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This grease any good????

dirtyboy

Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
13
Location
Central Florida
Occupation
Synthetic Lube Sales
For $2.39 a tube you are getting what you pay for. This grease is only a lithium grease. It is not a lithium complex grease. This means it is the lowest quality you can use. The moly is only one part of the grease additive package. I would not use it for anything high speed like bearings. If this grease was made with the finest base oils, it would be a synthetic grease.
 

Johnsoils

Site Sponsor
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
72
Location
Iowa
There are a lot of greases on the market today. Some are good, some are not so good. There are several key things to look at when selecting a grease: 1.) What is the abient temperature I will be pumping the grease; 2.) What is the operating temperature of the equipment I'm lubricating with the grease; 3.) Is this a wet area where water wash-out is a problem; 4.) What is the application - high speed, low speed, heavy load, light load, shock loading 5.) What is the melting temperature of the grease; 6.) 4-ball wear and weld test data from ASTM test.

These are just a few of the key areas we need to know to select the best grease for an application. Moly fortifide greases are excellent in shock load application like pins on heavy equipment buckets. Synthetics will handle more heat than most conventional greases.

One last word of advise: Be sure to know the compatiblity of grease types before mixing them. An example: Calcium Complex grease are incompatible with Lithium Greases. Aluminum complex grease are not compatible with most other greases. When in doubt, flush the old grease out, otherwise you can end up with some nasty goo that don't lubricate anything. I have a compatibility chart is anyone needs one.
 

Johnsoils

Site Sponsor
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
72
Location
Iowa
cat69, I sent the chart this evening. Let me know if it was benefitial. Maybe I can figuire out how to post a copy of it on the forum for everyone to see. Thanks, John
 

Johnsoils

Site Sponsor
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
72
Location
Iowa
CAT, here's some information that might be helpful. I aquired it at the AMSOIL University in July. Enjoy!

According to The Practical Handbook of Lubrication, grease is a lubricant composed of a fluid lubricant thickened with a material that contributes a degree of plasticity. With their high retentive properties, greases are used in applications where a continuous supply of fresh lubricant is not provided, and/or where an oil would not be retained. Many bearings not supplied by circulating or bath systems are lubricated with grease.

The three main components of any grease are: 1.) The base oil 2.) An additive package 3.) A thickener.

A simple way to understand how grease is made is by relating it to gravy. In making gravy, we start with the warm juices from the bottom of the roasting pan. Lets think of the juices as our base oil and any small meat pieces as additives. To this, flour is mixed in. The more flour added, the thicker the gravy becomes. One thing that is noted when the gravy cools, is that a small amount of the juice separates out. The same holds true for lubricating grease.

Soap Based Organic Thickeners - Soap thickeners can be enhanced by adding a complex agent, which converts the soap thickener to a soap salt complex thickener. These thickeners and greases are called complexes. When a grease is considered complex, it takes on enhanced performance attributes and include higher dropping points, better water-resistance and in some cases, improved low temperature performance.

Organic Non-Soap Based Thickeners - Polyureas are the most widely used non-soap organic thickener. Polyurea greases are characterized by good water resistance and good thermal stability. Because of their durability, polyurea greases are frequently used in sealed-for-life bearings which are filled during assembly, permanently sealed and operated without relubrication for the normal life for the bearing. They are also often found in electric motor bearings. Experience has shown that these greases have average mechanical stability and are not compatible with most other greases. These greases tend to be more costly than conventional soap-based greases because they require more sophisticated processing and their raw materials are more expensive. The special characteristics of greases based on inorganic thickeners – primarily clays and silica –
have made them useful in specific, demanding applications.

Clays (Bentone) are the most common inorganic thickening agents. Clay-based greases are functional over extremely wide temperature ranges because they lack melting points and resist other phase transformations. In general, clay based greases are only compatible with themselves.

Silica is a natural occurring substance commonly in the form of sand. However, a very fine form of silica thickens many fluids to form high melting point greases. Silica greases are inherently sensitive to water. These greases have a high tolerance for radiation and are often used for lubricating rolling element bearings in nuclear power plants.

The chart I have posted and have available if anyone wants a copy emailed to them is meant only to serve as a guideline for determining compatibility.

For the purposes of changing products in the field, the compatibility of greases in question should be determined by testing. NLGI definition of incompatibility: Two lubrication greases show incompatibility when a mixture of the products show physical properties or service performance which are markedly inferior to those of either of the greases before mixing. Fluid separation is the first sign of incompatibility. When ever in doubt regarding compatibility, always remove all traces of the old grease before applying new.

Like engine oils, grease additives are used to impart new or differing characteristics of a particular product. Oxidation inhibitors for example, are used mainly to improve the life expectancy of a lubricant at elevated temperatures. Their use reduces thickening of the oil and minimizes the formation of sludge and other deposits. Typical oxidation inhibitors are zinc dithiophosphates, hindered phenols, aromatic amines and sulfurized phenols.
Dyes are typically added mainly for identification purposes and to give a uniform appearance to a particular product. While certainly not a fool-proof method, dyes can aid in the differentiation between products, thus helping to avoid compatibility issues.

Anti-wear and extreme pressure additives are used to provide wear protection when the oil film alone is not capable of preventing contact between components. These additives work by providing a sacrificial wear surface or by changing the surface metallurgy of the components. Anti-wear additives or their reaction products form thin, tenacious films on loaded parts to prevent metal-to-metal contact. They assist in the reduction of friction, wear, scuffing and scoring under boundary lubrication conditions. Typical anti-wear additives are zinc dithiophosphate and polar molecules such as fatty oils, acids and esters. Extreme pressure additives are also commonly referred to as EP additives. Like anti-wear additives, they or their reaction products also form thin, tenacious films but on heavily loaded or shock loaded components. They may be persent in the form of solid additives such as molybdenum.

Greases are graded by their National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) Consistency number – as indicated by the chart above. This system is designed to grade a particular grease according to its consistency…firmness or softness based upon worked penetration. The most commonly used consistency number is NLGI 2. Softer grades, such as 0 & 1, are often used for increased pumpability and low temperature application. Higher consistency numbers are used in highspeed bearings, worn parts or where leaks and sealing are particular concerns.

Greases can also be classified by a system that, again, has been developed by the NLGI. First used in 1991, this classification system relates to automotive applications (chassis & wheel bearings); but is widely recognized throughout the industry. The highest classifications that can be achieved are NLGI GC/LB, which carry the following requirements:
1) Penetration (consistency) 220-340 (#1 or #2 grease)
2) Dropping Point 428 F. Minimum
3) High Temperature bearing life is 80 hrs minimum
4) Water washout 15% max
5) Rust & Corrosion Pass
6) Oil Separation 6% max
7) Leakage 10 grams max
8) 4 Ball Wear .6 mm max
9) Fretting Wear 10 mg max
10) 4 Ball EP 200 kg min. LWI 30 min.
11) Low Temp Torque 15.5 n.m max
 
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