grease separating

showcrop · Feb 12, 2023

Recently I noticed oil running out the back of a grease gun. I hadn't used it in a while. It didn't want to pump very well so I put a new tube in. When I opened the new tube it had separated some too. Today I opened up a plastic container of grease, that you get for packing a bearing. It was about 2/3 full and there was a hole to the bottom of the container with oil in the bottom. I don't go through grease like I used to. Is it just because it has been sitting or is grease not like it used to be?

john in la · Feb 12, 2023

Todays grease is nothing more than oil with a thickening agent.
It is natural for gravity to pull the oil out the thickening agent.
As the oil is pulled out the thickening agent becomes hard with cracks.
Heat speeds up the process.
Im sure you have seen old hard dry grease with cracks in it.
IE all the oil has been pulled out.

NDIHC · Feb 12, 2023

I think grease is probably better today
than it ever has been. Shelf life of
grease in it's original sealed container
is 5 years according to the Mobil website.
It also says that oil separation is normal
and required. It goes on to say see grease
oil release characteristics, which I didnt
delve into. That being said, I have 30
year old grease that seems just fine and
have also experienced the separation in
both old and new grease. Seems worse in
warmer weather.

caterpillar guy · Feb 13, 2023

You could just push it all out into a bowl/pan mix back up and refill the tubes if you want to salvage it. It will mix back up with some stirring. I suppose you couls also with a cap over the leaking end stirr from the opposite and put tube back in gun to use up.

MarkB_MI · Feb 13, 2023

I've noticed this with plain old lithium grease, not so much with moly.

BarnyardEngineering · Feb 13, 2023

That's what grease does. Cheaper grease separates quicker and easier than higher quality grease.

It's why you find "dried out" grease on machines.

You have probably been paying $2 a tube for grease since the 1970's, so over the years you've gone from top end grease to the cheap stuff without even realizing it.

grandpa love will appreciate this, as he needs the cheap stuff to lubricate the throwout bearings on his Cubs. They depend on the oil separating out of the grease and wicking into the graphite to keep the bearing lubricated.

Hobo,NC · Feb 13, 2023

Clean the guns up and Switch to Lucas Red and tacky. No more dripping oil : )

matthies · Feb 13, 2023

Instead you have grease strings all over the place and your clothing.

Billyalexander · Feb 13, 2023

John in LA,

I apologize in advance for this post but couldnt see how to contact you on the forum. I live in North Louisiana and have what i hope is a timing issue with a ford 4000 4 cylinder as detailed here.

https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=1311652&highlight=

i was hoping i could talk to you about how to resolve a 180 dergee out of time issue. my ph is threeone 8 three eight1 five one 8 two

Billy

showcrop · Feb 13, 2023

(quoted from post at 05:18:11 02/13/23) That's what grease does. Cheaper grease separates quicker and easier than higher quality grease.

It's why you find "dried out" grease on machines.

You have probably been paying $2 a tube for grease since the 1970's, so over the years you've gone from top end grease to the cheap stuff without even realizing it.

grandpa love will appreciate this, as he needs the cheap stuff to lubricate the throwout bearings on his Cubs. They depend on the oil separating out of the grease and wicking into the graphite to keep the bearing lubricated.

What you mean prices don't say the same forever?

dhermesc · Feb 13, 2023

All you ever wanted to know about grease.

https://gmb.net/blog/a-guide-to-wheel-bearing-grease/#:~:text=It%E2%80%99s%20a%20combination%20of%20different%20ingredients%3A%201%20Oil,such%20as%3A%20Anti-corrosion%20additives%20Water-
resistant%20additives%20Anti-wear%20additives

Hobo,NC · Feb 13, 2023

(quoted from post at 19:14:20 02/13/23) Instead you have grease strings all over the place and your clothing.

Some of us work clean : ) and don't make a mess.

hd6gtom · Feb 13, 2023

I have some from F/S coop that is over 10 years old. No separation in it. Premium grease is higher than the cheap stuff but it is a very good buy.

Hobo,NC · Mar 11, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmSQSjraSE

grease separating

showcrop

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john in la

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NDIHC

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caterpillar guy

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MarkB_MI

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BarnyardEngineering

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Hobo,NC

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matthies

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Billyalexander

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showcrop

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dhermesc

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Hobo,NC

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hd6gtom

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Hobo,NC

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