EP 1 axle grease

[North to Alaska]

Due to some low temps here in Alaska, I have been going though the process of selecting good replacement lubes for the 4520r.
Itç—´ already sluggish when I start it up until it warms up the gears.

Found a good distributor of Chevron (and other brands) and I値l be using there good hydraulic oil.

Now looking into their Grease.

Service manual says EP 2 multi grease.
I知 looking at both EP 2 and EP 1 (thinner)

Any real issues with EP 1? Especially in this cold?

This is EP 1.5 (operating temp -60f)
Ulti-Plex Synthetic Grease EP | Chevron Lubricants (US)

This is EP 1 (operating temp down to -58)
Delo Extreme Grease EP 1 | Chevron Lubricants (US)

This is EP 2 (operating temp down to -40
Delo Starplex Extreme Pressure Grease | Chevron Lubricants (US)

I will probably go with the EP 2 Starplex....I don稚 think I want to be on that tractor for long in those temps:shocked:

 

[Cougsfan]

If it really below -40 and you have an open cockpit, I'd be more concerned about you freezing up more so than the bearings. Also if you choose to use a light grease, I might be concerned about what happens during those long, warm summer days in Alaska. Actually, Slowpoke Slim may run into similar, if not colder winter temperatures in North Dakota as you do in Alaska. He would be a good guy to give suggestions on what is needed to deal with cold weather.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I've been working on the road all week, sorry for not responding sooner.

I just looked to see if I had a spare tube of the grease I use (I thought I had one, must have used it already, note to me to buy more).

Anyway, I'm using a lithium based grease I buy at my local Napa store in town. It is not a high temp bearing grease at all, it is meant for equipment bushings and pivot pins, etc. As I recall (oh boy), it is rated down to either -30F, or -40F. I cannot say for certain, and wish I had the tube sitting here (there's one in my grease gun, but I hope you forgive me for not taking it out). But I think it's -40F. It is a blue tube, not a Napa branded one (it's just where I buy it), and it does specifically say it's for pins and bushings on equipment. It comes out cream colored, not red or black.

My personal opinion only, I don't think the "high temp" component is needed at all in a bushing grease. Wheel bearings, sure, I use the high temp red stuff for wheel bearings. But the bushings and pins have such a slow rotational speed when you move them, that there will never be a "high temp" need. I prefer a grease with the cushion and shock absorption, especially for 3 pt and FEL bushings. Those FEL bushings can really get a pounding.

I'll look out in my machine shed Saturday and see if I have a tube out there (I don't think I do), but my grease gun and most of my lubes/oils are sitting on a shelf in my (heated) garage, so that's where I'd expect it to be. Anyway, if I don't have a tube, I'll be in town anyway and it will prod me to buy a spare.

 

[North to Alaska]

If it really below -40 and you have an open cockpit, I'd be more concerned about you freezing up more so than the bearings. Also if you choose to use a light grease, I might be concerned about what happens during those long, warm summer days in Alaska. Actually, Slowpoke Slim may run into similar, if not colder winter temperatures in North Dakota as you do in Alaska. He would be a good guy to give suggestions on what is needed to deal with cold weather.

It’s not so much that I will be out in -40 working with the tractor, it’s that I will probably be out in -10 to -20 temps. I’m new to this area but it rarely gets down to -40 (-20 is very common), however we get about 12 feet of snow each year. I just want lubricants that are rated for colder temps than what I will be working in. Better for the tractor.

 

[North to Alaska]

I've been working on the road all week, sorry for not responding sooner.

I just looked to see if I had a spare tube of the grease I use (I thought I had one, must have used it already, note to me to buy more).

Anyway, I'm using a lithium based grease I buy at my local Napa store in town. It is not a high temp bearing grease at all, it is meant for equipment bushings and pivot pins, etc. As I recall (oh boy), it is rated down to either -30F, or -40F. I cannot say for certain, and wish I had the tube sitting here (there's one in my grease gun, but I hope you forgive me for not taking it out). But I think it's -40F. It is a blue tube, not a Napa branded one (it's just where I buy it), and it does specifically say it's for pins and bushings on equipment. It comes out cream colored, not red or black.

My personal opinion only, I don't think the "high temp" component is needed at all in a bushing grease. Wheel bearings, sure, I use the high temp red stuff for wheel bearings. But the bushings and pins have such a slow rotational speed when you move them, that there will never be a "high temp" need. I prefer a grease with the cushion and shock absorption, especially for 3 pt and FEL bushings. Those FEL bushings can really get a pounding.

I'll look out in my machine shed Saturday and see if I have a tube out there (I don't think I do), but my grease gun and most of my lubes/oils are sitting on a shelf in my (heated) garage, so that's where I'd expect it to be. Anyway, if I don't have a tube, I'll be in town anyway and it will prod me to buy a spare.

I did find Valvoline full synthetic is readily available here. That is rated for -40
That should work well.

 

[Texasmark]

I did find Valvoline full synthetic is readily available here. That is rated for -40
That should work well.

Synthetics flaunt their effectiveness at temp extremes. Seems to me that I wouldn't even think about a dino or even a semi-syn oil or grease up there.