transmission oil for diesel engines

[pegasus1457]

It it time to change the transmission oil in my "new" 1980 Universal M4-30
engine. I don't have a clue what oil I should be using. WM only carries a transmission oil for automatic transmissions. The PO left a quart of lower unit lube for an OB motor.

Are either of these appropriate?

thanks
Micheal

[RickLaPaz]

Originally Posted by pegasus1457

It it time to change the transmission oil in my "new" 1980 Universal M4-30
engine. I don't have a clue what oil I should be using. WM only carries a transmission oil for automatic transmissions. The PO left a quart of lower unit lube for an OB motor.

Are either of these appropriate?

thanks
Micheal

You really want to research this, 'cuz it can be a bunch of different liquids. Don't do a thing until you're sure if it's ATF, Mercon, light weight hydrualic fluid, 80-90 straight oil, 140 Hypoid Gear lube ad nauseum. The only thing worse than yanking out a dead engine is yanking out the tranny that's attached to the engine.........

RB

[Bill Mc]

Originally Posted by RickLaPaz

You really want to research this, 'cuz it can be a bunch of different liquids. Don't do a thing until you're sure if it's ATF, Mercon, light weight hydrualic fluid, 80-90 straight oil, 140 Hypoid Gear lube ad nauseum. The only thing worse than yanking out a dead engine is yanking out the tranny that's attached to the engine.........

RB

Ditto, my Yanmar uses the same oil as the engine..

Fair Winds,

Bill

[jones2r]

Westerbeke is the supplier for Universal engines. Their website is:

www.westerbeke.com

I have had positive experience with their technical support in the past when e-mailed.

[Rockter]

If it is not an automatic transmission, it will probably use the "orthodox" SAE 80W/90 gear oil or similar.

It's got to be correct though.

[Maine Sail]

Here's the information you need in the link below. Unless you have a very custom, v-drive etc., set up your engine has a Hurth transmission and takes an ATF fluid. It usually says right there on the fill screw residing on top of the tranny.

"The transmission is filled with Type AFT or DEXRON II transmission fluid at the factory during the engine load test. Recheck and fill the gear box with the prescribed oil up to the FULL INDENTED RING MARK ON THE DIPSTICK (approximately 1/4" up from bottom of stick). Do not overfill. When checking the oil level, DIPSTICK TO BE INSERTED ONLY - DO NOT SCREW IN. Tighten the dipstick after adding oil or checking the oil level."

http://www.marinedieseldirect.com/un...nsmission.html

[pegasus1457]

Originally Posted by halekai36

Here's the information you need in the link below. Unless you have a very custom, v-drive etc., set up your engine has a Hurth transmission and takes an ATF fluid. It usually says right there on the fill screw residing on top of the tranny.

"The transmission is filled with Type AFT or DEXRON II transmission fluid at the factory during the engine load test. Recheck and fill the gear box with the prescribed oil up to the FULL INDENTED RING MARK ON THE DIPSTICK (approximately 1/4" up from bottom of stick). Do not overfill. When checking the oil level, DIPSTICK TO BE INSERTED ONLY - DO NOT SCREW IN. Tighten the dipstick after adding oil or checking the oil level."

http://www.marinedieseldirect.com/un...nsmission.html

Thanks, halekai.
I actually checked the Universal web site but missed this link.
I am good to go..

Micheal

[pegasus1457]

Thanks to halekai I got the information provided by the Universal engine folks.
Unfortunately this info is obsolete, because the transmission fluid standards have changed since it was written.

For my engine (M4-30) the spec calls for ATF Type A (meet or exceed Dexron II or M2 C33 G specs).

What I learned today at my friendly ABI store is that Type A is now labeled Dexron III. The transmission fluid stocked by WM meets this spec, but it is more expensive than the NAPA brand in the auto store )

Hope this is useful to someone else...