Don't mix grease

jaquetarr · Nov 11, 2009

Recommendations for Mixing Greases

I thought that greases were generally compatable, especially for sleeve type bearings, if not roller bearings.
I found this article that shows which grease base types are compatable and which are not.
Depending on your application this may be critical.
Rgds,
tim

sld · Nov 11, 2009

Thanks for the info.

I usually use Mobil 1 synthetic grease which looks to be compatible with most. What base are the common brown or black greases used for wheel bearings?

D7E · Nov 11, 2009

I prefer to see the boys using the wrong grease than none at all..we used to keep all kinds in the shop for excavators/forager cylinders/wheel bearings...For the last 10 years i just buy whatever MP i can pick up at the time...generally failures are from lack of grease or sealed bearings.

jaquetarr · Nov 12, 2009

sld said:
Thanks for the info.

I usually use Mobil 1 synthetic grease which looks to be compatible with most. What base are the common brown or black greases used for wheel bearings?

If I remember right, most common grease sold in walmart, or other general store are soap based, clay or lithium based. Sold as waterpump grease or wheel bearing grease.

Honestly, I've never heard of some of the grease bases listed in this article. They must be super high temperature or extra high pressure greases.
Rgds,
tim

RWEST · Nov 12, 2009

This issue came up a year or so ago, and (if my failing memory serves

) one of the experts in here said that mixing non-compatible greases wouldn't necessarily lead to the device falling apart, but could cause the grease to get thin or lose its lubricating qualities.

The Calcium 12-Hydroxy and Lithium Complex seem to be the most compatible
of the group.

I agree with D7E - something, ANYTHING is better than nothing.

D7E · Nov 13, 2009

Wal-mart sells castrol mp which is what our MF dealers used to supply for new tractors..Old fashioned maybe but I like the "Grease coloured" grease like castrol over all these black red and blue greases..
I've never had a problem mixing but i do tend to grease far more often than reccommended intervals depending on conditions and on machines like combines everyting gets a couple of shots every day rather than a big grease every 100hrs or so especially on older machines where seals maybe are'nt perfect and dust is getting in..