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Information Connection: Grease Compatibility

Grease. Did you know you can't mix just any grease with any other grease? It's true--doing so can cause catastrophic damage to equipment. And it's true even if the grease types are the same. Why is this?

Grease consists of two parts--the actual lubricant (normally oil) and a carrier, or base. Each has its own function. It's the carriers that are not compatible. Always know the base of the grease you are adding and the base of the grease you are adding to. Once you know those things, you can use the chart below to determine if you can add one grease to the other.

This grease compatibility chart will help you put the right greases together.

Grease Compatibility Chart

   B = Borderline
   C = Compatible
    I = Incompatible

Al

C
o
m
p
l
e
x

 Ba

C
o
m
p
l
e
x

Ca

S
t
e
a
r
a
t
e

Ca

12

H
y
d
r
o
x
y

Ca

C
o
m
p
l
e
x

Ca

S
u
l
f
o
n
a
t
e

C
l
a
y

N
o
n
s
o
a
p

Li

S
t
e
a
r
a
t
e

Li

12

H
y
d
r
o
x
y

Li

C
o
m
p
l
e
x

P
o
l
y
u
r
e
a

P
o
l
y
u
r
e
a

S

S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

1. Aluminum Complex

X

I

I

C

I

 B

I

I

I

C

I

 C

2.  Barium Complex

I

X

I

C

I

C

I

I

I

I

I

 B

3.  Calcium Stearate

I

I

X

C

I

 C

C

C

B

C

I

 C

4.  Calcium 12 Hydroxy

C

C

C

X

B

 B

C

C

C

C

I

 C

5.  Calcium Complex

I

I

I

B

X

 I

I

I

I

C

C

 C
6.  Calcium Sulfonate B C C B I

X

 I B B C I C

7.  Clay Non-soap

I

I

C

C

I

 I

X

I

I

I

I

 B

8.  Lithium Stearate

I

I

C

C

I

 B

I

X

C

C

I

 C

9.  Lithium 12 Hydroxy

I

I

B

C

I

 B

I

C

X

C

I

 C

10. Lithium Complex

C

I

C

C

C

 C

I

C

C

X

I

 C

11. Polyurea Conventional

I

I

I

I

C

 I

I

I

I

I

X

 C
12. Polyurea Shear Stable C B C C C C B C C C C X

 

People who read this article are also often involved in motor maintenance. See this course:

Motor Maintenance Course Motor Maintenance Explained
Reduce the costs of selecting, installing, maintaining, and replacing industrial motors. This course show you how to maintain motors effectively, efficiently, and safely.
This self-paced course requires no textbook or instructor.
 

Greasing Industrial Equipment

Lubrication is a huge issue for industrial maintenance. It's a critical function, yet it's often assigned to the most junior people as if it's a mindless job. A case could be made that, for purposes of applying the same grease over and over it is. But we can see this way of (not) thinking is ineffective, just by tallying up the sheer number of machinery failures (and thus production revenue lost) due to lubrication errors.

Some common errors:

  • Selecting the wrong lubricant. Mobil has a set of lubrication classes just on this one area of expertise. It's not just a matter of matching greases; there are many other lubricant choices for many other applications. Gear oil is one example where a lubricant selection error can mean big bucks.
  • Improper application. The zircs (grease fittings) typically have dirt on them. When these are not wiped off prior to using a grease gun, the incoming grease pushes abrasive dirt into the bearings it's suppose to protect.
  • Improper application (again). Too much grease can result in friction within the grease. It melts out, leaving a metal on metal situation.
  • Selecting the wrong class of lubricant. There is almost never any justification for using a paraffin-based lubricant for industrial lubrication. If the synthetic version is not available (and that's unlikely), contact the manufacturer for resolution. If they can't resolve it, consider replacing their equipment. Note that we said lubrication; that's different from cooling as might be the case with a liquid-filled transformer.

 

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