Overview Advancing Productivity Products
Choosing the right grease FAQs
What is the starting point when
judging the best grease to choose to
apply to machinery?
A simple way to think of grease is to
consider it like a sponge soaked with lubricating
oil. Upon application of external stresses, such
as heavy loads or high temperatures, the
thickener (sponge) releases the oil to lubricate
the mechanical parts. When the stress is
removed, the thickener reabsorbs a portion of
the released oil for later use.
At the outset, reviewing performance properties
is essential. Properties exclusive to grease
include dropping point, mechanical stability,
water washout, bleed characteristics and
pumpability. The most important performance
properties are determined by the type of
application you are looking to protect and
optimize.
Greases are designed to have a balance of
properties, which means it is important to
consider each property’s significance relative
to the intended applications to select the best
overall fit.
Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance
What are the most important factors that
should be considered when selecting a
grease?
The first factor to keep in mind is selecting a
grease with the appropriate viscosity, which is
the fundamental characteristic of a grease.
For example, the high-performance
Mobil SHC™ Series greases have viscosities
ranging from 68 to 1500. The higher
viscosity greases are usually more water
resistant and help improve heavy-duty or
high-load applications. A lower viscosity grease
will have enhanced pumpability, and therefore
effective equipment protection when operating
in low-temperature conditions.
The additive technology should be the next
factor considered, with the application in mind.
Most performance-enhancing additives found
in lubricating oils are also used in grease
formulation and should be chosen according to
the demands of the application. For example,
a heavily loaded open gear set would require
extreme pressure (EP) additives, which would
not be required to optimize performance of
lightly loaded high-speed elements.
Grease consistency is a further factor that
must be analyzed. Thickener type should be
selected based on performance requirements,
as well as compatibility when considering
changing product types. Each thickener
brings certain benefits, such as water
resistance, pumpability and performance in
high temperature conditions.
To ensure you select the right grease for your
applications, it is important to choose a
supplier who has a long track record in the
industry. ExxonMobil’s long track record as a
technology leader, wide range of products
to fit your needs, and experts to provide
guidance and technical knowledge will
help your company maximize its equipment
performance.
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 Overview Advancing Productivity Products
Choosing the right grease FAQs (cont.)
When should companies use grease
versus lubricating oils?
There are many applications where greases
are recommended over lubricating oil. In many
cases, greases are applied instead of oils where
a lubricant is required to maintain its original
position in a mechanism. This is especially
the case where opportunities for frequent
relubrication may be limited or uneconomical.
This requirement may be due to the
physical configuration of the mechanism, type
of motion, type of sealing or the need for the
lubricant to perform all or part of any sealing
function in the prevention of lubricant loss or
entrance of contaminants.
Due to their solid nature, greases do not
perform the cooling and cleaning functions
associated with oils. With these exceptions,
greases are expected to perform all other
functions of a fluid lubricant.
We are looking for ways to better manage
maintenance and replacement costs. Could
grease selection play a role here?
Regular maintenance and machinery
replacement costs have a significant impact on
a business’s bottom line. Selecting the most
effective oils and greases to both protect and
enhance the performance of your machinery can
play an important role in reducing these costs in
the long term.
Firstly, selecting a grease that is able to work
effectively under your specific operating
conditions and offer enhanced machinery
protection will help you achieve long-term
cost savings.
High leakage rates are likely to result in higher
maintenance costs, health and safety issues, and
may lead to increased unscheduled downtime
due to the reduced amount of grease in the
Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance
system failing to provide adequate protection.
The frequency of relubrication is also a factor.
Some lower quality greases can leak from a
system or become ineffective to protect
machinery, requiring additional maintenance
and possible downtime to replace.
Mobilgrease XHP™ Series greases have
excellent adhesive properties and the ability
to extend relubrication, which helps reduce
leakages and optimize grease performance
— delivering reduced costs from unscheduled
downtime, operational risks, maintenance and
associated labor requirements.
Our machinery is operating 24/7. How
can we maximize productivity and reduce
unscheduled downtime?
Maximizing productivity can be achieved in a
number of ways, such as reducing maintenance
and extending equipment life.
Grease selection can play a key role in
achieving these goals. For example, the
Mobil SHC Polyrex™ Series greases, which have
proven to be high-performance greases in
the food, paper and plastic industries, are
specifically formulated to improve productivity
by solving high-temperature lubrication
problems. They are designed to offer high-
temperature performance, excellent water
resistance and balanced wear performance.
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 Overview Advancing Productivity Products
Choosing the right grease FAQs (cont.)
Our machinery runs at very high
operating temperatures. What impact
does this have on grease selection?
Operators who have to manage high operating
conditions require greases that are specifically
designed to ensure consistent performance and
longevity in such conditions.
In high-temperature applications, there is a risk
that the wrong choice or low quality grease
may perform poorly due to degradation
resulting from thickener and base oil
oxidation, or due to the loss of base oil from
grease bleed and evaporation. Oxidation is a
chemical reaction that occurs between oxygen
and the in-service lubricant, and is accelerated
in high temperatures. Greases that do not have
effective viscosity and oxidative resistance can
have limited ability to provide lubrication at
higher temperatures.
We experience issues with leakage, with
grease running out of our machines during
operation. How can this be avoided?
Grease leakage is a common challenge faced
by engineers, caused by a range of factors
such as seal failures under high pressure or
temperature, incompatibility of the seal with
the grease, or mechanical misalignment.
Unnecessary higher leakage rates can result
in additional grease costs and reduced
grease in place to adequately protect
machinery, both resulting in increased
maintenance requirements and potential
extended downtime periods.
There are two key ways to minimize grease
leakage. The first is to undertake a complete
system inspection to define leakages and take
necessary action such as renewal of seals,
changing seal types or maintaining seals.
This can cause issues with the considerable
equipment downtime that would be required.
Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance
The second, and more efficient, method is to
apply a high-quality grease with strong
adhesive properties. For example, the
Mobilgrease XHP™ Series greases, used
across a wide range of industrial applications,
are formed of a highly adhesive and cohesive
structure, delivering excellent grease tenacity,
decreased leakage and relubrication intervals,
which all support reduced maintenance
requirements and increased productivity.
We are considering upgrading the grease
we apply to our machinery. Are there any
grease compatibility issues we should
consider?
When changing from one type of grease to
another, it is best practice for engineers to seek
guidance from an expert lubricant supplier,
such as ExxonMobil. This will help ensure that
operators receive the right product for their
application and that they have the technical
support required to undertake a seamless
grease upgrade successfully.
ExxonMobil often recommends compatibility
testing when considering changing greases.
To help ensure engineers can reap the
maximum benefits and performance delivered
by high-quality ExxonMobil greases,
cleaning out the application and removing the
old grease can be recommended ahead of
changing to the new grease. Given the
long-term enhanced protection and cost
savings that can be enjoyed through high-
quality greases, operators are seeing the
benefits of upgrading their industrial greases.
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 Overview Advancing Productivity Products Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance

