FAQs
Motor Oil
No. Testing has shown no short or long term adverse affects on catalysts in mechanically sound vehicles.
Absolutely. All viscosities of HPS are formulated for use in gas and/or diesel engines and are ideal for those with modified diesels or those simply looking for more performance out of their diesel.
Yes. Royal Purple lubricants are fully compatible with mineral or synthetic oils. No special procedures are necessary when switching to Royal Purple. We recommend against intentionally creating a mixture of different brands or product lines of engine oils.
Yes. Mileage and/or age is not a factor when used in a mechanically sound engine. In high-mileage applications, we do recommend running a minimum of two short 3,000 mile (5,000 km) intervals before extending the oil drain intervals. This will enable Royal Purple’s high solvency to remove existing deposits gradually; if excessive, such deposits can restrict oil flow, as well as reduce the oil service life significantly.
Yes. Royal Purple currently offers many viscosity grades of API-licensed motor oils1. To allow for proper break-in of the engine, Royal Purple recommends waiting until the manufacturer’s first scheduled oil change or a minimum of 2,000 miles (3218 km) in new gasoline engines. Allow a minimum of 6,000 miles (9656 km) before using Royal Purple in diesel engines.
Royal Purple suggests adhering to manufacturer’s recommended oil change intervals for vehicles under warranty using Royal Purple API-licensed SAE motor oils. With Royal Purple HMX® and HPS series oils, drain intervals may be extended to 15,000 miles (20,000 km) or one year, whichever occurs first in street-driven, mechanically-sound vehicles. For guidelines specific to your vehicle, we recommend contacting our technical department 888-382-6300.
Once manufacturer warranty is no longer a concern, with the Royal Purple API-licensed SAE motor oils drain intervals may be extended up to 12,000 miles (19,200 km) or one year, whichever occurs first in street driven, mechanically-sound vehicles.
Royal Purple suggests adhering to manufacturer’s recommended oil change intervals for vehicles under warranty. Vehicles no longer under warranty using Royal Purple Duralec Super, Duralec Ultra, or HPS engine oils, that hold 10-quarts of oil or more, can extend oil change intervals up to 15,000 miles (24,140 km) or one year, whichever occurs first in street-driven, mechanically-sound vehicles. For smaller capacity engines, oil change intervals should be every 12,000 miles (19,312 km) or one year. For guidelines specific to your vehicle, we recommend contacting our technical department at rpautotech@royalpurple.com
Yes. Royal Purple Motor Oils are composed of a proprietary formulation of synthetic base oils and synthetic additives containing iso-paraffinic diluents.Royal Purple Break-in oil is the only non-synthetic automotive engine oil offered by Royal Purple.
Properly formulated synthetic oils will generally not cause an engine oil leak. Synthetic oils possess a higher degree of natural solvency, which can clean and remove deposits left by previous oils. The removal of extensive oil deposits can expose marginal or damaged oil seals, which may then leak. If an engine currently has excessive oil consumption (i.e. greater than 1 quart / 1,000 miles) the recommended course of action is to solve the oil consumption problem before switching to a synthetic.
No. We strongly recommend against using any oil additives as do most automotive manufacturers. Engine oils are formulated with a fine balance of additives (anti-foam, corrosion inhibitors, anti-wear, detergent / dispersants, oxidation inhibitors), and more is not necessarily better. The use of an oil additive could upset the balance resulting in reduced performance.
No. The dye that’s used to color the oil dissipates shortly after being put into service. The oil will appear brown at some point.
Yes. All Royal Purple® engine oils contain the zinc/phosphorus compound zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP), but the maximum amounts are restricted by the current API oil specifications. For stock, non-performance automotive street applications, API SN licensed oils are OK. For better wear protection, Royal Purple HPS and XPR lines of engine oils are formulated with a higher concentration of the zinc and phosphorus anti-wear additive and are suitable for ALL flat tappet and roller tappet camshaft valve trains. For a specific recommendation, contact our tech department at 888-382-6300.
Yes. For stock, non-performance valve trains, Royal Purple API-licensed oils (API SN and ILSAC GF-5 licensed) are OK. For upgraded performance flat tappet camshafts, and vintage high performance engines, we recommend our HPS or XPR engine oils. For a specific recommendation, contact our tech department at 888-382-6300.
While no special oil filter is required, we do recommend upgrading to a high quality oil filter. A high quality filter will prevent contaminants from circulating through the system and causing damage.
For best performance and filtration, we recommend Royal Purple Extended Life Oil Filters. See our oil filter information page for more details or visit our dealer locator to find the dealer nearest you that carries our new filters.
