View Poll Results: Which is the best Synth. Trans Oil for the SS/SC?
Royal Purple Max-Gear Oil 75W 90
30
42.86%
Royal Purple Max ATF
4
5.71%
Royal Purple Synchromax
15
21.43%
Saturn Manual Transmission Fluid P/N 21018899
21
30.00%
Voters: 70. You may not vote on this poll
SS/SC Synth Transmission Oil: Which is best?
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SS/SC Synth Transmission Oil: Which is best?
After reading a lot, I decided that there was not real conclusion to be found on what has been previously discussed. So here is a Poll/Thread with the intention of finding a definitive answer.
If you have something intelligent to say, please post.
If you have been using a particular product, please elaborate with name, price, quality, time used, etc.
What is the best Synth. Trans Oil for the SS/SC, and why?
Thanks Guys,
GP
Bump for conclusive poll!
If you have something intelligent to say, please post.
If you have been using a particular product, please elaborate with name, price, quality, time used, etc.
What is the best Synth. Trans Oil for the SS/SC, and why?
Thanks Guys,
GP
Bump for conclusive poll!
Last edited by GreenPurgatory; 04-29-2008 at 09:16 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Yeah, but Royal Purple has a reputation for being a lot better than the standard. The standard is the the Saturn option in the poll.
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Max Gear 75W-90 is the only Royal Purple Product that meets the GL-4 requirement GM has set. Syncromax while it may work is still not the right product for the SS/SC!
#6
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockkrawler628
bump.. cuz i wanna change my tranny oil next time I change my engine oil... nice thinking of starting a poll
Apparently, you can get significant gain in smoothness by switching to Royal Purple. I am interested in changing as soon as I get a definitive answer.
yeah def... I changed out the tranny fluid in my jeep with royal purple and it made a big diff. i should have done it a lot earlier to prevent the grinding of shitty syncros but owell its gone now...
bump for some more people
Originally Posted by rockkrawler628
bump.. cuz i wanna change my tranny oil next time I change my engine oil... nice thinking of starting a poll
Apparently, you can get significant gain in smoothness by switching to Royal Purple. I am interested in changing as soon as I get a definitive answer.
yeah def... I changed out the tranny fluid in my jeep with royal purple and it made a big diff. i should have done it a lot earlier to prevent the grinding of shitty syncros but owell its gone now...
bump for some more people
#8
Exactly why I use 75W-90 Max Gear Oil. My tranny shifts smoother then any other tranny I have ever had.
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Since I'm on my third tranny from breaking two third gears, I went the extra mile to ensure this one lasts a long time. To me the $10/bottle Max Gear was worth a whole hell of a lot more and then some! I don't recommend products so highly unless I've proven they perform and I will never guide anyone down the wrong path!
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Thanks for the discussion guys, this is the issue I wanted to clear up.
What is the GL-4 and Gl-5? I emailed Royal Purple about this, I will post up my findings later.
Check this out, maybe another possibility:
http://www.syntheticwarehouse.com/synthetic_gl4.htm
What is the GL-4 and Gl-5? I emailed Royal Purple about this, I will post up my findings later.
Check this out, maybe another possibility:
http://www.syntheticwarehouse.com/synthetic_gl4.htm
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Thanks for the discussion guys, this is the issue I wanted to clear up.
What is the GL-4 and Gl-5? I emailed Royal Purple about this, I will post up my findings later.
Check this out, maybe another possibility:
http://www.syntheticwarehouse.com/synthetic_gl4.htm
What is the GL-4 and Gl-5? I emailed Royal Purple about this, I will post up my findings later.
Check this out, maybe another possibility:
http://www.syntheticwarehouse.com/synthetic_gl4.htm
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This is the first response from Royal Purple:
Adrian,
The Cobalt SS 2.0 L engines with manual transaxles use a GM 21018899 spec fluid. We had our lab analyze the Saturn MTF and recommend using RP 10W40 Motor Oil or XPR 10W40 Motor Oil.
Another alternative would be Max Gear 75w90, but it is slightly heavier.
This transaxle takes 2 quarts.
Have a great day.
Kyle Neal
Technical Sales Representative
Adrian,
The Cobalt SS 2.0 L engines with manual transaxles use a GM 21018899 spec fluid. We had our lab analyze the Saturn MTF and recommend using RP 10W40 Motor Oil or XPR 10W40 Motor Oil.
Another alternative would be Max Gear 75w90, but it is slightly heavier.
This transaxle takes 2 quarts.
Have a great day.
Kyle Neal
Technical Sales Representative
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I run Synchromax in my trans... for about 4months now... love it. 75w-90 in a manual seems really heavy how can running 10w-40 be ok and then also 75w-90..... the weight of those are night and day....
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I use the RP max gear 75w-90, and i love it. Nice smooth shifts, never had a grinding problem with my tranny since ive switched to it.
I highly recommend the Royal Purple max gear 75w-90. Ive actually had a gm tranny tech tell me that its better than the factory stuff, and suggested i use it instead of the factory stuff.
I highly recommend the Royal Purple max gear 75w-90. Ive actually had a gm tranny tech tell me that its better than the factory stuff, and suggested i use it instead of the factory stuff.