Technical topic

Regreasing rolling bearing elements

Rolling element bearings need to be relubricated

from time to time to replace grease that has
deteriorated, leaked away or become
contaminated. Because the conditions under
which rolling element bearings operate vary
so widely, it takes on-the-spot know-how to
determine proper relubrication intervals —
intervals that can range from once a day to
once a year. No one lubricant or relubrication
schedule can take care of the wide range of
loads, speeds and operating temperatures at
which individual bearings demonstrate optimal
performance.
Environmental conditions:
How often should you relubricate? • W
 here bearings are subject to contamination,
Don’t feel alone if you find yourself asking this more frequent relubrication may be necessary.
question. Unfortunately, there’s no one single
answer, because there’s a long list of factors that Be sure to report any unusual conditions such
influence relubrication frequency. Generally, the as hot, noisy vibrating or leaking bearings.
smaller the bearing and faster the speed,
the less frequent the interval for relubrication Adding grease between flushing intervals:
with grease. Larger, slower speed bearings Many rolling element bearings require
require more frequent relubrication. Major relubrication of small quantities of grease
considerations are: between grease flushing intervals. This is best
done with a low-pressure grease gun. If seals
Different types of bearings require are in good condition, the quantity of grease
different relubrication frequencies: needed may be small and infrequent.
• Radial ball = base interval 1. Check the amount of grease in the bearing —
• Cylindrical roller = 5 times as frequent remove fitting or grease plug to see if excess
• Thrust-ball and roller = 10 times as frequent grease comes out.
2. Check bearings and seals for excess leakage.
Operating temperature: 3. Apply a few “shots” of grease at a time. DO
• H igher temperatures increase a grease’s NOT OVER-LUBRICATE!!
oxidation rate, doubling it for every 18 degrees
Fahrenheit (10 C) rise above 150 F (65 C). For
example, a bearing operating at 250 F (120 C)
will require greasing 10 times as often as one
operating below 150 F (65 C).
• Grease softens as temperatures increase
and may become fluid enough to leak out of
housings.
• High-temperature operation requires
relubrication more often; high-temperature
greases can help extend that frequency.