Yes, HMX is fortified with Royal Purple’s proprietary Synerlec additive technology as well as additional seal conditioners beneficial to higher mileage engines to maintain elasticity of gaskets and seals. HMX is also formulated with a slightly higher amount of anti-wear additive to provide more wear protection for older engines.
A properly formulated High Mileage oil like HMX will help reduce oil consumption and restore lost power. HMX is chemically enhanced to revitalize hardened seals reducing oil consumption common in higher mileage engines.
LOW-SPEED PRE-IGNITION
In the continuing effort to increase passenger car and light truck fuel economy, automakers have employed a “down-sizing” and “downspeeding” strategy to current vehicle powertrains. The down-sizing is accomplished with the use of Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection (TGDI) engines.
The TGDI engines provide the torque and power output of larger displacement, non-turbo engines while returning fuel economy approaching that of smaller displacement, non-turbo engines.
For example, late model TGDI 2.0 Liter engines commonly produce power levels equaling 3.0L to 3.5L V-6 engines from 5 to 10 years ago. The extensive fuel, ignition and boost adjustability and control that TGDI engines have allows them to be tuned with maximum torque achieved at very low engine speeds (by 2,000 rpm is typical). By optimizing torque to lower operating speeds, greater fuel economy is possible. The down-speeding of the powertrain involves the use of transmissions with an increased number of gear ratios with smaller steps between each ratio.
Automatic transmissions with 8 to 10 forward gear ratios are now common, while 4 to 6 speed automatic transmissions were most common in the recent past. With the increase in gear ratios and the small step change between each gear, the power train can keep the engine speed low and near the torque peak of the engine while allowing good acceleration and highway speeds.
Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs) are used in the same manner as they provide a step-less, continuous change in gear ratio with infinite gear ratios theoretically available. By using a smaller displacement engine that is kept in a low speed and efficient operating range, fuel economy is optimized.
Pre-ignition and detonation, commonly referred to as “knock”, are abnormal combustion events that can occur in gasoline engine combustion chambers. Preignition and detonation result in a huge spike in combustion pressure and temperature that often results in damage to the engine. TGDI engines offer very high power density (power per displacement) and operate most efficiently at low engine speeds. Because of this, they are susceptible to a form of pre-ignition called Low-Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI). Typical preignition and knock are caused by hot-spots on surfaces in the combustion chamber, and can be controlled by altering the spark ignition timing of the engine. LSPI tends to be caused by particles in the combustion chamber, either tiny liquid droplets of engine oil, or loose deposit particles caused by engine oil or fuel. Currently, the only way to control LSPI and help prevent it from occurring during engine operation is to increase the fuel delivered to the combustion chamber, which reduces the fuel economy of the engine.
Current research indicates that LSPI can be reduced with new chemistry technology used in gasolines and engine lubricants. Some chemical compounds traditionally used in fuel and lubricant additives may contribute directly to LSPI or to the formation of deposits that can cause LSPI.
In an effort to provide the highest performing lubricants that are safe and effective in any engine, Royal Purple High Performance API licensed engine oils are formulated with only the most advanced additive technology that is tested and proven to be effective at reducing and eliminating lubricant induced Low-Speed Pre-Ignition. Royal Purple API SN/ILSAC GF-5 licensed engine oils meet or exceed all industry and OEM requirements in reducing LSPI events while also continuing to provide the highest level of lubrication performance and wear protection for the engine.
Yes. Royal Purple currently offers many viscosity grades of API-licensed, warranty compliant motor oils. To allow for proper break-in of the engine, Royal Purple recommends waiting until the manufacturer’s first scheduled oil change or a minimum of 2,000 miles in new gasoline engines. Allow 6,000 to 8,000 miles before using Royal Purple in diesel engines.
A PROPRIETARY ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT SETS ROYAL PURPLE SYNTHETIC OILS APART FROM THE COMPETITION
Synerlec additive technology makes Royal Purple unique—and it’s a big reason why Royal Purple products perform like no other lubricants on the market. This man-made additive improves our products on a molecular level, by creating high-strength ionic bonds with metallic surfaces that allow our engine oils and other lubricants to react to sustained heat and pressure, not by breaking down like regular oil, but with increased film strength and lubricity.
With extended use, Royal Purple synthetic lubricants with Synerlec improve the surface condition of metallic surfaces by smoothing inherent surface roughness, actually reducing friction and improving lubrication of internal moving parts. That’s why we put it in every Royal Purple lubricant we can, from our performance upgrade synthetic motor oils and gear oils to gun oil and any other types of Royal Purple synthetic lubricants. So if you’re looking for high performance synthetic oil, look no further than Royal Purple synthetic lubricants with Synerlec.
