Table of Contents
Are all greases compatible?
Greases are considered to be compatible if the following conditions are met: The dropping point of the mixture is not significantly lower than that of the individual greases. The mechanical stability of the mixture is within the range of consistency of the individual greases.
Are all lithium complex greases compatible?
All greases contain base oils, thickening agents and chemical additives that can interact adversely if incompatible greases are mixed. For example, aviation greases that contain a clay-based thickening agent may be incompatible with greases that are thickened with a lithium complex.
What is the difference between number 1 and number 2 grease?
Less thickener makes a #1 grease more tractable and slippery, while #2 grease has more thickener, making it stiffer and great for all-purpose applications. Despite what is commonly believed, grease application during the winter is not a “one and done” situation.
Are lithium and polyurea grease compatibility?
Lithium and polyurea greases cannot be mixed. “They can cause each one to lose their oil and dry out,” said Hamilton. The product loses the ability to lubricate.
Can you mix grease brands?
Mixing incompatible greases can have dire consequences. They may react together and cause a separation of the base oil or oils from the thickeners of the two greases. When this happens, the base oil can no longer stay in place and you get a messy situation – oil oozing or running out of the area where it was applied.
Can you mix different brands of wheel bearing grease?
Mixing grease, though, could be disastrous. As the various thickening agents interact, they might lead to grease hardening or oil dropout. In either case, your bearings, shafts, joints or other moving parts could be left unprotected, open to corrosion, prone to wear or apt to complete failure.
Are all greases the same?
Greases or lubricants have traditionally been used to keep vehicles, vessels, machines, and their components lubricated at all times. However, no two lubricants are the same – different types of grease produce different results based on the unique properties they possess.
What is the longest lasting grease?
Lithium grease is a multipurpose grease known for its durability, high viscosity, and stability. It is designed to provide long-lasting protection against oxidation, corrosion, extreme temperatures, and wear and tear.
What do grease colors mean?
Dark blue – typically for multipurpose greases made from conventional oil base stocks. Red – mostly for multipurpose synthetic greases. Grey – for those containing moly for many off-road equipment specifications, and. White or undyed greases – typically used in paper machines or food-grade applications.
Which is better polyurea or lithium grease?
On average, polyurea greases can have a three to five times better life expectancy than lithium-based greases. On the other hand, lithium complex is the most common thickener on the market, making up nearly 60 percent of the greases available in North America.
What happens if you mix grease types?
When two incompatible greases are mixed, one of two things generally happens: the mixture hardens and will not release any of the oil or the mixture softens and releases all of the oil. In either case, the end result is basically the same; there is effectively no lubrication.
Is it OK to mix synthetic grease with regular grease?
Don’t Mix Grease, but Change If Needed If you can, start with completely clean parts and new grease. Otherwise, greasing more often will flush out the old incompatible grease faster.
Is it OK to mix greases?
Grease Compatibility Mixing of different greases can result in changes in physical and performance characteristics, leading to inferior properties of either of the original greases before mixing. Mixing incompatible greases often results in softening, but may also lead to hardening.
How do you compare greases?
Elements to consider when choosing the appropriate grease include selecting the appropriate:
- Thickener type.
- Concentration.
- Consistency.
- Dropping Point.
- Operating Temperature Range.
- Worked Stability.
- Oxidation Stability.
- Wear Resistance.
Can you mix different wheel bearing grease?
If you mix together two incompatible types of grease, your wheel bearings can fail. It’s because not all soaps are compatible with each other. Mixing together two different types of soap can result in the soap separating from the oil. This will render the grease useless.
What does 00 mean in grease?
semi-fluid
Classification
| NLGI number | ASTM worked (60 strokes) penetration at 25 °C tenths of a millimetre | Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| 00 | 400-430 | semi-fluid |
| 0 | 355-385 | very soft |
| 1 | 310-340 | soft |
| 2 | 265-295 | “normal” grease |
What grease is best for bearings?
- Editor’s Choice: Valvoline Full Synthetic Grease.
- Lucas Oil X-Tra Heavy Duty Grease.
- Lucas Oil Red ‘N’ Tacky Grease.
- Mag 1 High-Temp Wheel Bearing Grease.
- Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease.
- Timken Premium Red Wheel Bearing Grease.
- Sta-Lube New Generation Wheel Bearing Grease.
Can you mix synthetic grease?
Base Oil Compatibility Some synthetic base oils are incompatible with mineral oils and other types of synthetics, just as in the mixing of lubricating oils. Therefore, it is important to consider the type of base oil in the grease when determining compatibility.