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 Overview Advancing Productivity Products
Technical topic
Regreasing rolling bearing elements (cont.)
Grease flushing
The following “pressure-relief” methods are
recommended for grease flushing.
Bearings equipped with fitting and drain:
1. Remove lower drain plug; clean out any
hardened grease.
2. Wipe the grease fitting clean.
3. Pump grease into the fitting until old grease
is purged and new grease appears. If it is safe
and practical, it is preferable to run the
machine while performing this task.
4. While the drain plug is removed, allow the
machine to run at operating temperature. This
allows the grease to expand and forces the
excess out the drain orifice, thus relieving the
internal pressure. The excess grease will cease
draining when normal pressure in the bearing
housing is reached (approximately 10 to 30
minutes).
5.Clean and replace the drain plug.
Bearings equipped with fitting and no
drain:
1. If safe, remove fitting while equipment is
running at operating temperature to allow any
purging of excess grease in the bearing.
2. Clean and replace fitting. Pump a limited
quantity of grease into the bearing to avoid
rupturing the grease seal.
3. Remove the fitting and allow the equipment
to run at its operating temperature for several
minutes to purge excessive grease. If no
grease purges, the bearing was most likely
very dry; this requires repeating steps 2 and 3
until excess grease purges.
4. Replace the grease fitting.
Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance
Bearings equipped with relief-type fitting
and no drain:
1. Clean the fitting and pump grease into the
bearing until grease relieves from the relief
fitting.
2. If, after considerable grease pumping, grease
does not come out of the relief fitting, the
relief slot may be plugged. Remove the relief
fitting and clean the relief slot or replace with
a new fitting. Repeat step 1 after the fitting
has been cleaned or replaced.
3. Run the equipment at operating
temperature and check for excess grease
at the relief fitting.
Precautions:
• B e sure to clean up all excess grease and dirt
from the bearing and surrounding area.
Excess grease and dirt on external
surfaces acts as an insulator and prevents
heat dissipation. Additionally, excess grease
on the external surfaces and floors can
introduce a safety hazard to personnel.
• These procedures should be followed closely,
especially where electric motor bearings are
concerned. For more information regarding
electric motors, please refer to ExxonMobil
Technical Information sheet titled “Electric
motors — care & maintenance.”
• In instances where there are hard soap
deposits, flush the bearing housing with hot
oil in the grease gun. Be sure to purge all the
oil out of the bearing with new grease prior
to operating.
• It may be impractical to flush grease out of
very large bearings, such as paper machines.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to
determine the amount of grease to add to a
bearing.
• Watch for danger signs of improper bearing
operation such as excessive noise,
vibration and temperatures. Assuring proper
vigilance for these signs will go a long way in
maintaining your operations. Condition
monitoring instrumentation is available to
help you spot bearings in poor operating
condition.
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 Overview Advancing Productivity Products Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance

Technical topic

Grease — Its components and characteristics

Depending on the application, grease can
present several benefits over fluid lubrication.
Greases provide a physical seal preventing
contamination ingress, resist the washing action
of water, and can stay in place in an application
even in vertically mounted positions. Greases
are uniquely suited for use in applications where
relubrication is infrequent or economically
unjustifiable, due to the physical configuration of
the mechanism, type of motion, type of sealing
or the need for the lubricant to perform all or
part of any sealing function in the prevention of
lubricant loss or ingress of contaminants.
Due to their semisolid nature, greases do not
provide application cooling and cleaning
functions associated with the use of a fluid
lubricant. With these exceptions, greases
perform all other functions of a fluid lubricant.
While fluid lubricants are typically preferred
by design, the aforementioned mechanical
circumstances will always exist and thus the
need for grease remains. As a result, greases
are used in approximately 80 percent of rolling
element bearings.
put, a grease thickener in combination with the
base oil acts much the same way as a sponge
holding water. Principal thickeners used in
greases include lithium, aluminum, calcium
soaps, clay and polyurea, either alone or in
combination. Lithium soap is the most common
thickener in use today.
Additives: As in lubricating oil additives,
grease additives and modifiers impart special
properties or modify existing ones. Additives
and modifiers commonly used in lubricating
greases are oxidation or rust inhibitors,
polymers, extreme pressure (EP) additives,
antiwear agents, lubricity or friction-reducing
agents (soluble or finely dispersed particles
such as molybdenum disulfide and graphite),
and dyes or pigments. Dyes or pigments impart
color ONLY, having no effect on grease’s
lubricating capability.

