Long term experiences with Royal Purple

[proboner]

The car this pertains to is a 2003 3.0 6-speed.

I purchased the car about a month ago with the relatively low mileage (if I were in Canada would this me kilometerage?) of 70k, and as seems to be par for the course, it has some notchiness going into 1st and 2nd gear. Did some research and found that our trans fluid is supposedly "lifetime", but also that many people ended up doing regular changes every 30k-60k miles. At 70k with it assuredly never having been changed before, I decided this may be a good idea to help smooth things out. Continued on with my research and found a good number of people suggesting great things from Royal Purple Synchromesh.

So yesterday I go to my local oil lube shop (9 minute oil lube in palo alto... place is legit for any locals who have never been) with 2 quarts of RPS to get the job done. When I pull in the owner is there, I tell him what I want done, and he puts a hold on the whole thing. Takes the RPS to his "master mechanic" to discuss whether it will be a valid replacement for OEM, and comes back to talk to me. We discuss this choice for at least 15 minutes and he is very reluctant to use my fluid, but eventually relents and says he will do it for free as he doesn't want to be held accountable if anything goes wrong.

Fluid is changed and I feel like I have noticed slightly smoother shifts... however it surely could all be in my head. Anyways, with all this trepidation on the shop owners part, it makes me wonder if people have had any long terms negative effects when using Royal Purple Synchromesh. Anyone care to chime in?

[W///]

Originally Posted by proboner

The car this pertains to is a 2003 3.0 6-speed.

I purchased the car about a month ago with the relatively low mileage (if I were in Canada would this me kilometerage?) of 70k, and as seems to be par for the course, it has some notchiness going into 1st and 2nd gear. Did some research and found that our trans fluid is supposedly "lifetime", but also that many people ended up doing regular changes every 30k-60k miles. At 70k with it assuredly never having been changed before, I decided this may be a good idea to help smooth things out. Continued on with my research and found a good number of people suggesting great things from Royal Purple Synchromesh.

So yesterday I go to my local oil lube shop (9 minute oil lube in palo alto... place is legit for any locals who have never been) with 2 quarts of RPS to get the job done. When I pull in the owner is there, I tell him what I want done, and he puts a hold on the whole thing. Takes the RPS to his "master mechanic" to discuss whether it will be a valid replacement for OEM, and comes back to talk to me. We discuss this choice for at least 15 minutes and he is very reluctant to use my fluid, but eventually relents and says he will do it for free as he doesn't want to be held accountable if anything goes wrong.

Fluid is changed and I feel like I have noticed slightly smoother shifts... however it surely could all be in my head. Anyways, with all this trepidation on the shop owners part, it makes me wonder if people have had any long terms negative effects when using Royal Purple Synchromesh. Anyone care to chime in?

I stick with Redline personally, and pretty much run it on all my M's. I've read RPS is good according to the forums, and almost went with it but I just decided to stick to what I know.

Honestly, my Z4M had really old trans fluid and putting some fresh Redline helped with the shifting tremendously. I really don't think it's in your head. I absolutely do not believe in Lifetime Fluids

[XMetal]

I asked the same question last year => http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthre...ht=synchromesh

I am very happy with the switch to RP, for what its worth.

[longress]

Royal Purple is all I run in everything I own. I have not had a single problem with Synchromesh after several years of use in my 3 series, truck transfer case, and now my Z trans.

[dc_wright]

I think the real issue was with using ANYTHING non-OEM specified and the worry it would come back on them if you had a tranny issue after the fluid change. Most shops have a policy of not installing any part, fluid, etc. brought in by a customer.

And, you're not imagining the smoother shifting. Even a change of the OEM fluid at your mileage would have yielded an improvement, but you would not have liked the price.

[JJZ4MR]

Upcoming project for me, just ordered my Blackstone pump/6 pack of oil/tranny analysis and 3 Dimple magnets from BavAutoSport, change out tranny and diff, researching now if there are benefits to using aftermarket. Are you saying OEM is MORE that RPS ?

[dc_wright]

Originally Posted by JJZ4MR

Upcoming project for me, just ordered my Blackstone pump/6 pack of oil/tranny analysis and 3 Dimple magnets from BavAutoSport, change out tranny and diff, researching now if there are benefits to using aftermarket. Are you saying OEM is MORE that RPS ?

BMW branded MTF-LT2 tranny fluid is about $50 a liter at the dealer. You can get Pentosin equivalent from Pelican Parts for about $25 a liter, but then you have to add shipping.

RPS is $20 a quart via Amazon Prime.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by JJZ4MR

Upcoming project for me, just ordered my Blackstone pump/6 pack of oil/tranny analysis and 3 Dimple magnets from BavAutoSport, change out tranny and diff, researching now if there are benefits to using aftermarket. Are you saying OEM is MORE that RPS ?

If you're happy with the way your transmission feels, then I would just get the Pentosin as per dc_wright's suggested. I don't see any reasons to veer away from OE unless you don't like how it shifts

[JJZ4MR]

I'm not real happy with the shifting, though I've gotten a lot smoother with more driving. There is a lot of opinions on fluids I've been reading about today. Saw some great reviews on Motul Gear 300 75W90, which apparently you can use in the tranny AND diff.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by JJZ4MR

I'm not real happy with the shifting, though I've gotten a lot smoother with more driving. There is a lot of opinions on fluids I've been reading about today. Saw some great reviews on Motul Gear 300 75W90, which apparently you can use in the tranny AND diff.

I wasn't that happy with the OE or Pentosin either (FYI - Pentosin feels exactly like OE). I'd figured I'll give RPS a try since it's easy to get and got somewhat good reviews on here - If I didn't like it, it'll get drained out in 25K-30K anyway and try something else. If I really hated it, it'll just get drained sooner as the fluids are relatively inexpensive.

Are the Motul reviews on a Z4M or equivalent transmission? If it's not in a similar transmission, then the reviews may not necessarily applies as the "feels" of the transmissions won't necessarily transfer over

[dc_wright]

Originally Posted by JJZ4MR

I'm not real happy with the shifting, though I've gotten a lot smoother with more driving. There is a lot of opinions on fluids I've been reading about today. Saw some great reviews on Motul Gear 300 75W90, which apparently you can use in the tranny AND diff.

If your car hasn't had the clutch delay valve (CDV) removed get that done ASAP. It will make a huge difference in how shifting feels.

[JJZ4MR]

CDV will be out in 4 days and counting...also CPV seal installed. Indy said if I wanted new motor mounts, good time to do it all at once. Located from Tri City Bolt & Screw St Pete 10.9 bolts for motor bracket mounts ( known weak point/passenger break ) So I went with Vibra Technics and the Rouge Engineering Tranny mounts. I feel like the drive train will be as solid as possible. Then I thought as a final touch, new tranny/diff fluid. Not sure about getting all 3 Dimple magnets, but I feel it would give me some piece of mind that I've done everything to have a healthy drivetrain.

[Manxman1950]

I was about to use RP for my gearbox and diff, but chanced across a post on another forum where the owner was using RP in their diff and a Blackstone report noted significant wear. He changed to Redline and the next Blackstone report was fine......
I went with Redline. Unfortunately I don't recall the location of the post.

[JJZ4MR]

Yeah, I've found a mixture of different reviews on the two

[Yapakanichi]

You know I've ran MTF in my RX8 and RP in my old Z3. I like MTF better personally. I'll keep RP for my oil changes, but use MTF in my transmission when it's due.