Hey, my name is Mike and Im part of the outside sales team here at Gregg Distributors. On
todays Gear up With Greggs, were going to hit the ground running while we discuss one
of the most important components of your vehicles system, grease!
While most people know that a vehicle needs oil to run smoothly, grease tends to be left
on the sidelines of maintenance routines. Many parts of a well-oiled machine also need
grease, such as the bearings, king pin, tie rods, clutch release system, universal joints,
and more! And just like oil in an engine, the grease in all of these parts needs to
be refreshed and replenished in order to keep your equipment up and running.
Castrol makes some of the toughest grease on the market, and for good reason. Castrol
products are tested and re-tested to ensure that you, the consumer, are getting the absolute
best quality product they can offer.
Before we get into the specific types of greases, its important to understand what exactly a
grease is.
At its basic level, grease is made of three different components oil, thickener, and additives.
Greases are generally 80 to 90 percent oil. It is the viscosity of this base oil that
is important for lubrication. Let me show you what I mean.
The National Lubricating Grease Institute, or NLGI, certifies greases with a consistency
rating. This rating ranges from triple zero, very fluid, to 6, solid block. A number 2
grease, comparable in viscosity to peanut butter, is the most common consistency recommended
by manufacturers. This is due to the greases ability to stay in place over a wider, normal
temperature range.
The second part of a grease is the thickener. Thickeners act like a sponge, absorbing the
base oil as the grease heats up/cools, keeping it in place. Typically, thickeners are made
up of simple or complex metal soaps, but occasionally they will be made from non-soap thickeners
such as bentonite and silica aerogel. One of the most common complex thickeners is lithium-based,
made with a combination of conventional lithium soap and an organic acid.
Last up are the additives. Additives play several roles in a grease, including enhancing
existing benefits, suppressing existing drawbacks, and giving new, beneficial properties to the
grease. Some of the typical grease additives include oxidation or rust inhibitors, extreme
pressure, anti-wear, and friction-reducing agents. Its also fairly common to see grease
with boundary lubricants such as molybdenum disulfide, also known as moly, or graphite
suspended in the grease to reduce friction and wear without adverse chemical reactions.
Grease is often used in high-temperature applications, or in slow moving bearings, where frequent
oil lubrication is difficult to accomplish. But how do you know youve got the best grease
for the task at hand? Well, the first thing you should do when selecting a grease is consult
the owners manual. This will always contain the recommended greases and the ideal relubrication
intervals for your vehicle or equipment. Next, youll want to determine the operating temperature,
whether it is typically cold or hot where the grease will be in use, and the environment,
whether it will be dirty or wet.
Knowing the operating temperature will help you choose a viscosity for your grease. For
instance, for equipment operating with high temperatures, low speed, and high loads, a
high viscosity grease would be best. But for equipment operating under low temperatures,
high speeds, and low loads, a low viscosity grease would be better suited to the task.
Its also important to know whether you are looking for a synthetic or a non-synthetic
grease. Typically, synthetic greases are more beneficial in wet or agricultural environments,
as they are waterproof and chemical-proof. However, they also tend to be more expensive
than their non-synthetic counterparts, so it really depends on the type of equipment
you are greasing and what sort of environment youre working in.
Now, lets talk specifics.
For high temperature environments, Castrol developed the Pyroplex Red Grease. This lithium
complex grease meets the highest performance standards of automotive fleet, industrial,
farm, and off-highway equipment operations. Pyroplex Red has excellent rust protection,
mechanical stability, and is the practical choice for bearings, couplers, gears, and
more. The dependable lubrication this grease provides reduces maintenance costs and leads
to less equipment downtime.
In environments with lower temperatures, extreme pressure, and the presence of moisture, the
Pyroplex Gold Grease is ideal. This semi-synthetic grease contains more than 20% solids, including
6% moly, which gives equipment a protective lubricant barrier against wear, even with
high loads! The semi-synthetic base oil and specially-chosen thickeners allow this grease
to maintain its pumpability even in low temperature environments. It even uses Castrols Hydro-Activation
technology, which guards against water spray-off.
If you know you need a grease to stand up against wet or damp conditions, the Pyroplex
Blue grease stays in place. This grease maintains its mobility and continues to build tack and
adhesion when faced with water contamination. Using the Hydro-Activated technology, Pyroplex
Blue resists softening and washout when continually exposed to moisture. It promotes extremely
long bearing life and provides a strong barrier of protection for critical components in high
temperature environments.
For extreme pressure, especially on heavily-loaded equipment such as bulldozers, shovels, loaders,
and off-highway trucks, the Contractor Special Moly Grease really is an all-around champ.
Formulated to offer high temperature and heavy-duty performance, coupled with good pumpability,
this grease is perfect for applications where a tough, durable lubricating film is needed.
Now, I know that was a lot of information, but the important thing to take away is that
grease is responsible for two main things: protecting and lubricating equipment and moving
parts while making sure that dirt and water dont get in and damage those same surfaces.
If you want to keep your system running smooth, dont skip those recommended relubrication
intervals!
If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment down below or you can check out
our website at greggdistributors.ca. Again, Im Mike and its time for this squeaky wheel
to hit the road. Thanks for tuning in!