GREASE

Bearings, such as wheel bearing, are often lubricated with different kinds of grease. Grease is oil, carried in some kind of base (Carrier) material. This base material holds the grease in position, but the oil is what does the actual lubrication. The types of bases and oils allow the oil to lubricate the bearing in the manner the designer wanted. Greases come in many different types for different temperatures and conditions. Some gear boxes, like the British Burman, use only grease for lubrication. They take a certain type of grease. The bearings on a drum brake wheel take another. Disk braked wheels still another. The trouble is, the base of one grease is not always compatible with the base of another. That is why we need to use the type of grease that is specified in the shop manual. If we do use another type of grease, it MUST be compatible with the old grease. If it is not there will be problems. If you must use a grease that is not compatible with the old grease, you will need to clean out ALL the old grease before using the new grease.

Grease Compatibility Chart

   B = Borderline
   C = Compatible
    I = Incompatible
   X = Not Applicable

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

This is just a general guide. To be sure, check with the grease manufacturer and/or check the the shop manual for the engine, transmission or bearing you are working on.



For a PDF print out of this chart click here. Grease Compatiblity Chart

For more info on grease go here.





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