Grease components
Greases are manufactured by combining three
essential components: base oils, thickeners and
additives.

Base oils: Base oil comprises the largest

Picture 1: ASTM D217 grease worker
component of a grease, representing 80-97
percent by weight. The choice of base fluid
may be mineral oil, synthetic oil or any fluid that
provides lubricating properties. It must be noted
that the base oil portion of a grease performs
the actual lubrication, except in very slow or
oscillating applications. The same rules applied
to determine proper viscosity grade in a fluid
Picture 2: Penetrometer cone released in grease
lubricant apply to the selection of the base oil
portion of lubricating grease.

Thickeners: The thickener may be any material Grease consistency

that, in combination with the base oil, will Consistency is defined as the degree to which
produce the solid to semifluid structure. Simply a plastic material resists deformation under the

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 Overview Advancing Productivity
Technical topic
Grease — Its components and characteristics (cont.)
application of force. In the case of lubricating
greases, this is a measure of the relative
hardness or softness and has some relation to
flowand dispensing properties. Consistency is
measured by ASTM D217, Cone Penetration
of Lubricating Grease, and is often reported in
terms of NLGI grade.
Cone penetration: Grease consistency is
measured at 25 degrees Celsius (77 F) after the
sample has been subjected to 60 double strokes
in the ASTM grease worker. After the sample has
been prepared, a penetrometer cone is released
and allowed to sink into the grease under its
own weight for five seconds. The depth the
cone has penetrated is then read, in tenths of a
millimeter. The further the cone penetrates the
grease, the higher the penetration result and the
softer the grease.
NLGI Grade: The NLGI (National Lubricating
Grease Institute) has standardized a numerical
scale for grease consistency based upon ASTM
D217 worked penetration ranging from 000 for
semifluid to 6 for block greases. The most
common grease grade is NLGI 2, representing
a smooth, buttery consistency. It must be
noted that grease consistency is related to
thickener content and has no relationship to
base oil viscosity.
NLGI Penetration Description
Consistency Range
Grade (1/10mm)
000 445 - 475 Fluid
00 400 - 430 Semifluid
0 355 - 385 Very fluid
1 310 - 340 Soft
2 265 - 295 Medium
3 220 - 250 Medium-hard
4 175 - 205 Hard
5 130 - 160 Very hard
6 85 - 115 Block
Table 1: Definition of NLGI grades
Products Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance
Grease structural stability
Mechanical stability: This is an essential
performance characteristic of lubricating
grease, as it is a measure of how the grease
consistency will change in service when it is
subjected to mechanical stress (shear) resulting
from the churning action caused by moving
elements or vibrations generated by, or external
to, the application. Grease softening in a
bearing may eventually cause grease to leak
from the housing, requiring more maintenance
and frequent grease replenishment to avoid
premature failure resulting from lack of
lubricant on the rolling elements.
To have good mechanical stability, greases are
developed through careful selection of the
thickener composition and optimization of
the manufacturing process. Mechanical
stability is often measured using the ASTM
D217 prolonged worker test (e.g., 100,000
double strokes), or the ASTM D1831 roll
stability test. ASTM D1831 subjects the grease
to shearing by rotating a cylinder containing
a 5kg roller at 165 rpm for two hours. The
change in penetration at the end of the tests is
a measure of the mechanical stability.
Picture 3: Grease at end of ASTM D1831 roller test
Picture 3 illustrates extreme mechanical
softening of one grease on the left compared
to little softening of another grease on the
right. This test produces low shearing forces
approximately equal to those found in the
grease worker used for ASTM D217.
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Technical topic

Grease — Its components and characteristics (cont.)

In application and use, ingress of environmental

contaminants is unfortunately a common reality
that often adversely affects the mechanical
stability of the grease. It is important that
greases not only be developed to provide
excellentstructural stability in a pristine state,
but also in the presence of environmental
contaminants such as water, process fluids or
other contaminants. This can be assessed by
means of laboratory bench tests operating in a
variety of conditions with presence of water.

