Arctic bearing grease recommendation

[Dale_Knight]

Hi, I'm looking for suggestions as to some Arctic grade Lithium soap based axle bearing greases for a Nissan Pathfinder good to about -55 C and without Moly additives.

Castrol Braycote 610 is about the one I've found so far which looks interesting;

http://www.chrysanindustries.com/pdf/products/data_braycote610.pdf

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[Dale_Knight]

Another grease which looks interesting is AeroShell Grease 22 with a working temperature range from -65C to +204C;

http://www.shell.com/static/ca-en/downloads/shell_for_businesses/oils_lubricants/5-12.pdf

What is Micro-Gel thickener and how would it stand up for long term wheel or axle bearing use. Thanks.

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[Pablo]

A good synthetic #0 (or even #1) grease should do you OK.

 

[Johnny]

Agree with Pablo. Do not use AeroShell Grease 22 in this application. There are several reasons why, but the main one is Micro-Gel thickener will not mix with the lithium complex thickeners.

 

[Dale_Knight]

Thanks fellows, I tracked down a product available locally; QS Synchron Ultra Premium EP Grease, now renamed QS Full Synthetic EP Grease, product no: 5063-365 but with the same properties as on the following data sheet including an operating temp range from -54C to +177C;

http://www.pzlqs.com/Tech/Pdsheet/QuakerState/Grease/pdf/SynchronUltraPremiumEPGrease.PDF

Lol, hope I don't have to turn a wheel if it gets to -50C in this area, but it wouldn't be the first time that I've had to do that.

In most ways the Amsoil GRG looks to have the same properties though so I'll have a look at price difference;

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/grg.aspx

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[Johnny]

That's a good grease. Operating range may be from -54C, but be sure you have it where you want it before it gets that cold. It is a #2 grease, and even though it will work down to -54C, it will be very hard to get it out of the grease gun at those temps.

 

[moribundman]

I wonder what lubricants were used in Admiral Byrd's Antarctic Snow Cruiser.

 

[oilboy123]

I third the #0 and #1 grade.

 

[mpersell]

Just curious. Why lithium and why no moly?

 

[Ken2]

Just a story---

Several years ago a buddy was working as a bartender in a pizza joint. This was in Jackson Hole where winter night temperatures can rarely get down to -40° or less*. The road was snow base and it was coooold when he got off work one night. His old Chev Blazer was driving very rough, and he realized that the front wheels weren't rotating, they were sliding on the snow base road due to the thick grease in the hubs. He had to put them into 4wd to get the fronts turning.

Info on the National Lubricating Grease Institute grease consistency numbers...#000 to #6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NLGI_Grade

*-40°C = -40°F
Mercury freezes at -38°, so the only way to know if it gets colder is if one has a spirit thermometer.

 

[Ken2]

Just a story---

Several years ago a buddy was working as a bartender in a pizza joint. This was in Jackson Hole where winter night temperatures can rarely get down to -40° or less*. The road was snow base and it was coooold when he got off work one night. His old Chev Blazer was driving very rough, and he realized that the front wheels weren't rotating, they were sliding on the snow base road due to the thick grease in the hubs. He had to put them into 4wd to get the fronts turning.

Info on the National Lubricating Grease Institute grease consistency numbers...#000 to #6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NLGI_Grade

*-40°C = -40°F
Mercury freezes at -38°, so the only way to know if it gets colder is if one has a spirit thermometer.

 

[1040 WreckerMan]

I think Dow still offers a line of very low temp greases. Not sure if they have something that will work for a wheel bearing grease, but worth looking into.

 

[mpersell]

Schaeffer 274 #0 is rated use down to -50f which is about -45c. It is not lithium. It's aluminum complex and does have moly. I would think that moly would be a good safety belt at low temps.

 

[OVERKILL]

The Mobil 1 grease is good to -40C, their SHC is good to -50C

http://www.mobildelvac.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENGRSMOMobiltemp_SHC.asp