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So after a lot of research this is the short of what I found.
API or American Petroleum Institute is the trade institute who in collaboration with companies like GM developed the GL standard. These GL standards are modeled after military (Department of Defense) oil use standards.
Although API developed, and uses the GL standards, it is ASTM International (American Society for Testing Materials) who continues to do the actual testing: http://enterprise.astm.org/WORKITEMS/WK4651.htm
From API:
1 Introduction
This document was prepared by the Lubricants Committee
of the American Petroleum Institute to assist manufacturers
and users of automotive equipment in the selection of
transmission, transaxle, and axle lubricants for the operating
conditions described.
3.2 API GL-4
The designation API GL-4 denotes lubricants intended for
axles with spiral bevel gears operating under moderate to severe
conditions of speed and load or axles with hypoid (see
note)gears operating under moderate speeds and loads.
These oils may be used in selected manual transmission and
transaxle applications where MT-1 lubricants are unsuitable.
The manufacturerŐs specific lubricant quality recommendations
should be followed.
Although this service designation is still used commercially
to describe lubricants, some test equipment used for
performance verification is no longer available. Procedures
to define this performance are currently being reviewed for
adoption by ASTM.
Note: Frictional requirements for axles equipped with limited-slip differentials
are normally defined by the axle manufacturer.
3.3 API GL-5
The designation API GL-5 denotes lubricants intended for
gears, particularly hypoid (see note) gears, in axles operating
1
Lubricant Service Designations for Automotive Manual Transmissions,
Manual Transaxles, and Axles
under various combinations of high-speed/shock load and
low-speed/high-torque conditions. Lubricants qualified under
U.S. Military Specification MIL-L-2105D (formerly
MIL-L-2105C) satisfy the requirements of the API GL-5 service
designation, although the API designation does not require
military approval. Performance test details are in
ASTM Publication STP-512A.
Note: Frictional requirements for axles equipped with limited-slip differentials
are normally defined by the axle manufacturer.
Basically:
The different GL standards show that the oil is good for specific uses. I think GL-5 is best for the Cobalt, from all that I have read.
Now there is the matter of viscosity, etc.
API or American Petroleum Institute is the trade institute who in collaboration with companies like GM developed the GL standard. These GL standards are modeled after military (Department of Defense) oil use standards.
Although API developed, and uses the GL standards, it is ASTM International (American Society for Testing Materials) who continues to do the actual testing: http://enterprise.astm.org/WORKITEMS/WK4651.htm
From API:
1 Introduction
This document was prepared by the Lubricants Committee
of the American Petroleum Institute to assist manufacturers
and users of automotive equipment in the selection of
transmission, transaxle, and axle lubricants for the operating
conditions described.
3.2 API GL-4
The designation API GL-4 denotes lubricants intended for
axles with spiral bevel gears operating under moderate to severe
conditions of speed and load or axles with hypoid (see
note)gears operating under moderate speeds and loads.
These oils may be used in selected manual transmission and
transaxle applications where MT-1 lubricants are unsuitable.
The manufacturerŐs specific lubricant quality recommendations
should be followed.
Although this service designation is still used commercially
to describe lubricants, some test equipment used for
performance verification is no longer available. Procedures
to define this performance are currently being reviewed for
adoption by ASTM.
Note: Frictional requirements for axles equipped with limited-slip differentials
are normally defined by the axle manufacturer.
3.3 API GL-5
The designation API GL-5 denotes lubricants intended for
gears, particularly hypoid (see note) gears, in axles operating
1
Lubricant Service Designations for Automotive Manual Transmissions,
Manual Transaxles, and Axles
under various combinations of high-speed/shock load and
low-speed/high-torque conditions. Lubricants qualified under
U.S. Military Specification MIL-L-2105D (formerly
MIL-L-2105C) satisfy the requirements of the API GL-5 service
designation, although the API designation does not require
military approval. Performance test details are in
ASTM Publication STP-512A.
Note: Frictional requirements for axles equipped with limited-slip differentials
are normally defined by the axle manufacturer.
Basically:
The different GL standards show that the oil is good for specific uses. I think GL-5 is best for the Cobalt, from all that I have read.
Now there is the matter of viscosity, etc.
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I use Royal Purple Max-Gear Oil 75W90. Glass smooth shifts, no grinding at all. Made an actual noticeable difference.
I wouldn't use any other Royal Purple product. You are not suppose to use any ATF in the SS/SC, which both the RP Max ATF and RP Synchromax are.
I wouldn't use any other Royal Purple product. You are not suppose to use any ATF in the SS/SC, which both the RP Max ATF and RP Synchromax are.
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I think this is rather definitively answered.
The only other thing now, is alternatives like AMSOIL or w/e
#24
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iTrader: (1)
This 70W80 GL-4 Gear Oil (SAE 5W30/10W30 engine oil viscosity) is designed for use in manual transmissions and transaxles. Provides excellent protection of gears and synchronizers and its balanced slipperiness provides a perfect coefficient of friction, allowing easier shifting. Popular in many BMW transmissions and in most Honda and Acura transaxle applications.
70W80 Gear Oil = 5W30/10W30 Engine Oil
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