Dropping point: The dropping point of grease is

the temperature at which the thickener loses
its ability to maintain the base oil within the
thickener matrix. This may be due to the
thickener melting or the oil becoming so thin
Picture 4: Dropping point determination — thermometer
that the surface tension and capillary action positioned in cup for determining the temperature at which
become insufficient to hold the oil within the the first drop of oil is released
thickener matrix. ASTM D2265 (preferred over
the older and less precise ASTM D566) is the
standard method used to determine the upper operating temperature, is an indicator
dropping point of grease. of the maximum peak temperature that the
grease may be subjected to for a short
A small grease sample is placed in a cup and duration while not releasing oil excessively,
heated in a controlled manner in an oven-like and therefore drastically reducing the life of
device. When the first drop of oil falls from the the grease and potentially damaging the
lower opening of the cup, the temperature application in the long run.
is recorded to determine the dropping point.
Dropping point is a function of the thickener
type. High drop points, typically above 240
degrees Celsius (465 F), are commonly observed
for lithium complex, calcium complex, aluminum
complex, polyurea and clay greases, while
much lower dropping points are typical of
conventional lithium (180 C/355 F), calcium
(180 C/355 F) and sodium (120 C/250 F) soaps.

The dropping point is one of the determinations

that characterize the grease’s thermal stability.
However, it is NOT an accurate prediction of
the grease’s upper operating temperature limit,
which is a function of many variables, such as
base oil oxidation stability, additive degradation,
thickener shearing, oil separation and so forth.
A high dropping point, while not a predictor of

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 Overview Advancing Productivity Products
Technical topic
Grease compatibility
What’s the issue?
Mixing different greases, even those with
similar thickener types, can sometimes lead to
ineffective lubrication, resulting in damage of
the lubricated components. If not spotted soon
enough, this may lead to equipment failure.
These situations occur due to chemical or
structural interaction between the thickener or
additive systems of different greases that would
be classified as incompatible.
Symptoms of incompatibility come in various
forms. Most frequently, grease mixtures will
exhibit a change in consistency relative to that of
the individual pure greases. This tendency
will be more pronounced as the operating
temperature or the rate of shearing of the
grease mixture increases. Incompatible
greases may also exhibit abnormal oil
separation or bleeding at higher temperatures.
If incompatible greases are mixed in application,
it could lead to grease or oil leakage, premature
aging or insufficient oil bleed in the contacting
zones. Although less probable but not unknown,
the greases’ performance additives may act
antagonistically, adversely affecting the
lubrication performance, such as protection
against friction, wear, rust or corrosion.
Lab investigations
Industry Standard ASTM D6185 defines a
protocol to evaluate the compatibility of binary
mixtures of lubricating greases by comparing
their properties or performance relative to those
of the neat greases comprising the mixture.
Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance
The principle of the test is to blend and shear
the two greases under controlled and identical
conditions at various ratios, determining after
a short period of rest at room temperature any
change in structural stability compared to the
fresh greases’ stability. Three properties are
evaluated in a primary testing protocol using
standard test methods: (1) dropping point; (2)
shear stability by 100,000-stroke worked
penetration; and (3) storage stability at
elevated temperature via change in 60-stroke
penetration after storage.
The overall assessment of the test results
determines if greases are compatible (all
changes within the repeatability of the least
performing grease), borderline compatible
(change beyond the repeatability but still within
the test reproducibility of the least performing
grease) or incompatible (change beyond the
reproducibility of the least performing grease).
For compatible mixtures (those passing all
primary testing), a secondary testing scheme
is suggested when circumstances indicate
the need to qualify the performance level
of the grease mixtures for the considered
applications.
Many labs will perform a simplified version of
ASTM D6185 without the secondary phase,
or in some cases an internally established
grease compatibility test matrix. Whichever the
test performed, beware! The test carried out
presents several limitations. For instance, these
physical tests do not determine if the mixture
will effectively protect seals, prevent against
rust and yellow metal corrosion, or reduce wear
under high loads. Neither do they predict
long-term effects potentially resulting from
chemical interactions between additives
from the different greases. These could
potentially result in synergies in some ideal
cases, or more likely antagonisms impacting
the grease mixture’s ability to perform in
application as desired.
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Technical topic

Grease compatibility (cont.)

