Choosing the Correct Grease for your Equipment
It’s important to choose the correct grease for different types of equipment. One grease does not fit all equipment, just like the tire of a truck does not fit on a car. The concept is the same. Different equipment has different operating conditions.
The most important step in this decision process is choosing the right viscosity. You must also consider water or dirt contamination, but for this post we are going to focus on the factors of temperature, speed, and load. These affect which viscosity to use. You want to choose a viscosity that is appropriate for operating conditions.
Pictured above: Shell Gadus S2 V220 2 in a pail. For more information on Gadus Naming Conventions, click the picture above.
High temperatures, high loads, and low speeds require high viscosity. A 220 viscosity is used in many applications and considered the norm for multipurpose greases.
High speed applications, like electric motors, use an ISO 100 grease. Remember, HIGH speed applications require LOW viscosity. Inversely, LOW speeds require HIGH viscosity greases. Use ISO 460 or above in low speed applications. This same logic applies to temperature and load. High temperatures and high loads usually require ISO 460.
There are other important factors beyond viscosity, such as thickener type and NLGI grade, but viscosity is the first step. Now that you understand why different greases are needed in different applications you are on the right track.
For answers to more specific questions or concerns, please call our office at 800-868-7569 or stop by one of our locations to speak with our friendly and helpful staff.