Grease is critical for keeping your rigs safe. But if you aren’t an expert, using grease correctly can be like trying to solve a mystery. While conventional wisdom may suggest one thing, the truth may be entirely different.
Although every fleet owner is familiar with grease, there are many misconceptions when it comes to application technique, color compatibility, how much to use and more. Read on to learn more about three common grease myths.
MYTH: All greases are the same
While there may be similarities between various types of grease, they can actually vary quite a bit. Grease is made of three components — the liquid, the thickener and the additive. The thickener is what determines compatibility between greases. Not all grease thickeners are compatible, so when choosing a grease, it’s important to know the type you are currently using and what thickener it contains. From there, you can determine what is compatible and what specific conditions your grease needs to address.
You should also ensure you’re selecting the correct NLGI grade for your rigs. The NLGI grade is an industry wide number system that helps determine the thickness of the grease. The higher the NLGI grade, the thicker the grease. In warmer months, you’ll likely want to use a grease with an NLGI grade of 2, which is considered a “normal” grease appearance having the consistency of peanut butter. As the weather gets colder, switching to a 1, 0 or 00 NLGI grade grease will allow your fleet to handle the colder temperatures better, as these grades of grease are more soft or fluid.
For more information, visit Cenex.com.
Image used with permission of Cenex
