Choose the right grease for machines and machine parts
Choosing the right grease for your machines, applications and motors is essential to ensure continued high quality production while keeping costs down.
Many uses
Grease can be used for everything from gears, bearings, motors and gearboxes to forestry machinery. A well-balanced type of grease has many benefits, including protecting against corrosion, reducing friction, tolerating high loads and repelling water. Grease also stays where you apply it, unlike oils that risk disappearing. For example, a synthetic base oil can generally withstand higher working temperatures than a mineral oil.
How do I choose the right type of grease?
The type of grease you should use depends on the intended application, and what the grease will seal/protect against. A grease contains 80-90% base oil, and the properties of this base oil determine the properties of the grease.
- Lubricating grease with synthetic base oil: A synthetic base oil lubricant gives the grease a wider temperature range, better electrical properties and increased chemical resistance. Synthetic base oils should also take into account any thickener for the desired consistency, depending on the intended application.
- Grease with mineral oil: A mineral oil lubricant is best used for applications that achieve a more even working temperature, and is used in medium to light working conditions.
- Temperature: Low viscosity base oils are better for use in lower temperature applications, while high viscosity base oil greases are ideal for use in higher temperature and higher load machinery and applications.
- Speed and rpm: High viscosity base oils are best suited to low speed and low rpm machines/applications. Low viscosity base oils are ideal in higher speed machines.
- Lubricant secretion: In addition to viscosity, lubricant secretion is an important factor to consider when choosing the right type of grease.
