Oil grade for for KM4A KBW20 gear box

[ingonoka]

I have a 4JH3-TBE Yanmar diesel with a Kanzaki KM4A , model KBW20 Gear Box, 2.63:1 reduction

The manual suggest mono grade oil SAE 30W for the gear box

Unfortunately, in the Philippines they don't seem to sell this type of oil.

I have the choice between mono grade SAE40 and multi-grade SAE 15W40.

Nigel Calder's book says, if in doubt choose SAE30. Doesn't help much.

So maybe somebody on this forum can help. Which of the oil grades available here in the Philippines is the better choice?

Thanks

[s/v Jedi]

I have the exact same problem here in Panama :-o

[a64pilot]

My opinion is either will be fine, the stress a transmission puts on the oil is minimal, and back in the day straight 30 was the most widely available oil there was, so in my opinion that likely had a lot to do with why straight 30 was spec'd.
I think I would use the same oil as my engine so I carried only one oil.

[daletournier]

I had a 3gm30f yanmar and the box required sae 30w. I was in asia for 6 years and just used the 15w 40 that I used in the engine with no problems.
Interesting enough the only place that I saw sae 30 was Puerto princessa Philippines..lol.
As A64 said these boxes aren't hard on oil.

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Wotname]

Have you tried small engine shops - like places that sell 4 stroke lawnmowers, ride on mowers, small petrol powered pumps, log splitters and the like. Surely they sell small type engines in the Philippines.

Many (all?) of the engines specify SAE 30, anything from a Briggs & Stratton to a Chinese knock off.

I can't get SAE30 from auto or marine shops around here but I can get it at several small engine shops, horticultural suppliers and the like. Often sold in a engine branded container, e.g. Briggs & Stratton Engine Oil but the fine print says SAE30!

[pcmm]

First we need to know which transmission do you have? Is it the KM4A or the KBW20? They are different transmissions. the KM4A uses plain old SAE30 oil but the KBW20 uses Dextron-ATF

[ingonoka]

Originally Posted by pcmm

First we need to know which transmission do you have? Is it the KM4A or the KBW20? They are different transmissions. the KM4A uses plain old SAE30 oil but the KBW20 uses Dextron-ATF

It is a KM4A.

[ingonoka]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Have you tried small engine shops - like places that sell 4 stroke lawnmowers, ride on mowers, small petrol powered pumps, log splitters and the like. Surely they sell small type engines in the Philippines.

Many (all?) of the engines specify SAE 30, anything from a Briggs & Stratton to a Chinese knock off.

I can't get SAE30 from auto or marine shops around here but I can get it at several small engine shops, horticultural suppliers and the like. Often sold in a engine branded container, e.g. Briggs & Stratton Engine Oil but the fine print says SAE30!

I have tried a couple of shops like the ones you describe - in Subic, Tarlac and Manila. So far I haven't found one that sells SAE30.

[ingonoka]

Originally Posted by daletournier

I had a 3gm30f yanmar and the box required sae 30w. I was in asia for 6 years and just used the 15w 40 that I used in the engine with no problems.
Interesting enough the only place that I saw sae 30 was Puerto princessa Philippines..lol.
As A64 said these boxes aren't hard on oil.

Sent from my vivo Y35 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Thanks for the advice. I think I will use up the SAE40 I bought and then switch to the engine oil 15W40.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by ingonoka

Thanks for the advice. I think I will use up the SAE40 I bought and then switch to the engine oil 15W40.

That makes sense (to me) - but I dunno if it is a good thing or not

Presumably the official Yanmar dealer for the region can't supply a Yanmar branded SAE30 oil. Ask them what they use when they sell a new engine?