How to know if you are using the right greases
Greases are rarely what you spend most of your time on in a busy operation. Few people have in-depth knowledge of specifications, approvals and the differences between the many variants. And so people often choose what they usually do.
But this is often where there is overlooked potential: what you think is the right grease is not necessarily optimal for the operation you run today. And when the grease does not match the load, temperature or environment, it typically shows up as increased wear, bearing damage and downtime.
In this article, you get an insight into what greases do, what typically goes wrong and how to choose correctly.
What does grease actually do?
The job of grease is to protect moving components against friction, wear and external influences. But in practice, it does far more than that.
Grease must:
- Reduce friction and heat generation
- Protect against wear and extend component life
- Resist water, moisture and dirt
- Stay in place, even under vibration and shock loads
- Perform consistently at both high and low temperatures
And this is exactly where the differences arise. Greases can easily look alike on the surface. But the base oil, thickener, additives and NLGI consistency are decisive for how the grease performs in practice.
Where do things typically go wrong?
There are some classic mistakes we see time and again:
1. You mix greases
As a rule, greases should not be mixed. Greases with different soap bases or thickener types can react unpredictably with each other. As a result, the grease may change consistency, lose its structure or have reduced temperature and water resistance.
2. You choose out of habit, not for your operation
The machine may have had the same grease for 10 years. But has the load changed? Is the temperature higher? Is the environment more humid? Grease must match the actual operating conditions, not the history.
3. You underestimate the importance of temperature
At low temperatures, a grease that is too thick can cause pumping problems in centralised lubrication systems. At high temperatures, a viscosity that is too low can mean insufficient lubricity and therefore increased wear on components.
4. You have too many different greases in stock
This increases the risk of errors and mix-ups, which can ultimately lead to bearing damage and downtime.
Many companies buy lubricating oil professionally, but not grease. This is often where mistakes happen.
How do you choose correctly?
Choosing the right grease is about clarifying a number of parameters:
- The machine manufacturer's requirements
- Load and speed
- Temperature range
- Risk of exposure to water or chemicals
- Need for centralised lubrication and pumpability
- Soap base and compatibility
- Any approvals and registrations (e.g. food-grade registered greases, also known as NSF H1)
Once you have these parameters in place, your choice becomes far more precise.
The difference between a supplier and an adviser
It takes both technical insight and experience to assess what is actually optimal, and not just adequate.
And yes, this often means you can reduce your range and simplify your lubrication system, because you choose more strategically.
Why many choose us as their partner for greases
Grease is not a standard product. It is an operational decision.
When you choose greases from us, we do not start with a product code. We start by understanding how your equipment actually works.
What load does it run under? What happens to the temperature? Is there moisture or are there special requirements? Only when we have that picture in place do we recommend a solution.
Possibly the widest range of greases on the market
We work with Texaco and Anderol greases and therefore have a wide range of greases for all industries, including food producers. This means we are not tied to one particular type of grease and can recommend the solution that suits your operation.
And once the solution has been found, it naturally has to work in practice too. Our warehouse is close by and we can deliver from one day to the next, so you are not left without supplies when the need arises.
Grease has to work in practice
The right grease is not just about specifications. It also has to be easy to work with day to day.
That is why we have developed our grease cartridges so they are easier to empty completely and do not leave residue behind in the cartridge. It may be a small detail. But in a busy operation, it is often the small improvements that make a difference.
Watch the video below for lubrication tips on getting the most out of our grease cartridges.
Do you need advice on how to choose the right greases?
Contact us today
sales@unox.dk