odd request: tan/brown ball bearing grease identifiable? (Pics inside)

[Sdot]

Hey guys

Weird one here.. but isn't that what makes GJ so great? Yep!

Need help identifying this grease. Its used in automotive seat slider applications. Definitely not spray on - looks like out of a gun, or brushed on.

Common in European vehicles. Any guesses? or close substitute?
Read about Wurth Tru Glide - don't think this is it.

 

[Sdot]

Nobodies up for the challenge?

 

[ddawg16]

I am.

I have no clue....I've never seen that type. Sure it's not a spill from someone lunch?

Normally, they use lithium grease in those slides.

 

[CoreyB]

Castrol's Olista longtime grease is brown in color and frequently found on euro cars. It is probably very similar to what you're looking at there.

 

[foghorn1966]

Weathered heavy white lithium grease is my guess.

 

[lynx40]

Hi could be Castrol LM grease ( low melting ) at a guest

 

[Sdot]

I am.

I have no clue....I've never seen that type. Sure it's not a spill from someone lunch?

Normally, they use lithium grease in those slides.

I know that's how it appears, although...

Nope, its a brand new part.

Castrol's Olista longtime grease is brown in color and frequently found on euro cars. It is probably very similar to what you're looking at there.

Thank you! going to look into it

Weathered heavy white lithium grease is my guess.

Brand new part

Hi could be Castrol LM grease ( low melting ) at a guest

Will look into this.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I think it is Peanut Butter(oil). Take a swipe at it and try a taste test. Let us know what you think.

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi!

AFAIK, BMW, for example, uses/recommends: Klüber Isoflex Topas NB 5051

It's beige as pictured, has a fairly long lifetime/ doesn't oxidize quickly/ offers good protection against corrosion and wear/ sticks very well to smooth surfaces (probably all wanted on seat sliders) additionally has a pretty large temperature range (-60 °C - +130 °C / -76 °F - +266 °F) Dripping point: >= +170 °C

ISOFLEX TOPAS NB 5051

ISOFLEX TOPAS NB 5051 is a beige-colored, homogeneous, short-fibred long-term grease for a wide service temperature range. It is a dynamically light grease consisting of synthetic hydrocarbon oil and barium complex soap. The barium complex soap used is not classified as harmful under the EU...

www.klueber.com

Current price in Germany: 400g cartridge = 129,** Euro incl. VAT.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[kelpaso1]

Why do you even need to know what exact type it is? Clean it off and use Lithium which most manufacturers use.

 

[BiggityBen]

2-4-C grease looks like that and can be found in West Marine and some auto parts stores

 

[Keep]

Could be a 90000 point resto and this is the missing piece.....

 

[toplessHO]

when the judges bend over to look for correct brown grease give them a swift kick in the ****

 

[Wrapitinbacon]

Looks like sil-glyde

 

[unslow1]

It looks like regular old wheel bearing grease to me.

 

[bwringer]

Interesting question. You do want the correct stuff; all the various wheel bearing and other "mechanical" greases I know of would eventually separate and stain the interior. This stuff has to stay in place through years of hot and cold cycles, so it's definitely something special.

 

[Sdot]

^ Exactly this. And why im trying to go the distance finding the right stuff, even though sounds insignificant.

 

[boom10ful]

Might be molykote. Used for brake pad contact points on German axles on heavy duty vehicles.

 

[bwringer]

After poking around on McMaster-Carr, something like "Carriage and Guide Rail" grease seems about right:

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

It's brown and very thick, about like peanut butter.

 

[toplessHO]

hi tack red n tacky ,altho bright red has some pretty good tackiness
I would recommend anti seize but I just got some on fingers typing the words

 

[3baygarage]

Looks like the stuff in any and every old grease gun cartridge from here.

 

[bwringer]

hi tack red n tacky ,altho bright red has some pretty good tackiness
I would recommend anti seize but I just got some on fingers typing the words

That stuff separates like crazy. My grease gun is wearing a diaper.

 

[Sdot]

That stuff separates like crazy. My grease gun is wearing a diaper.

Yeah the big thing for this specific grease - is it needs to not run off the seat slides while baking in the car in 100+ degree weather.

Good recommendation on the mcmastercarr link. I did pick up some bicycle grease with "TEFLON" and by the smell of it - it seems we are getting warmer. The color is not correct, but I think the Teflon is a good clue?

 

[oldmachinenut]

Lubriplate, it was GM spec for seat tracks. We had cans of it that were about the size of a pint paint can with a GM part number.

 

[Al Borland]

Ear Wax?

 

[KnurledNut]

I dont know what it is.
It has probably discolored over time anyways.
Id use SilGlyde as @Wrapitinbacon mentioned.
Or if i wanted to get fancy, i might use ShinEtsu silicone.

 

[Bacon!]

Looks a bit like the sodium grease everyone used to use for wheel bearings a half century ago.

Sodium Soap Grease - HJ OIL GROUP

Sodium Soap Grease Definition Sodium Soap Grease, which is very similar to domestic soap used for washing, were found to have higher melting points than calcium soaps. Greases based on sodium soaps were fundamental in the lubrication of steam engines and the early machinery of the industrial...

www.hjoilgroup.com

However if there's a bit of rust in it for the orangish tint, or they added dye to get there, then it could be the low grade lithium grease you find cheapest at any auto parts store and if not very old grease, that seems most likely. Example: https://www.autozone.com/greases-an...e/p/stp-hi-temp-grease-tube-14-1oz/561738_0_0

Whatever it is, it's not particularly important to use the same thing again, just clean all the old off. I'd choose a tacky lithium complex NLGI 2, or if 100% sure there's no chance of getting any drop off onto carpets or clothing, then also with moly. On the other hand if your winters are extremely cold, then one not so tacky, even drop to lower viscosity NLGI 1 (and less of it, to avoid making a runoff mess when it isn't so cold), or if there are plastics seeing friction too, a silicone paste instead.

 

[Bacon!]

Interesting question. You do want the correct stuff; all the various wheel bearing and other "mechanical" greases I know of would eventually separate and stain the interior. This stuff has to stay in place through years of hot and cold cycles, so it's definitely something special.

This doesn't matter nearly as much when putting a thin coating on something, opposed to a larger volume container where gravity (assisted by heat) allows the thickener to settle to a higher concentration and the oil to pool.