What does the compatibility test tell me of the application. Therefore, when changing
for converting grease on my equipment? from one type of grease to another, it is always
The generic chart in Table 1 is common within best to clean and fully regrease the bearings or
industry and reflects the compatibility result thoroughly purge the old grease with the new
trends related solely to structural stability of grease. If this can not be carried out, mitigating
the grease mixture. It should be used with actions should focus on minimizing the amount
due diligence considering its limitations: true of the grease being displaced remaining in the
compatibility of greases is also affected application, such as by increasing relubrication
by the field operating conditions, such as frequency to facilitate a purge of old grease in a
temperature, shear rates, the state of the used timely manner.
grease replaced and the ratio of the greases in
the mixture. Two greases rated as compatible in To avoid over-greasing (most frequent cause
this grid implies there is a low risk these greases of bearing failure) when forcing grease out
will present structural instability within a short of bearings, always have relief plugs removed
timeframe during which both are present in during the first hour of operation to allow
the same application, particularly if operating excess grease to freely flow out of the bearing
conditions are mild. housing. Regular monitoring of temperature,
vibration and visual checks for leaks will prompt
Conversely, if greases are incompatible, the for corrective actions if the mixture presents
likelihood is high that significant hardening an incompatibility in application. Obviously,
or softening of the grease mixture or oil application of these best practices is even
separation would result after a short time in the more strongly recommended if the greases are
application. This grid is merely a guide to aid in deemed not to be compatible.
the risk management of commingling greases
in application against the severity and criticality

Grease compatibility chart

Aluminum Calcium Calcium Lithium Lithium

Polyurea Clay
Complex Complex Sulfonate 12-Hydroxy Complex
Aluminum Complex C I M I I M I
Calcium Complex I C M I M C I
Calcium Sulfonate M M C M C I I
Lithium 12-Hydroxy I I M C C M I
Lithium Complex I M C C C M I
Polyurea (shear stable) M C I M M C M
Clay I I I I I M C

Compatible
Moderately compatible
Incompatible

NOTE: This matrix is based on information commonly used in industry. It provides a general assessment of grease compatibility based upon the structural stability
of mixtures of different grease thickeners. It does not address potential additive related incompatibilities or other performance features. Classification may differ for
specific greases depending on composition and manufacturing process. It is always recommended to thoroughly remove and clean out any old grease remaining in
application prior to converting to a different grease.

Information in this table does not engage the responsibility of ExxonMobil or its affiliated companies.

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 Overview Advancing Productivity Products Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance

Technical topic

Grease-lubricated plain bearings and grease

application system

Fluid film-lubricated plain bearings (Figure does not completely drain or squeeze out.
1) are designed for generous lubricant feeds. • Some grease remains on the bearing surfaces
During running, the bearings operate on so that a fluid film can be established almost
lubricant films thick enough to completely immediately upon startup. As a result, torque
separate the load-carrying surfaces. Friction and wear during the starting phase may be
during normal operation, due only to the greatly reduced.
shearing of the lubricant films, is at a practical • During shutdown periods, retained grease
minimum, and wear does not occur since there also acts as a seal to prevent the entry of
is essentially no surface-to-surface contact. dirt, dust, water, water vapor and other
environmental contaminants, thus protecting
In some applications, the bearings may be the bearing surfaces against rust and
lubricated in such a manner that they require corrosion.
no additional service throughout the life of the
equipment. However, in the majority of cases,
correct lubrication is the most important factor
in obtaining good performance from plain
bearings, if they are properly designed and
installed. Plain bearings lubricated with grease
have some advantages compared with those
lubricated with oil.
• As a result of the lower end leakage, the
amount of lubricant required to the bearing is
lower.
• When a grease-lubricated bearing is stopped
for any period of time with the flow of
lubricant shut off, the high apparent
viscosity of the static grease reduces end Figure 1: Plain bearing. Groove helps distribute
leakage sufficiently so that the grease usually grease in the bearing.

