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Thread: Mixing Up Greases?

  1. 27th April 2012, 03:36 PM #1
    Davo
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    Mixing Up Greases?

    If you read the labels on things like universal joints or similar, you often see dire warnings about how mixing greases could create a reaction and ruin the part and cause the Earth to stop spinning, and so on.

    But how picky do you have to be? Do they mean that you don't mix actual types of grease, whereas Shell Retinax LX2 and BP Energrease LS-EP2, if they're both lithium-based and NLGI-2, should be near enough?
    At any given point in time, somewhere in the world someone is working on a Land-Rover.
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  2. 27th April 2012, 05:08 PM #2
    DeanoH
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    I reckon it's basically bull**** Davo. Sure if you mix silicon grease with molydbium di sulphide with lithium with EP with whatever you'll end up with a mess. But if you keep with the proper specified grease 'type' you'll be OK.
    I tend to use EP grease for everything, means I've only got to carry one type for unis, ball joints, wheel bearings etc. Hasn't been a problem yet and I've been doing it for 40 years.
    Fair bit of cover your arse and trying to scare users into buying from one company these days but basically it's all bull****. Use the proper specified 'type' of grease or a higher spec (like EP) and all is good.

    Deano
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  3. 27th April 2012, 06:06 PM #3
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    robbotd5
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    Mixed grease is better than no grease.
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    Robbo
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  4. 27th April 2012, 06:52 PM #4
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    Judo
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    I'm no scientist, but scientifically there is no reason you can't mix the same type greases. It's the different types that could potentially cause issues. I think it's like comparing pharmaceutical genuine brands and generic brands. They all have the same active ingredients and they do exactly the same thing. Surely grease is the same.





    (Did I just say grease and drugs are comparable? )
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  5. 27th April 2012, 10:05 PM #5
    Davo
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    As I thought, but I tend to check here since you never know what you'll learn! I think this corporate arse-covering really gets out of control these days.
    At any given point in time, somewhere in the world someone is working on a Land-Rover.
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  6. 27th April 2012, 10:17 PM #6
    superquag
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    Quote Originally Posted by Judo View Post
    I'm no scientist, but scientifically there is no reason you can't mix the same type greases. It's the different types that could potentially cause issues. I think it's like comparing pharmaceutical genuine brands and generic brands. They all have the same active ingredients and they do exactly the same thing. Surely grease is the same.





    (Did I just say grease and drugs are comparable? )
    Yes, you did...

    But I buy all my prescription meds from generic manufacturers in... You-Know-Where... obscene savings on some of them !

    Still alive, they seem to be doing their job... identical side-effects as the rip-off locally sourced stuff...

    Been using EP Lithium based grease since last century. - Regardless of 'brand'.
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  7. 28th April 2012, 06:08 AM #7
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    Blknight.aus
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    as long as the bases are the same you'll be right...
    Dave

    "In a Landrover the other vehicle is your crumple zone."

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  8. 28th April 2012, 05:33 PM #8
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    rick130
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    Quote Originally Posted by Blknight.aus View Post
    as long as the bases are the same you'll be right...
    and that's it in a nutshell.

    Just don't mix a lithium complex with a bentonite (clay) or calcium soap, etc.

    There is some cross compatibility, eg Lithium complexes should mix Ok with a calclium sulphonate complex (and I've done that) but you just never know.
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  9. 28th April 2012, 06:17 PM #9
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    that also goes for synth grease and mineral grease....

    so its 2 sided dont mix the bases and once you have the bases sorted dont mix synthetic and mineral...

    IE

    brand Y Clay base synth and brand y clay base mineral.... no.

    brand y Lithum synth and brand y clay synth no.

    brand x lithium mineral and brand z lithium mineral yes..

    given than about 70% of greases are lithium mineral youd just about be right in not being concerned about it...

    There are some others to avoid mixing but your wallet will let you know that these are the wrong ones..

    snow white grease... this is basically vaseline aka petrolium jelly
    rubber grease... this is for o rings and rubber seals
    high moly content.. this is usually an assembly type grease
    Turntable grease... this stuff is thicker than cold tar and is ment to be used on high pressure turntables like the ones on semi trailers and crane turntables (no bugger buys it they just use more normal grease)
    electrical contact grease (the fact that it comes in about a 10g tube and wont fit your grease gun should also stop you from mixing this one)
    Dave

    "In a Landrover the other vehicle is your crumple zone."

    For spelling call Rogets, for mechanicing call me.

    Fozzy, 2.25D SIII Ex DCA Ute
    Tdi autoManual d1 (gave it to the Mupion)
    Archaeoptersix 1990 6x6 dual cab(This things staying)


    If you've benefited from one or more of my posts please remember, your taxes paid for my skill sets, I'm just trying to make sure you get your monies worth.
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  10. 28th April 2012, 06:27 PM #10
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    rick130
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    Naa, I disagree, synth or mineral base doesn't matter a jot IMO, it's the soap/thickener that's the concern and if you purge the old stuff pretty well you fix any potential problem before its started.

    Regular synthetic mixing with mineral base oils in grease are the same as mixing engine/diff oils, unless you have something really odd like a PAG or silicon base.

    I've swapped over all my chassis lube to CAT Desert Gold (synthetic base oils, calcium sulphonate complex, 5% MoS2) grease after using Castrol LMM (mineral oil/lithium complex, 3% MoS2) for the past 25 years and haven't seen anything odd in the last six months.
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