How much oil should my 2000–2003 Honda S2000 (AP1) burn?

Short answer: Early S2000s (the 'AP1', 2000–2003, with the 9,000 rpm engine) are known for using some oil, especially when driven hard. Owners report everything from almost none to about a quart every 500–1,000 miles with spirited driving or track use. Light oil use isn't a problem by itself. Running the engine low is the danger. One owner blamed a scored cylinder on letting it run low. Check the dipstick weekly.

Symptom: The oil level drops between changes, more after high-rpm driving, autocross or track days. Sometimes there's oil in the intake from the PCV system after hard cornering.

What to check first

1. Check the dipstick weekly and before any hard drive.
2. Track how much you add and how you drove. Owners report much more use with track days or a supercharger.
3. Do a compression test on any AP1 you're buying. Owners said readings should be even across cylinders.
4. If you track the car, look at the PCV system. Owners said a catch can or vents cut oil loss during hard cornering.
5. Watch for blue smoke or oil-fouled plugs. Those point to real ring or cylinder wear, not normal use.

Likely causes

1. Normal use at high rpm (VTEC). Owners say some use is typical of the AP1.
2. Oil pulled through the PCV system on track. Catch can or vents are owner fixes.
3. Worn rings or scored cylinder. Often from running low on oil or abuse.

What it usually costs

Owners didn't post repair prices in these threads. A catch can is a bolt-on part. Ring or cylinder repair means an engine teardown, so get a shop quote.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Yes, if you keep the oil full. Low oil at 9,000 rpm is how these engines get damaged. If the oil light comes on, stop and top it up.

DIY or shop?

DIY for checks, top-ups and a catch can. Engine internal work is a shop job.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• No recall for oil use: NHTSA lists S2000 recalls for these years for seat belts (00V016 and 00V316) and tail lights (04V257), but nothing for oil consumption. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• NHTSA complaints: 34 keyword-matched complaints for Honda S2000 2000–2003 (of 119 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-21; keywords: oil consumption, burning oil, low oil, quart, piston, ring, engine failure). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In How big of a deal is AP1 oil consumption? on S2KI, a shopper who could only afford an AP1 asked how bad the oil use is. Owners said it isn't a big deal with a regular oil-check routine. A 171,000-mile daily driver used about a quart a month, and a track driver about a quart every 1,000 miles. A former moderator said track use pushes oil through the PCV system and suggested a catch can. One owner said a scored cylinder taught them to check oil before every hard drive.
• In 00-03 burning oil on S2KI, a shopper asked how much AP1s really burn. Answers varied widely: a supercharged 2001 used about a quart every 500 miles driven hard, several 2003 owners used under a quart in 2,000–6,000 miles, and others said a 2–3 hour track day can use a quart or two. Some said the oil brand they switched to changed their consumption.

Quick tip

On any high-revving Honda, check the dipstick before the test drive. A car that's down a quart tells you the last owner wasn't checking.

Vehicle focus: 2000–2003 Honda S2000 (AP1, 2.0L F20C).

Safety / mechanic note

Running the engine low on oil can damage it. Verify with a mechanic.