Grease Thickener Temperatures

The grease thickener has a crucial role in deciding the environment in which a grease should be applied. One of the major environmental conditions revolves around the operating temperatures that greases have to endure. If the grease goes past its dropping point then it can turn into a liquid, leak out of its designated area and cause the element to be starved for lubrication. Not to mention the mess on the outside of the component after it has leaked out.

Each thickener has a range of operating temperatures. However, some consideration should be applied when designating areas for the application of the grease. As indicated above, a good rule of thumb is to ensure that the application range of the grease does not exceed the Dropping point – 50C. For example, a good operating range for a simple Lithium grease can be 175-50C = 125C. This still falls within the maximum service temperature for a grease with this thickener.

Pay careful attention to your operating temperatures when selecting your grease!