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Technical topic
Grease-lubricated plain bearings and grease
application system (cont.)
A disadvantage of grease-lubricated fluid film
bearings is that the lower flow of lubricant will
not provide as effective cooling, so that higher
operating temperatures may occur. In general,
therefore, a shift to oil for lubrication is made
whenever high speeds or high loads impose
a need for external cooling. However, where
temperature rise poses no limitation, grease
finds increasing use for the lubrication of plain
bearing surfaces in such applications as
small blowers, conveyors and slow-speed
components of construction machinery.
Grease application systems
The systems used to supply grease-
lubricated fluid film bearings are essentially
all-loss systems. The grease in a bearing is
displaced as new grease is added, with the
excess being forced out of the ends of the
bearings. Thus, the grease is not subjected
to long-term service that might result in
breakdown due to oxidation. On the other
hand, the grease may be subjected to high
operating temperatures while it is in the
bearing, since grease-lubricated bearings tend
to run at higher temperatures than equivalent
oil-lubricated bearings. Moreover, severe
mechanical shearing of the grease occurs,
particularly as it passes through the clearance
at the point of minimum film thickness.
However, if the base fluid viscosity is adequate
to support the load under the speeds and
pressures prevailing, the major effect of any
permanent softening that might occur as a
result of high shear will be increased end
leakage.
The amount of lubricant fed to each bearing
is a function of several factors, including the
clearance in the bearing, type of loading, flow
characteristics of the grease and environmental
conditions that may necessitate greater rates of
grease flow.
The grease must be replenished at the correct
frequency and in the proper amount so that
Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance
there is always a sufficient amount of grease
to maintain fluid films. Grease may be applied
by hand-operated grease guns, screw-down
or spring-loaded grease cups, or centralized
grease systems.
Grease guns — Grease guns may be a
hand-operated lever or push type, or where
larger quantities of grease are needed, air- or
electric-power guns may be used.
Plain bearings usually require regreasing at
least once each shift — particularly on mobile
equipment chassis and pivot points. Apply
grease as follows:
1. Wipe grease fitting clean before applying
grease.
2. Apply the recommended grease until new
grease appears at each end of the bearing.
Under dirty and wet conditions, flush the
bearing thoroughly.
3. Leave a collar of grease at each end of the
bearing to seal out contaminants.
4. Where two or more types of greases are
needed, the use of different types of grease
fittings and separate grease guns for each
grease will reduce the risk of misapplication.
5. Where two or more types of greases are
needed, use greases that are compatible (if
possible) in the event they are mistakenly
inserted in the wrong grease gun or application.
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 Overview Advancing Productivity Products Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance

Technical topic

Grease-lubricated plain bearings and grease

application system (cont.)

Grease cups — Screw-down or spring-loaded

cups are used on many slow-speed plain
bearings. Grease cups hold a small supply of
grease to resupply bearings over a period of
time. Screw-down grease cups require hand
turning of the screw cap to force grease into
the bearing. To refill the cup, unscrew the cap
and refill by hand. Spring-loaded grease cups
force the grease into the bearing as needed by
spring pressure. Some spring cups have a clear
plastic dome to reveal the quantity of grease
while others may have a visible pin indicator
for the lubricant level. Most spring-loaded Figure 2: Centralized grease system
grease cups have a grease fitting on the side
for refilling the cup; otherwise, the cup must
be removed and refilled by hand. Springs for Centralized grease systems — Where a piece
the grease cups are available in light, medium of equipment has many bearings requiring
or heavy tension to regulate the rate of flow frequent application of grease, a centralized
for different operating conditions or different grease system is usually installed (Figure 2).
grease consistencies. Grease is supplied from a reservoir to the
bearings via a pump, pipes or tubing, and
Service spring-loaded grease cups as follows: metering valves.
1. Check the supply of grease in the cups at
Please refer to our Technical Information Sheet titled “Centralized
least once per week and refill as needed. Oil or Grease Lubrication Systems” for more information on this
Wipe grease fitting clean before filling the topic. If you’re in doubt or want to know more about ExxonMobil
greases, contact your ExxonMobil Technical Help Desk or Field
cup. Make sure only the recommended Engineer for assistance.
grease is used.
2. Inspect bearings for proper supply of grease.
Adjust feed rates as necessary.
3. Replace damaged cups and fittings.

Caution! Grease guns, cups and some

grease-filling equipment have spring-loaded
plungers that apply grease continuously. This
may cause oil to bleed from the grease and,
if grease is allowed to remain under these
conditions for an extended period of time,
enough oil may bleed out to leave the grease
too hard for dispensing or use. Remove grease
cups and clean out any hard deposits annually.

