The other day I had Royal purple put in my 99 Coupe all the way around transmission, engine and the coolant additive. Then tonight I read in the Tech info that synthetic ( royal purple was specifically listed) Would ruin some kind of paper seals which would in turn ruin the transmission (6 speed) How long does it take, Is it that serious? How much would it cost to have these things looked at to see if I even have these paper seals. I've driven the car 100 miles on the purple and it seem to shift smoother an idle better I'm right now.

 

Marine,

I heard that the problem was with automatics and not manuals. You don't have any paper in your shifter box. Now me, on the other hand with an automatic 4 have the paper components. I still have your contact information you PM'd to me, wanna go August 4th on a cruise with Corvettes and Cobras in San Diego? Quit your frettin' with the Royal Purple I believe you are OK.

 

Would love to go! I will have my new Dyno tune and (hopefully) long tubes in.

 

Dude, I thought once you got out of boot camp you MARINES did not "freak" out any more!

 

following transmission fluids may be unsafe for early transmissions: Redline D4 ATF, Mobil 1 ATF, Royal Purple Max ATF.

Thats the exact stuff they put in, I have a 99 and the article said 98-00

 

Not when it comes to our Vettes!
I just feel like such a n00b I thought I was doing something good for my car not effing it up.

 

ATF=Automatic Transmission Fluid

What was the weight of your transmission fluid you just installed? If you used a manual transmission lubricant then you are OK. You didn't use ATF in a manual transmission? Also PM me your phone number again can you? Thanks, Dan

 

The receipt reads exactly "Manual Transmission Service 5.0(amount of fluid I assume?) RPATF Royal Purple ATF Up charge transmission fluid 5.0 - 80w90 gear oil"

 

You are OK, ATF or Automatic Transmission Fluid is not rated with a viscosity rating like gear oil for a Rear End or Manual Transmission. So if you have 80w-90 then you have manual transmission/Rear End gear oil installed and you are styling! As far as the "5.0" is concerned....beats the heck outta me on that one...you might have 5 liters from the container?

 

My auto stratus takes 7 liters of oil...

I really do hope it was a typo in the article.

 

TTT anyone else have any ideas????

 

I have Redline Synthetic ATF in my tranny, a 99, and have been running it for over 1.5 yrs, and lots of miles, etc. No issues at all so far. I wondered about that but I also read that the transmissions in question were from 91-94. I read that the Tremec's in our vette's all have the carbon fiber rings. I've never had my tranny apart so I don't know what it has in there, but hopefully an expert on this board will confirm or refute this.

 

I might have to make a call to GM it makes no sense to put a tranny in a 50+ k car that won't take synthetic.

 

Dude,
I have a 03 with M6. I have been running RP in the tranny and rear diff for over a year. No problems. Should be the same tranny.

 

I think there is some truth to this. It’s been quite some time but I vaguely remember something about the earlier C5 MN6 transmissions having blocker rings that would be adversely affected by synthetic lubricants. The later models have carbon fiber blocker rings that are not affected by synthetic lubes. I could be a little off base but that is roughly what I remember.

You will probably get a more correct/concise answer if you post your question in the tech section.

 

I SAW THIS ON AN EARLIER POST WHEN FLUIDS WERE DISCUSSED.

HollywoodFRC
CF Senior Member





Member Since: Jan 2006
Location: Hollywood Maryland I Think I Understand

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Oil capacity - 6.5 quarts of 5W-30 w/filter change, DO NOT USE Wally World Synthetic - DOES NOT MEET GM Specs. Use Mobil 1, Penzoil Platinum Synthetic, Redline, Royal Purple, AMSOil full synthetic

1999 MN6 has celulose (paper) blockers and most synthetics will cause them to swell and fail, use AMSOil Synthetic ATF 3.5 quarts (or until it runs out of the fill hole, full when level with bottom of fill hole), won't harm your blockers on a '99.

Differential, uses 1.6 quarts (or until it runs out of the fill hole, full when level with bottom of fill hole) of 75W-90 Synthetic gear lubricant. I put in 3 ounces of GM's Limited slip Axle lubricant additive. Some use more, some less, and some use none. Get at dealer, GM Part # 1052358. I used with Mobil 1 gear lubricant. No differential chatter. Others such as Royal Purple, AMSOil don't need the additive according to forum members who use these products. If you use the additive put in after 1 st quart is in, then top off with the second quart, otherwise you can't add it after the differential is full.

You'll need some kind of pump (I used suction guns, $10.00 at local parts store) to get the fluids into the MN6 and/or differential. You can't overfill the MN6 transmission or differential. Fluid will run back out the fill hole when filled. Make sure car is flat and level when filling. Especially if you have it up on jack stands.

Fluid capacities and specs are in your owner's manual.

 

The engine requires 5W30 synthetic oils meeting GM4718M look for that spec on the back label of the bottle. Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum, Quaker HP are the most commonly available, reasonable priced oils meeting this spec.

In my opinion there is no justification for any of the high priced exotic oils. I have 104K miles on my '01 The first 85K on Mobil 1 that was switched to Pennzoil Platiunm when it came on the market.

The manual tranny takes dexron III Automatic transmission fluid about 3.5 qts

The rear differential takes 75W90 gear oil PLUS 4OZ of GM or aftermarket limited slip additive. about 2 qts.

The following is copied/pasted from the sticky at the top of this section called weights, ratios, measures etc.


Manual transmissions -- Replacing the transmission fluid often helps shifting. Early transmissions have paper blocker ring that require Dexron III compatible (usually organic) fluid because some synthetics will destroy the paper blocker rings and subsequently the transmission. Later transmissions, and all rebuilt transmissions, have Kevlar/carbon fiber parts that allow the use of synthetic fluids. I believe the 98-00 transmissions have the paper blocker rings. The safe transmission fluids seem to be: GM Synchromesh PN #12345349, Honda ATF-Z1, Royal Purple Synchromax, Amsoil ATF, O’Reilly Dexron III ATF. The following transmission fluids may be unsafe for early transmissions: Redline D4 ATF, Mobil 1 ATF, Royal Purple Max ATF.
Related threads:
LS1.com - Ending the speculation: Blocker rings, who's had them fail?
LS1Tech.com - Ending the speculation: Blocker rings, who's had them fail?

 

So Basically i will need to take it back to the place and have them put dextron in...

 

Looks like it is falling in the category of "better safe than sorry" but I am no expert. Maybe wait for more response or call the dealer.

 

I'll have the place change it for free. It's just a waste of time. How long can I go before seriouse damage I have about a hundred miles on the car with synthetic.