Royal Purple transmission fluid ?

[Coop]

I heard about some Royal Purple fluid and thought I would give it a try.

Well I thought this would be the product to use;
Synchromax Manual Transmissions Fluid (http://www.royalpurple.com/prodsa/scmax.html)

But Royal Purple sent me this:
"The manual transmission uses Honda Manual Transmission Fluid which is actually similar to a light weight motor oil - we recommend using the XPR 5W30 or the RP 10W30 Motor Oil. It only takes 1.6 quarts"

does this sound right to you?

[Jack Broughton]

I use Royal Purple products and like them. But, this is right out of the owner's manual: Honda MTF is preferred. If not available, you may use an API service SG, SH, or SJ motor oil with viscosity of SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40 as a temporary replacement. An SG grade is preferred. However, motor oil does not contain the proper additives and continued use can cause stiffer shifting. Replace as soon as it is convenient.

My rule of thumb is when in doubt do as Honda says.

[Coop]

I have used GM Scyromesh (sp), for a long time (100K miles), but have heard so much about royal purple and thought I would give it a try. I will just go back to scyromesh if the royal purple will not work, changed every 10-15k.

[S2Kouichi]

I switched to the 'new' Honda MTF last change, and shifting action has been smoother from a lower temp than before. (had used 75w-90 MT fluid from Amsoil). So far 3k miles without any noticeable deterioration. This is straying off subject a little but the MTF is cheap and you can always go back to your favorite transmission oil if you don't like it.

[raymo19]

But Royal Purple sent me this:
"The manual transmission uses Honda Manual Transmission Fluid which is actually similar to a light weight motor oil - we recommend using the XPR 5W30 or the RP 10W30 Motor Oil. It only takes 1.6 quarts"

does this sound right to you?

I've been using Schaeffer's Supreme 7000 10W-30 synthetic motor oil in my tranny since October. It's worked better than any fluid I've used before (Honda MTF, GM SM/FM). I don't recommend it (or anything else for that matter) but the 1-2 cold notchiness is gone for the first time since I've owned the car.

[repiv]

I think the people at Royal Purple has misinterpretted some of things they've read and heard about Honda's MTF. First of all, Honda indicates that motor oil "could" be used but only as a temporary emergency measure. It's NOT for long term use. Honda has never implied that motor oil is the same or even "like" their MTF. The responder from Royal Purple made that incorrect assumption. I can't comment with any direct knowledge on their recommendations, however, I sure wouldn't use their equivalent of motor oil just because they think Honda MTF is "like" motor oil.

Personally, I have no strong feelings about Royal Purple products. I'm not a real fan of it nor am I a hater of it. But note that a fairly popular TV automechanics show some years ago stated on the topic of Royal Purple ........................ "Well, it's PURPLE". Not much of a testamonial, was it? Use it if you feel you need to try something different and judge for yourself.

I just put in Honda's current, up to date, improved MTF yesterday (they don't sell the old stuff anymore). Those who have tried it for a while have indicated that it works like the GMSM-FM fluid BUT doesn't quit after only a few weeks. Insofar as tranny performance, I feel that the fluid works just as good as the old stuff, which I consider to have worked very well. Mind you, I've never had any tranny issued and have had no reason to go try anything new or different.

[Coop]

Thanks, I guess I will give Honda a try again

[raymo19]

I just put in Honda's current, up to date, improved MTF yesterday (they don't sell the old stuff anymore). Those who have tried it for a while have indicated that it works like the GMSM-FM fluid BUT doesn't quit after only a few weeks. Insofar as tranny performance, I feel that the fluid works just as good as the old stuff, which I consider to have worked very well. Mind you, I've never had any tranny issued and have had no reason to go try anything new or different.

This might get interesting. I'm going to leave the Schaeffer's in until it starts to not work as well or a calendar year - whichever comes first. In the meantime let me know what you think about the performance of the new Honda stuff.

In addition, I'd like to hear your thoughts about what is in the MTF that is absent from the motor oil I'm using now. Any possibility of damage? I swear it shifts smoother than anything I've used so far. Maybe a climate consideration?

