Gearbox oil for Yanmar 3YM30

[DaveRo]

I have a one year old Yanmar 3YM30 with KM2P-1 gearbox. The spec says SAE30HD transmission oil for the gearbox (this is for the Med) but I failed to find any in Italy or Malta - where the boat is now. So I thought I'd try to get some in the UK.

Two Yanmar dealers here say to just use engine oil which is 15W-40. But since the engine is new, and still under warranty, I'd like to get the correct stuff if possible. And I thought there were differences between engine and transmission oil beyond just the viscosity.

Where can I get this SAE30HD oil from in the UK (I'm in Herts)?

Dave

 

[RobBrown]

HD 30 is specified for my ZF box and I purchased some a couple of months ago from my local autoparts store- tho did need to rummage amongst all the oils there to find it- so you should be able to source it if you try a few different outlets. As an unsophisticated oil, it was quite cheap cf modern specs- about £7.99 for 4.5 or 5l.

 

[chriscallender]

Hi

OK this won't be much help but I went through the same with my new 3YM20 (same gearbox). The dealer told me to use the same oil as the engine (15W-40 Yanmar brand oil) and I went with their advice. Lets hope it was good.

 

[DipperToo]

Just had my first service on 1 year old Yanmar 3YM30 by an approved Yanmar agent ( this maintains the 2 year warranty) - they said to also use the same oil as the engine. Hope this helps.

 

[davidbains]

Most people use the engine oil for top up, it's only a small quantity. But you should be able to find the transmission oil at Halfords who have a huge range here in Brighton.

 

[vyv_cox]

Information on the KM2P-1 gearbox is limited, the unit appears to be a recent upgrade on the previous box. The owners manual for my KM2P gearbox states that engine oil should be used, as does the workshop manual for the same unit. However, it is logical to suppose that an oil with additional additives might be needed for an upgraded gearbox transmitting more engine power. An HD grade would have small additions of extreme pressure (EP) additive to prevent scuffing of the gears. So I think you are right to try to get the recommended grade, even though it is inconvenient to carry two different oils.

Having said that, my experience with much larger gearboxes transmitting megawatts of power is that in some cases the EP grade is needed for the running-in period only. After that it is quite safe to revert to a non-additive version. So if you cannot source the correct grade later on it should be OK to use a good quality engine oil to the most recent specification, perhaps an API CF-4.

For interest, what is the specified engine oil? My Yanmar is about 5 years old but the API CD oil specified has been obsolete (although still obtainable) for at least 10 years.

 

[DaveRo]

... some cases the EP grade is needed for the running-in period only. After that it is quite safe to revert to a non-additive version. So if you cannot source the correct grade later on it should be OK to use a good quality engine oil to the most recent specification, perhaps an API CF-4.

Hi Vyv

Well, it's had its 50hr service (about 150hrs now IIRC) at which the dealer, in Elba, looked at the spec and found the right oil - or said he had.

Good to know that engine oil is probably OK - it looks like that's what I'm going to end up using.

For interest, what is the specified engine oil?

The handbook is on the boat, and I can't find one on the web. But 'CF-4' sounds familiar.

... you should be able to find the transmission oil at Halfords who have a huge range here in Brighton.

Hello David.

I looked in Halfords today (in Hemel Hempstead): the only gearbox oils they had were in the range 75-90 EP or 15W40 for motorcycles (no mention of HD - and I wouldn't have thought it was).

Thanks to all who responded.

Dave

 

[TheBoatman]

I concur ~ I have fitted 2 new 3YM30 series engines to my club boats in the last year plus a new 2YM20 to my boat and in each case I've used the same oil in the gearbox as the engine. It came with a recommendation from the dealer and so far no problems with any warranties!

One club boat has done 650 hrs in the last 12 months!!!

Peter.