If you need to do some repairs on your vehicle, there’s a good chance you’ll need some grease. However, if you’re not careful about which one to use when it comes to repairing, you could make things worse rather than better.
Whether you’re in the market for bearing grease or just looking to learn more about it, this post is an excellent way to dive deeper into this topic. We’ll cover everything from taking fat and how it’s used through some of the most common types available on the market today.
With so many different types of lubricants out there, knowing which one your machine requires can be a daunting task. Luckily, we have extensive knowledge of this area and are ready to share all we know with you! Let’s get started by taking a look at what exactly bearing grease is made up of. Here are seven types of bearing grease and what they’re used for:
What is a Bearing Grease?
Bearing grease is a lubricant specially formulated to be used on bearings under pressure. This grease acts as a seal, protecting the parts within the path from damage caused by water and other contaminants. As an added layer of protection, this grease helps keep out dirt and debris particles so they can remain intact for extended periods.
Bearing grease is also commonly used for automotive purposes. These greases are made up of different oils, plastics, and other chemical compounds that can benefit your vehicle. The purpose of bearing grease is to protect against rust by forming a barrier between metal components and preventing water from penetrating through the cracks or pores in those components.
As you might imagine, bearing grease is a very versatile and multi-purpose lubricant. The best part about this particular product is that it won’t break the bank. Bearing greases can be sold online or in stores at affordable costs, so you don’t have to worry about breaking your budget when investing. It’s also important to remember that bearing grease isn’t just used for cars and bike parts; there are several other notable things these greases can do around your home!
Different Types of Grease and Their Uses
As previously mentioned, bearing grease is a type of lubricant designed to be used on bearings under pressure. While this might seem like information you already know, it’s essential to remember that there are many different greases out there with diverse purposes. Let’s take a look at some of the most common types available to you:
1. Calcium Grease
One of the oldest greases available. Because they are inexpensive, they are still used today.
Key Features: Great water resistance, good corrosion protection, and excellent mechanical stability. This type is best used at low temperatures, as higher temperatures may alter its structure.
Uses: Calcium grease and calcium complex grease can be seen in applications for agricultural, marine, and automotive sectors.
2. Lithium Grease
Grease has a buttery texture, typically connected with the name Multi-Purpose Grease in a single item, and is commonly distributed in many products. This grease accounts for almost 60% of the overall grease market.
Key features: Excellent lubrication, good water resistance, and the ability to withstand high pressure and shock loads. The dropping point is above 350°F and can be used with occasional temperatures up to 300°F.
Uses: It’s versatile and suitable for various uses, including automobiles, gardening, industrial manufacturing, household usage, and hard metal-to-metal applications.
3. Aluminum Complex Grease
This type of grease is frequently used in lubricating food machinery.
Key features: Highly waterproof, stops rust, corrosion, and oxidation, and has good shear stability. Able to operate in extremely high temperatures.
Uses: Aluminum complex greases are best used in the food industry but are also known to offer excellent results when used in the automotive, steel milling, construction, and farming industry.
4. Barium Complex Grease
A type of grease that can be used for a wide range of applications.
Key features: Good water resistance, high-pressure tolerance, and can also resist severe abrasion. This type can provide excellent greasing benefiting from a drop point above 220°C
Uses: For serious, heavy-load tasks like industrial, aeronautical, marine, and manufacturing.
5. Bentone (Clay) Grease
Bentonite clay was combined with Bentone grease to create a clay-based lubricant. Forms a solid film that is resistant to water, oil, and gas. It also provides an extraordinary ability to suspend contaminants in the liquid phase, allowing it to achieve anti-friction properties.
Key features: Has good water resistance, low-temperature pumpability, and extremely high-temperature applications where a non-melting grease is required. It can be used with extreme pressure situations because it can resist shocks and loads up to 650 kg/cm²
Uses A type of grease used in high-tension situations. It’s frequently utilized in the steel, manufacturing, construction, mining, and ceramic industries.
6. Polyurea Grease
Because of its remarkable characteristics, polyurea grease has become quite popular and is classified as a kind of grease produced from a combination of polyurea and talc.
Key features: Outstanding resistance to water, petroleum oils, and chemicals; it can even provide soluble protection against acids and bases. Although this grease is an electrical insulator, the melting point is 125°C, which means it can handle high temperatures.
Uses: Mainly used in applications where corrosion must be limited or prevented, such as high-pressure steam boilers and weather stripping for doors. It can also be used in industrial manufacturing, household appliances, rubber manufacturing, textile machinery cleaners, and automotive parts.
7. Sodium Grease
A stringy, fibrous grease that was commonly used as a standard wheel-bearing lubricant for many years. Very general purpose, so many variations exist and are cheap to purchase.
Key features: Solid shear stability, dropping points range between 300 – 400°F, excellent rust protection, and good lubrication, but poor water resistance and oxidation stability.
Uses: Commonly used in general machinery lubrication and cold environments. It is also frequently applied to pulp and paper processing equipment, piston rings, food conveyor belts, axles, transmissions, etc.
Things to Consider When Choosing Grease
a) Base Oil
Greases are manufactured from various base oils, influencing the grease’s performance and properties. The most common base oil used in lubricants includes animal fats, petroleum-based oils, vegetable oils, and synthetic polyalphaolefin (PAO) oils.
b) Additives
Different additives are added to greases depending on the application’s specific needs. These include extreme pressure (EP) agents, antioxidants, anti-corrosives, resistance to water and chemicals, dispersants, pour point depressing agents, and thickeners which provide increased consistency at low temperatures.
c) Thickener
The type of thickener used can have a significant impact on the performance of the grease. Some common thickeners include calcium sulfonate, fatty acid salts, polyurea clays, and metallic soaps.
d) Consistency
The consistency of the grease is determined by its NLGI grade. NLGI grades range from 000 (low consistency) to 6 (high consistency). NLGI grade 0 grease is described as very soft, NLGI 1 grease is soft, NLGI 2 grease is considered normal, NLGI 3 grease is firm, while NLGI 6 grease is defined as very hard.
e) Viscosity
The viscosity of grease determines how long it will stay in one place and protect against friction. Grease with a high viscosity is more stable when exposed to big, slow loads, while lower viscosity is preferable for fast applications.
Grease Compatibility
Grease compatibility is essential when choosing the proper grease for a specific application. The grease’s characteristic properties can change when two or more products are mixed. For example, it may become too thick for everyday use or not act as a lubricant. Compatibility is about achieving desired results while using greases that maintain their base properties of viscosity, consistency, and NLGI grade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which grease is best for bearings?
The speed of the bearings, temperature, load, and amount of splashing determine this. The selection will depend on what environment the equipment operates in.
Is lithium grease OK for wheel bearings?
Lithium grease is a good base for wheel bearings. It works well in most climates, is inexpensive, and contains no moisture. However, lithium-based greases are better suited to lower operating temperatures.
Can you put too much grease in a bearing?
Yes. The ideal grease should be just enough to fill the space between the bearing and the race. Adding too much can cause unnecessary drag, which in turn will reduce speed and efficiency.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many different types of bearing greases. It is essential to note which type to choose for a specific application. There are many kinds of greases for a reason, and they have unique properties that make them suitable for particular applications. The most common types of bearing grease include lithium, white lithium, lithium-based molybdenum disulfide, calcium complex, polyurea, polyalphaolefin (PAO), and others. To choose the best lubricant for a specific application, it is essential to consider the grease’s type consistency, what NLGI grade it is, and what base oil was used in its production. Understanding how these factors affect a grease’s ability to protect one’s bearings helps greatly in knowing which type will be best suited for an application.