[rsinghal33]

I to use the New Honda fluid and it works great. Not to mention the piece of Mind

[repiv]

In addition, I'd like to hear your thoughts about what is in the MTF that is absent from the motor oil I'm using now. Any possibility of damage? I swear it shifts smoother than anything I've used so far. Maybe a climate consideration?
This is way out of my league. I have no idea what ingredients are in MTF that isn't in motor oil. All I can tell you is that transmissions have metals that don't exist in the engine and any lubricant used would have to be safe for those metals while enhancing the lubrication qualities of the oil. Our transmissions lack the benefits of a high output pump and a filter. It also lacks the cooling abilites that the engine's cooling system provides. Due to the nature of how moving parts inside a tranny can have shearing affects (think gear teeth meshing in and out), additional characteristics are needed to withstand such metal wear. It may have qualities of hypoid gear oil but without the sulfer content, which can eat away at the metals that make up the syncros.

[emg88]

Hold on there Coop!

If you want to try something different, try Amsoil Synchromesh Manual transmission Fluid
It has the friction modifier need by our Transmission. I will tell you the Synchros tend to be very slow in the cool weather and at cold start. But once warm, it is smooth shifting.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

[Coop]

Hold on there Coop!

If you want to try something different, try Amsoil Synchromesh Manual transmission Fluid
It has the friction modifier need by our Transmission. I will tell you the Synchros tend to be very slow in the cool weather and at cold start. But once warm, it is smooth shifting.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

and we have a sponsor who sells Amsoil, which would be good for the next one. Need to change this tomorrow or Wednesday

[emg88]

Come up to NJ, I'll change it for you tomorrow!:D :D
Seriously I'd do that if you we're here!

[joe_s2k]

I used Royal Purple back shortly after crossing the 12k mile mark and had some negative observations with their transmission fluid. The fluid tended to break down very fast(under 3k miles) and the ultra-smooth shifting quickly away. I tried RedLine's version and many other brands (Pennzoil, Castrol, etc.) but have never found anything that lasted longer than Honda MTF.

[emg88]

I had the Amsoil in for just about a year, 6000 miles. Still works great.

[Jays2k]

I wish that specialty formulations was back open!!! That was some awsome stuff, my 03 si i had trouble shifting from 2nd to 3rd, would grind often, changed to s.f. fluid and the grind went away completely. I was rough on that car and that fluid stood up better then anything ive had.

[tstiles]

Coop , I used RP products in the Spec Miata ( Engine / Tranny / Diff) , and the Diff on the S2000 ...... Have you ever met David Canitz ? ...... SCCA racer from Houston who works @ RP ..... Good Guy , Who understands motorsports demands and the RP products.

We missed you at TWS this weekend .

[RavynX]

Sorry to bring the thread back from the dead but thought I'd give my input on Royal Purple.

I used it back when I had my Integra GS-R and loved it since so when it was time to flush the S2000's tranny fluid I put Royal Purple Synchromax in and it feels pretty much the same as what Honda put it in. It would be the placebo affect for me to tell you that it shifts much better for daily driving. I haven't tracked my car yet more than one autocross session so no verdict in that department, only spirited driving on the streets.

Flush was done at 22k miles on the S2000 in December 2008 (since it's a 2002, so 6 years old on stock fluids) along with engine oil flush (Mobil 1) and differential fluid flush (LE 1605 aka LE 607). I felt more of a difference in the differential flushing than I did in the tranny flushing. I'll probably try Amsoil for the tranny next time or just swap back to the good ol' Honda MTF fluid.

[Phill_69]

This is way out of my league. I have no idea what ingredients are in MTF that isn't in motor oil. All I can tell you is that transmissions have metals that don't exist in the engine and any lubricant used would have to be safe for those metals while enhancing the lubrication qualities of the oil. Our transmissions lack the benefits of a high output pump and a filter. It also lacks the cooling abilites that the engine's cooling system provides. Due to the nature of how moving parts inside a tranny can have shearing affects (think gear teeth meshing in and out), additional characteristics are needed to withstand such metal wear. It may have qualities of hypoid gear oil but without the sulfer content, which can eat away at the metals that make up the syncros.
Hi Dave, does the S2000 not have any type of transmission cooler ?

[repiv]

Hi Dave, does the S2000 not have any type of transmission cooler ?

No, it relies upon heat transfer through the casing, which has fins. Air passing over those fins help to remove some heat. If you've ever removed our transmission, there are no coolant lines running to the main radiator. Most automatic transmissions have these lines.
It would be possible to utilize our transmission's low pressure pump to circulate fluid through some external radiator. I guess Honda doesn't consider that our trannies get hot enough to warrant a factory cooler.

[dfws2k]

I have all Royal Purple fluids in my car (diff, trans, oil). I like the way every thing is working...will probably try the *new* Honda MTF next time, just to see how it is.