06 Altima SE-R, 6 speed

[Nederlander75]

Total miles on oil 27,118
Total miles on unit 28,556

Oil Type 75w90
Brand Royal Purple Max Gear

Iron 116
Chrom 1
Lead 0
Copper 8
Tin 1
Alum 10
Nickel 0
Silver 0
Silicon 37
Phos 3276
Zinc 114
Moly 137
Titan 0
Vanad 0
Potas 0

Visc at 100C 11.64cst

TAN 3.38

Oil installed 3/06

Analysis done by Oil Analyzers Inc.

Comments indicate that the oil is good for extended use.

 

[Tempest]

Quote:
Visc at 100C 11.64cst

It seems to have lost about 45% of its viscosity based on the 21cSt they list on their website. Apparently RP shearing is not limited to their motor oils.

TAN is high for me as is the Iron, but only slightly.

I would change it, but what do I know.

 

[jbl]

I would also exchange the oil. I cannot see it as an oil for extended use.

 

[Pablo]

Why is the fluid so thin? What is the starting vis? (I thought it was 21.0 as well) Was this mixed (or mixed up) with another fluid?

 

[MolaKule]

I think if I lived in Co. I would use fluids formulated specifically for manual transmissions and leave this oil for differentials.

 

[Bror Jace]

I think I'd sue Royal Purple ...

... just kidding ... sorta.

Does this car see frequent track duty? Towing? Do you miss many shifts?

I'd have expected iron to be about 35-50ppms (since this is not the factory fill) and if I remember correctly, this oil starts off at a cSt of something between 16.5 and 21 ... quite heavy for a 90 weight oil. You probably could have done better by leaving the factory fill in the tranny for at least 3,000-5,000 miles to let it bear the brunt of the initial break-in before switching over (I think break-in was just starting when you dumped it).

Oil analyzers said this was good for extended use? It's times like this I'm glad I use Blackstone.

I'd use something else ... like MolaKule said, preferably something formulated for syncromesh transmissions ... maybe Red Line Oil MT-90 or Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-90 (or whichever Amsoil product our learned representatives on this board recommend.

Even the factory fill would probably be better than this RP stuff in transmissions.

 

[unDummy]

RP VOA was posted somewhere here. It isn't as nearly thick as their website claims.

Shearing is normal for a manual tranny fluid. But, you can also look over Amsoil's paper. RP seems to shear alot for a gear oil.
That sheared fluid probably shifts well. It is definitely thin enough now too! 11cst is the cutoff for an 85wt so it went from a 90wt-85wt which is nothing to worry about.

Wear looks high but there was still plenty of breakin.
Tan is high so 30k on this fluid is pushing it. Keep the OCIs at 20k or try another fluid. Engine power/vehicle weight stressing the fluid life a little. Whats the sump capacity?

 

[Nederlander75]

I did change out to new RP. I get RP for near free due to some relationships I have made with them so I don’t think I will be switching just yet on this car. In the UOA engine oil samples I have over the years shear a bit, but wear isn’t compromised just below other niche oils of more expense. This oil was not mixed, but did contain additives that RP doesn’t use so the factory fill was still lingering. No track days and not towing and no missed shifts. Recall RP produced high wear the first go around. However, the wear surprised me too.

My feeling is that this is still break in funk since the RP went in at 1200 miles or so, but I’m going to sample again at 10K on the oil see what trend is developing and again 15K from that.

The starting viscosity from RP tech is 14.5 and the TAN is 3-4. The Nissan tranny calls for 75w85 and every time I’ve gone a different viscosity than recommended (not many makers of that weight) I get shearing. My EVO shears every and all oils above 30wt. The RP has always shifted better for me in cold than RL MT, MTL, or a mix of the 2 to get 75w85 as their tech once directed me. I am giving thought to putting my Speed6 on the Amsoil since its factory fill says to never change it and I may want guaranteed drain interval performance there. Waiting to 10K for that change over though.

Thanks all for the thoughts, if you don’t mind I would like to present in general form your comments to my contact there for feedback. All privacy/incriminations protected of course.

Let me know if anyone has a complaint in this regard,
Thanks again.

 

[Nederlander75]

Originally Posted By: unDummy
RP VOA was posted somewhere here. It isn't as nearly thick as their website claims.

Shearing is normal for a manual tranny fluid. But, you can also look over Amsoil's paper. RP seems to shear alot for a gear oil.
That sheared fluid probably shifts well. It is definitely thin enough now too! 11cst is the cutoff for an 85wt so it went from a 90wt-85wt which is nothing to worry about.

Wear looks high but there was still plenty of breakin.
Tan is high so 30k on this fluid is pushing it. Keep the OCIs at 20k or try another fluid. Engine power/vehicle weight stressing the fluid life a little. Whats the sump capacity?



Sump holds 2 and 3/8 quarts. This is a pretty high powered FWD car, weights 3200lbs. Not terribly heavy.

 

[Tempest]

Quote:
The starting viscosity from RP tech is 14.5

Someone needs to tell their web master...

Quote:
TAN is 3-4

Not an expert on this, but seems high to me for a starting TAN.

 

[MolaKule]

Not really; if you can hold the starting TAN below 4.0 you're doing really well.

 

[Tempest]

Originally Posted By: MolaKule
Not really; if you can hold the starting TAN below 4.0 you're doing really well.

Thanks for the useful info Molakule. So what is a good rule of thumb for condemnation on a gear lube or ATF TAN?

 

[MolaKule]

Well, you can't condemn a lube on it's TAN value alone (and I despise rules of thumb), but I become concerned when the (Tested TAN) is >= (2.5 X Starting TAN), so one needs the starting TAN of a fluid from a VOA.

This is why we always suggest getting a VOA of the fluid before doing a UOA.

Most diffy lubes start out at with an average TAN of 3.5 and ATF starts out between 0.5 and 1.0.

 

[va3ux]

Interesting talk on the TAN.

The only product data sheet I've ever seen that lists both the TBN AND TAN for a motor oil, is the Esso Extra XD-3 series. TANs of 2.5 for all the multi grades up to 15W40; 1.2 for all the mono-grades.

I've often thought that TAN should get more consideration than it does for extended drain UOAs. But it's rarely reported and everyone focuses on TBN alone.

 

[benjamming]

Originally Posted By: va3ux
But it's rarely reported and everyone focuses on TBN alone.


Dyson does both with the standard report/read.

 

[va3ux]

Originally Posted By: benjamming
Originally Posted By: va3ux
But it's rarely reported and everyone focuses on TBN alone.


Dyson does both with the standard report/read.


I know. He's the only one. We should all be taking note !