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 Overview Advancing Productivity Products
Technical topic
Grease conversion guidelines
General grease conversion
recommendations
Prior to introduction of replacement grease
product(s), confirm compatibility of Mobil™
grease product with customer’s current grease.
In general “like” thickener types will be
compatible, but “unlike” thickener types might
not be compatible. Contact the Technical
Support Center (TSC) with initial grease
compatibility questions and guidance, or if
the ExxonMobil Technical Service lab testing
is required.
Provide grease product data sheets and MSDSs
to customer.
Suggested shop procedures
Inspect all grease dispensing equipment, e.g.,
pumps, pressure regulators, overhead grease
lines, grease reels, grease dispensing guns
• Optimum air pressure at grease pump is 125
- 150 psi
• Check for grease leaks and recommend repairs
as necessary
• Check for cracks or ruptures in flexible hoses
and recommend replacement as necessary
• Inspect pump air pressure regulator to ensure
that:
–– Regulator and gauge are in good working
order, otherwise recommend replacement
Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance
–– Regulator and gauge are rated for 160 psi
working pressure, minimum
–– Gauge is sensing air pressure correctly by
comparing it to air compressor pressure
regulator (output pressure)
If converting to an extended service grease
product, you MUST verify the grease pumping
equipment capacity for flow rate and supply
pressure
• Perform checks with Mobil Grease Flow Test
Kit per kit instructions
–– Static pressure — 4,500 psi minimum
–– Grease flow — 7 ounces minimum (30
seconds through 1/16 orifice)
–– Strongly recommend the use of a 75:1 or
80:1 ratio pneumatic grease pump
–– Strongly recommend the use of a portable
drum or keg pump with 15 to 20 feet, max,
of 3/8-inch diameter hose
Current grease — Draw down grease level in
drum, keg or pail until empty
• Remove pump and dip leg assembly
• Remove previous grease as much as possible
from dip leg by wiping with clean shop rags
or toweling (use care not to introduce
external dirt or other contamination)
• Install cleaned dip leg and pump assembly
into new Mobil grease drum or keg
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 Overview Advancing Productivity Products
Technical topic
Grease conversion guidelines (cont.)
New Grease — Purge* new grease through all
grease dispensing equipment, e.g., pumps,
supply lines to dispensing equipment ends
Note color change from previous grease to new
grease
* Purging is required when converting to extended-service grease or
if grease products have been determined to not be compatible.
When multiple grease products are in use,
identification labeling at grease pump and
dispensing equipment is recommended to
ensure against misapplication to equipment
Suggested equipment grease conversion
procedures
Purging is required when converting to an
extended-service grease or if grease products
have been determined to not be compatible
Apply new grease to all grease points providing
adequate purge of existing grease and
inspection to verify components are in
satisfactory condition
• Wipe grease fitting and relief plug clean of
external grease and contaminants
• Bearing housing should have a relief that
allows excess grease to escape, otherwise
over-greasing may damage seals
• Remove relief plug and free hole of any
hardened grease
• In the case of a relief rod, remove rod and
purge hardened grease from rod; replace rod
before adding grease
• Add grease until fresh grease appears at relief
hole
• In the case of a relief rod, periodically remove
rod during grease addition to see fresh grease
• Rotate bearing for 10 minutes with relief plug
out to expel excess grease
• Replace clean relief plug
• Use shop rags or appropriate containment to
wipe/collect purged grease to minimize mess
Selling tips Proven performance Industry applications Technical guidance
• W
 hen converting to extended service grease
products, it is important to ensure that
the new grease has been introduced to all
intended grease points thoroughly. After
the initial regrease and purge, maintain the
current grease interval for the next regreasing
and then extend the grease maintenance
period to the new extended recommended
interval:
–– First regreasing interval: service at normal
regreasing interval prior to installation of
extended-service grease
–– Second regreasing interval and beyond:
regrease at recommended extended
regreasing interval
If any grease points do not accept grease or are
difficult to apply, perform corrective action as
necessary
• Inspect component to ensure satisfactory
working condition (look for excessively worn
components)
• Manually rotate/move application to free
grease entry passages
• Unload application components to free
grease entry passages
• Remove zirk fitting and clear grease passage
of contaminants
• Ensure that the “jaws” of the grease gun
nozzle end are in proper working order;
otherwise recommend replacement (signs of
worn jaws could include grease leaking out
the grease gun nozzle and around the zirk
fitting and onto the floor, easy removal of the
grease gun from the zirk fitting)
• Note hard-to-grease fittings on maintenance
records and repair as necessary
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