add pack nearly depleted - mineral oils usually have little left at around 5K, and wear is forever.

Dirty oil has no effect on transmission smoothness, except in an automatic.

I personally would not stick with Honda MTF - I did an analysis (it is in the RR Oil Journals) of MTF, and found it to be little more than a fortified engine oil with some friction modifier for better synchro performance, and the experiences and oil analyses in the S2000's has shown that this stuff is all but gone at 15K. I also did an analysis of Red Line's MTL, and it has similar friction modifier chemistry as MTF, but uses base stocks which will not shear down nearly as quickly.

Most S2000 guys change the MTF every year. And that tranny has carbon-faced synchros (I do not know if your 6MT does).

 

Have you been happy with the MTL in your S2000? I remember MTL was well thought of in the Mustang community years ago. The current 1-2 shift when cold is 'notchy' and I'd like to try a synthetic to see if it improves.

 

Yes - it is my recommendation. I have done analyses of all the popular fluids, incuding the GM ones, and MTL is closest to Honda's chemistry. Synthetics are excellent in high shear situations, but not all synthetics outperform the best formulations of parafinic lubes - paraffins have certain advantages in additive uptake that syns do not, esp PAO's, which is why esters are usually added. Esters (such as those used in MTL) are excellent, but care must be used in applications where high ambient H2O , or the chance of water intrusion, exist, since hydrolysis is a real risk factor (usually this is an issue only in differentials). The best oil known to me is LE 8130, a combination of mid-continent paraffins and PAO's. When the "Oil Journals" is back up at S2KI, give them a read and I would be happy to answer any other specfic questions.

 

FYI,

I waited until the indicator went to 5 percent before I made an appointment. There was a 2 week wait. Now I have a few more days but the indicator is a 0 percent and the text says "Service Overdue".

I could cancel the appointment and take it to a commercial oil change place and have some pimply kid mess with the care but I think it's less risky to assume there is some built in tolerance (like Miles Left in the trip computer) and let an Acuara person do the work.

I sure hate seeing the amber warning everytime I start the car.

 

You can get rid of the amber light yourself - it is in the manual. I use my AutoXray 6000 scanner to do it.


How many miles? I think you are playing Russian roulette waiting that long.

2 week wait? My Acura dealer is open for service on Saturdays - never had to wait more than 4 days, although that is only for warranty work - I do all other maintenance.