What kind of oil should I use?

Last November I bought a used Kato HD450VII excavator. Appart from the hassles of getting a water pump for it, the machine runs very well. I've done a few engine oil changes (pulled the oil pan and cleaned out the pick up tube), removed the arm cylinder and had new seals installed and greased the machine every 4-6 hours of use. When I got the machine, I had a local guy change the oil in the swing drive, track drives and in the Hydraulic system but now he has left the area and I don't fancy paying shop prices as I'm confident that I can do the work myself.

Question - What kind of oil should I use in the Swing drive and in the track drives and where can I obtain it from. Around me, I have NAPA, Autozone, Advance Auto Parts and Tractor supply (who told me to put Hydraulic oil in the swing drive and track drives).

Thanks for reading.
David

I have generally used 90/140 wt in those cavities but first I would look around the machine as most of them have a decal with all the lube points and a list of lubricants with pointers to what goes where.If that fails I would call some dealers who carried the older imports and pick their brains about it.I am not sure who made the Kato and I have run some of them over the years and they were similar to the Kobelcos of that era.They were a tough machine.Ron G

Thanks RonG

A rep from Kato in Japan has emailed me the 'Lubrication Chart' for the machine. As you had it, they recommend a 90-140 Gear oil.

amsoil snythetic oil has your needs covered with a greater duribility, slickness, contaminents, weight ranges. Ask me questions or go to the web site for technical information at greensynthetic.com thanks, Rich

80w90

I just bought a komatsu D75S and want to replace all fluids on it.I've been told to use 80w90 in t/c as long as it is GL4 and not GL5.Apparently it will offer better protection then 10W hydraulic oil.I was wondering if i can use this is steering clutch case too ? For the final drives i'm planning to use 85W135 GL5.I guess any oil thicker than 10w would not work for hydraulics.
Please advise me.

Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums Halfjack! :drinkup

reply to what oil should i use

Halfjack, Amsoil has (SVO) a 75w140 severe gear lube which is available from 75w to 250w. In the stearing clutches you may need (ADA) slip-lock a Sticky additive as like in the limited slip differential of trucks and cars.
Dieselnich www.greensynthetic.com

80-90

Halfjack said:

I just bought a komatsu D75S and want to replace all fluids on it.I've been told to use 80w90 in t/c as long as it is GL4 and not GL5.Apparently it will offer better protection then 10W hydraulic oil.I was wondering if i can use this is steering clutch case too ? For the final drives i'm planning to use 85W135 GL5.I guess any oil thicker than 10w would not work for hydraulics.
Please advise me.

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Halfjack, I would call your dealer for advice and give them the model and serial number. I have never heard of gear oil being used in a torque converter, transmission or steering case. They are supposed to run on a monograde 10W or 30W depending on ambient temperature. This goes for the final drives too.

Wulf is right on about calling the dealer. I believe the 75S is a hydrostatic machine not having a torq converter.

All the Komatsu final drives I worked on used engine oil. We used either 30Wt or 15W40.

The hydraulic oil I've seen most used for our climate in the Northwestern United States is AW46.

Don't take our word for though, check with your dealer!

Good Luck!

90-140 Gear oil

Api

The Total rep advised me 80w90.I was surprized too about 80w90, but from experience i know it works well in tractor hydraulic/transmission applications, given better protection then a hytran or similar dual purpose fluid.In cold weather it is too thick at start up giving poor hydraulic response, but we in south africa have 100+ degrees F ambient and once warm the 80w90 gives superoir gear protection.

But for a torque convertor it is total different story altogether.I want to know from you guys what influence viscosity index has on torque converter performance ?Would a thicker oil give less slippage ?In this area the 80w90 worried me.

Now another thing,since the benchmark for engine oils is still the API, and as I believe this any alphabetical advance is only given to oils with superior engine protectoin.
However if I use a lower rating API for torque convertor(which may be a lot cheaper) it may not be worse then a latest rating API oil ?

No one needs to argue to me about the benefits of using the highest API oil especially with higher sulpher content( which we have) and the safety of extentded oil drain intervals.

So tell me please, will a higher API C rating oil help in anything other then a engine ?

I am new to this forum and enjoying it immensely.
Pardon my poor spelling.