Grease. Which one for which job?

[cardiffrob]

I was having a good look through the 30+ tins of grease left in the garage by the previous owner and it got me thinking. I don't really know which grease goes with which job.

I used copper grease on sparkplugs until being told only to use graphite grease on aircraft plugs because the manufacturer specified it. This is just one example.

Does anyone know of a good site to explain the differences and thus purpose of the various generic grease types?

Copper, graphite, LM, red rubber, etc etc.

 

[MattF]

The manufacturers sites are usually the best place to look, some being more useful than others with their descriptions. If I recall correctly, I think that Rocol's site tends to be about the best for getting the general gist of greasing applicability from.

I'll probably get beaten down for saying this, but for general use, you're unlikely to find much difference between most greases. LM will tend to cover most applications seen in normal use. Coppaslip and it's clones aren't a grease, btw. They're merely an anti-seize compound intended primarily for aiding assembly and disassembly and to prevent parts seizing in place in use.

 

[gordon stephenson]

One of the best tips regarding tins/tubs of grease,keep the lid on at all times when not in use, otherwise they get contaminated with dust/dirt/ air borne grindings etc, and what you then have is a tin/tub of grinding paste!!

 

[MattF]

Very sound advice. Also the reason I'm leaning more towards using constant full loss oil lubrication rather than grease on exposed parts with the old machines. It might be messy and require more upkeep to keep the oilers fed, but at least they aren't going to turn into self acting grinders.

 

[wristpin]

The manufacturers sites are usually the best place to look, some being more useful than others with their descriptions. If I recall correctly, I think that Rocol's site tends to be about the best for getting the general gist of greasing applicability from.

I'll probably get beaten down for saying this, but for general use, you're unlikely to find much difference between most greases. LM will tend to cover most applications seen in normal use. Coppaslip and it's clones aren't a grease, btw. They're merely an anti-seize compound intended primarily for aiding assembly and disassembly and to prevent parts seizing in place in use.

Another thing to bear in mind about copper based anti-seize compounds don't use them on steel screws/bolts going into aluminium/alloy castings as there can be an electrolytic reaction between the copper and the ally. A dab of EP gear oil is a suitable substitute or one of the "silver" based anti seize compounds.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Years ago we were banned from using copperslip on the refineries, Had to use the nickel based ones instead,(Nickeleze)

 

[naughtyboy]

we only use two types at work ones red and ones white.
behind each nipple is coloured disc to supposedly make it idiot proof and still there isnt a week goes by we dont have to purge pipes and refill with correct stuff on one of the machines.
all cos machine techs think grease is all same.

 

[adamsmitqc]

We were banned from using copper slip, apparantly due to COSHH reasons and we now use Molykote 1000, like mentioned before, as an anti sieze on bolt threads but also as a lubricant on the spot faces of nuts!

Apolagies, not sure how relevant this is to original post!

 

[madkayaker]

At work we have lots of different greases for special applications and lm for everything else. We have tins of super molack (something like that) anti seize spray horribly stuff to get off polo shirt but stick like poop to blanket and does not seize! (Even on landrover series starter mechanism)

 

[adamsmitqc]

Black / Gray lithium based grease is found in the likes of CV joints! Have also seen a very similar if not the same type if grease used in hydraulic tooling around cams and pistons

 

[MattF]

Black / Gray lithium based grease is found in the likes of CV joints! Have also seen a very similar if not the same type if grease used in hydraulic tooling around cams and pistons

I always thought that was the molybdenum disulphide, (my spelling could be way off). stuff?

 

[adamsmitqc]

CV Joint Grease K48 grease is manufactured from a Lithium soap base and highly refined mineral oil, with added Molybdenum Disulphide to provide protection against seizure in conditions when ordinary greases would fail.

Just stole this off a website, answers the point above!!!

 

[cardiffrob]

Further trawling seems to suggest that Coppaslip is cr4p on sparkplugs because it is a heat INSULATOR(!!!) and is only there to help disassembly whereas Graphite grease (also maybe not an actual grease?) does the same job yet doesn't create corrosion problems with aluminium heads.
Copper for steel heads and graphite for ali heads or steel heads on engines running high CHT or poor cooling?

 

[hotrodder]

I'm pretty sure coppaslip & graphited grease still fall under the definition of grease... oil + a thickener (usually a metal soap) often + other stuff. The flavour of soap effects things like temperature rating (dropping point) so a calcium grease isn't much cop for high temps/speeds but is very waterproof. The 'other stuff' modifies properties so (as mentioned) adding moly disulphide to a lithium based grease improves it's high pressure properties

Can't remember how or when i heard it but i switched to a smear of graphited on plugs too. Dunno about corrosion but, especially on air cooled engines, coppaslip seems to end up as a dried out mess that hinders rathers than help- maybe it's the coppaslip, or the oil in it, that's oxidised from the high temps?

 

[MattF]

...yet doesn't create corrosion problems with aluminium heads.
Copper for steel heads and graphite for ali heads or steel heads on engines running high CHT or poor cooling?

Copper will technically initiate a galvanic reaction when in contact with most metals, including steel, in theory. Graphite is better all round as it's a natural lubricant in dry form, probably won't trigger a reaction and is conductive to boot. As with any form of corrosion though, remove one part of the equation and it's a non point.

 

[MattF]

Dunno about corrosion but, especially on air cooled engines, coppaslip seems to end up as a dried out mess that hinders rathers than help- maybe it's the coppaslip, or the oil in it, that's oxidised from the high temps?

You tend to find that with a few types, over time. The moly stuff can do the same too. That used to be used in VCR mechanisms on all of the direct metal to metal contact moving parts, and that went the same way as the copper based stuff after a while. Just turns into a flaky, dry gunk.

 

[lexi]

But I don't think there is any copper in copper grease?

 

[adamsmitqc]

This photo is from this months practical classic, it's a service guide for a VW type 2 camper!

 

[adamsmitqc]

Apolagies for the picture orientation!

 

[Paul.]

Apologies for the picture orientation!

Sorted,