Yanmar Gearbox Lube Oil Questions

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

There is a really, really easy solution to the "what kind of oil to use" question -- Yanmar sells their own brand of transmission oil!

I’d bet they sell two types though, a rebranded xmsn oil, and a rebranded motor oil. So you still have to know which type.
I bought the special 5W-30 Mercruiser hydraulic oil for $20 a qt for the hydraulic steering on my last boat, to find out when I got it that it was just 5W-30 motor oil with a large mark up.

[De.windhoos]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I’d bet they sell two types though, a rebranded xmsn oil, and a rebranded motor oil. So you still have to know which type.
I bought the special 5W-30 Mercruiser hydraulic oil for $20 a qt for the hydraulic steering on my last boat, to find out when I got it that it was just 5W-30 motor oil with a large mark up.

Yup, when I did the first gear oil change on my beautiful brand-new 3YM30AE w/GEARBOX KANZAKI KM2P-1 I was totally confused on what oil to use. Until someone told me to just use regular engine oil I did check this with multiple sources and he was right.

On reading the dipstick; put a bit of masking tape over the length of the dipstick, and as a safety measure make sure that it sticks out over the knob so you can hold it and it doesn't disappear in the tranny. Makes it very easy to read.

[CarlF]

My Yanmar has an ZF transmission - obviously different beast - but you check its level by inserting the dip stick until it rests on the housing but not screwing it in. Before I was told this by a mechanic, I kept thinking the level was too high because I screwed it in.

But even here, simple can't be tolerated. There are two kinds of ZF dip sticks. The other kind isn't threaded and is pushed all the way in for a reading - geez!

[john007]

Can anybody give the thread pattern for the dipstick. Elsewhere it gave 18 mm metric, converting a car's sump plug, which on mine is incorrect. It appears to be either 15 or 16 mm. very little left of the threaded portion At £45 for a replacement some one is having us over.

[highside]

I'll just add that I have the same engine (4JH3-HTE) and transmission (KM4A) as the OP but the capacity is 2.3 liters not 1.3 liters. It is stamped clearly on the transmission and verified as adding this much brings it up to the line on the dipstick. Of note, my manual for this engine says 1.3 liters is the capacity so beware, it appears that this transmission has different versions with different capacities.