Best tube grease

[ganymede]

They just simply don't mix due to the different base properties. It's like mixing beer with milk in a cup.

It can turn into a "Grease Concrete" or Turn into "Grease Water"...which is not good either way.

Personally I use the JD Polyurea...not super expensive, easily obtainable, great quality. All around couldnt ask for better.

Thanks. I've pulled apart Greatest Generation ratchets and had to wire wheel parts to get them clean. I bet that's why.

 

[W650Mike]

Pennzoil 707L Premium (Red) - available just about everywhere.

Seems to tolerate higher temps without dropping out - and that's a good thing in Texas. I use it a general purpose grease on the tractor, mowers, etc. About 4 tubes and one tub per year.

 

[sberry]

I had a pic,,, got red guns and black guns.

 

[TDLMOMOWERS]

I won't use anything but Lucas, Red and Tacky. Love the stuff.

 

[PSDEng]

Pennzoil 707L Premium (Red) - available just about everywhere.

Seems to tolerate higher temps without dropping out - and that's a good thing in Texas. I use it a general purpose grease on the tractor, mowers, etc. About 4 tubes and one tub per year.

If you're concerned about drop point, then it should be easy for you to compare greases! The drop point value is something that is readily available on many grease labels, and always on the MSDS.

 

[CJKaz]

The best:

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=4123406

Worth more than the machine being lubed in some cases

 

[Caterpillar Cowboy]

I like Lucas Red N Tacky and in the wintertime I've been known to use Amsoil blue Waterproof stuff. Seems to resist the road grime sandblasting better especially on trailer axles.

 

[GTO]

Super Lube

 

[Arne73]

I do facility maintenance (24 yrs) I used to do all the service and repairs then we got a new boss who bid the work out to whatever company would provide the cheapest service contract for the year - techs would come out and lube everything with whatever grease they had... I tried to tell them but the techs would just say "grease is grease" and "it's better than no grease" and look at me like I had 2 heads .. a bunch of burned up equipment proved me right in the long run.

You start mixing bases and bad things CAN happen

We've had a couple expensive machine failures at work due to mixing mineral and synthetic based greases. Company pays over $100 a tube for some of the stuff too. Really pisses me off that some guys don't even bother to check whats in the gun. We've even gone to transparent grease gun tubes.

 

[Clik]

I started using Green Grease (brand name) because I couldn't get it off my hands. Scientific, eh?

 

[Danglerb]

When you get something in do you check to see what the person that last gooped it up used or squirt in whatever you normally use?

What are some types NOT to mix?

 

[coolreed]

Paragon 3000 made by Texas Refinery Corp.

 

[farmall400]

Paragon 3000 made by Texas Refinery Corp.

Yup. That's exactly what I've been stealing from work the past few years.

 

[BrendonS]

The best:

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=4123406

Worth more than the machine being lubed in some cases

Is that price accurate? $3K for a single tube? Can't even fathom using that, 25% of the tubes I use end up in a rag or on the floor.

Does Krytox come in different formulas? When I was at Target we would get small caps of the stuff in the smoothie machine rebuild kits, can't imagine them spending that kind of money though.

 

[bart1]

I have mobil1 in my big grease gun and green grease in a small one. If you need CV grease for high speed use in axle shaft joints, use swepco

 

[theoldwizard1]

best grease? come on guys, get real its F'in grease!

Yeah, some are making a mountain out of rat turds over grease...

I'm glad there are some of you out there with some old fashioned common sense !

Pretty much any grease is better than no grease ! Almost all light duty vehicle have no places to grease so a tube lasts a long, LONG time.

BTW, one of the big reasons I buy Moog suspension parts is that they always come with zerk fitting !

 

[ricky836]

Schaffers #238 Ultra Supreme Grease in all of our equipment and heavy machinery.

Green grease in my RZR and Jeep and other offroad vehicles.

and for light duty vehicles I use some red grease from Napa. believe it's napa branded vavoline.

Whoever says grease is grease isn't too bright. Try using cheap grease on your equipment, see how long all the pins and bushings last.

 

[vssjim]

Look on the tube and it should say NLGI #2 for most cases and GC-LB, as that tells you the GC is rated for heavy duty wheel bearing use and LB is rated for chassis lube then you should be covered. Castrol Syntec branded grease was on sale on the web at PepBoys because they changed the name and they are selling it for $2.59 a tube which is a gift so I bought a box.

 

[Wamsutta]

Sta-Lube Lithium SL3310

 

[becker_atc]

I use mystic jt6. Farmer I worked for swore by the stuff. He compared it to other common greases like John deere, cat factory brand and stuff like you find at tractor supply.

Wasn't very scientific but he had two big versatile tractors (over 350hp) they both would get roughly same use farming 10k acres. Compared several grease using them for the test bed. Mainly seeing what grease stayed put in the drive shaft u-joints and center hinges.

Out of the non special brands like amsoil ect he said that the mystic jt-6 did the best in what he saw. Its done well for me. But now I'm away from the farm and only usetube or two a year.

 

[Chuck122]

Is that price accurate? $3K for a single tube? Can't even fathom using that, 25% of the tubes I use end up in a rag or on the floor.



Does Krytox come in different formulas? When I was at Target we would get small caps of the stuff in the smoothie machine rebuild kits, can't imagine them spending that kind of money though.

Yeah the price is accurate. I believe there are different types of krytox. They are designed to be super stable (ie not become runny or decompose when hot).
It is used in the CV joints of some racing porsches.
It is the ****

 

[CJKaz]

Many different formulations:

http://www2.dupont.com/Lubricants/en_US/

All breathtakingly expensive. The process to make it is very complex, expensive and highly hazardous. Made in a small section of a large plant in South Jersey. I have a few "samples" off the end of the line. Used sparingly.

A test was done in a race engine, some type of failure scattered the engine, Krytox oil on the track, clean up was attempted, but it is virtually impossible to dissolve it. Track had to be repaved.

 

[Steinmetz]

I agree 100% but it is important to use the same kind of grease because of Compatibility issues. I remember when synthetic grease became the majority share holder and we had an excavator with some old grease hat reacted poorly and all the grease hardened up and wore out the sumitomo and boom knuckle. it was a very costly mistake. http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/1865/grease-compatibility

Grease incompatibility was cited as the cause of a fatal airline crash off the California coast about twenty years ago. The airline (named after one of America's newest states) had either switched to, or away from Aeroshell formula, which caused the screw jacks in the rear stabilizer to fail (they stripped out).

 

[W_A_Watson_II]

Lucas, Red and Tacky #2, great stuff.

 

[krdiesel03]

The best:

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=4123406

Worth more than the machine being lubed in some cases

Wow,

 

[Coach James]

So if I can't mix greases, how do I know what type of grease to use on the new ball joints I installed?

Coach

 

[Farmall450]

Good to hear that. My home Depot caries that.

So does Menards

 

[Farmall450]

Yeah the price is accurate. I believe there are different types of krytox. They are designed to be super stable (ie not become runny or decompose when hot).
It is used in the CV joints of some racing porsches.
It is the ****

Here are cheaper, small quantities.

http://www.krytox-distribution.us/?wtx=GAW&gclid=COfBkYK1obwCFQsSMwodOWMAJQ

 

[texasfiremedic]

Is that price accurate? $3K for a single tube? Can't even fathom using that, 25% of the tubes I use end up in a rag or on the floor.

Does Krytox come in different formulas? When I was at Target we would get small caps of the stuff in the smoothie machine rebuild kits, can't imagine them spending that kind of money though.

Yes, that is probably correct. Krytox is very expensive. Good stuff though. I got a small tube of it a one ounce tube. The only grease that can be used in cleanrooms or most cleanrooms. Has something to do with it does not particulate. We used it in weldheads on AMI machines. (computerized pipe tig welders)

 

[Steinmetz]

This thread is proof positive that additives such as dyes do enhance marketability of products without affecting its fitness for the intended purpose. GJ now needs a colored grease "****" thread.

 

[bart1]

Yes, that is probably correct. Krytox is very expensive. Good stuff though. I got a small tube of it a one ounce tube. The only grease that can be used in cleanrooms or most cleanrooms. Has something to do with it does not particulate. We used it in weldheads on AMI machines. (computerized pipe tig welders)

I have a bunch of samples I got from Krytox years ago. They were free and a variety of products. I'll try to dig them out. I think I used all of the rust preventative or lube that I had.

 

[basspro]

I believe in not mixing bases too. On something like a balljoint, probably wont matter much, but a high speed item like a u joint, id stick to the same grease. Over greasing is just as bad as under greasing by the way. Im a fan of synthetics. At work I use Mobil SHC100 (#2) on most everything. On high speed bearings I use Dowcorning Molykote G4500 in a syringe. On expensive bearings that are subject to the worst conditions (water,hot, cold, dynamic vibration, ect...) I use Alco Metalube. Id like to say grease is just grease, but it truly isn't.

 

[monkeyspanners]

Usually Morris Lubricants grease in whatever grade the equipment requires.

For the amount i use i'm not fussed what it costs.

 

[Talisheek]

I have been using Lucas X-Tra heavy duty (green stuff) grease for a while. It seems to work well.

 

[Ad13]

All grease is definately not the same. On sealed OE parts there is a lot of engineering that goes into determining the best grease for specific applications. For DIY applications though it's not nearly as important so I like to get whatever coloured grease is on sale(easier to see).

 

[Mooky]

A good chart for different applications:

http://www.shell.co.uk/promos/lubes...2b143e8311acbd8c/sh-gadus-family-broc-new.pdf

While these Shell products aren't typically available to consumers (unless you want to buy it by the case), the explanations of the thickeners, oil grades etc are helpful in choosing a grease from another manufacturer.

Earlier in this thread is a link to an article discussing the problems encountered if different thickeners are mixed:

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/1865/grease-compatibility

Important to know the thickener type if mixing. Seen some very large & expensive electric motor bearings damaged by mixing incompatible greases.

 

[Reducto]

Since the thread has been returned to active I have a question about a grease problem. I bought a Lincoln 1134 grease gun (regular hand operated with the big cartridges) and put the expensive red Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease Cartridge in it. I used it once and put it on the shelf. I noticed later that an incredible amount of red oil was oozing out of the gun.

Was this just a bad batch of grease? Did I mishandle it somehow? Is this a normal thing for Mobil 1?

I put the Lucas Green in it after I cleaned up the mess and have had zero problems with it separating.

 

[rlitman]

I've had the same issue with M1 grease oozing.

 

[anndel]

Mobil 1, Valvoline Syn-Power or Lucas Red n Tacky - whichever is available at that time.

 

[SVTDice]

I've had my Amsoil NLGI #2 chassis grease in my blackhawk grease gun for almost two years now, No oozing of any kind. Maybe you guys had an old batch perhaps?