before I go out and buy another tube a silly-priced, teflon-fortified bike super grease I'm curious if plain old lithium grease (Castrol and the like) will do the job just as well. That's the stuff we all used to use on bikes in my childhood before the fancy stuff was invented and I have about a gallon of it in the garage.
is all grease created equal?
- Thread starter wordfool
- Start date
I don't think it lasts long in bearings or headsets and the like, bit thin. I'm not sure its waterproof either? It is deffo not safe for some rubber types, it causes rot.
I've had a tube of the TF? Teflon red stuff for ages and its really good, safe n seems to last!
I've had a tube of the TF? Teflon red stuff for ages and its really good, safe n seems to last!
I did a bit of research and it seems grease is grease is grease, more or less. The only real difference AFAIK between normal lithium-based car grease and the bike stuff is that the bike stuff is a little more water resistant, and the car stuff is more heat resistant. In other words, one is formulated for cooler conditions and one for hotter conditions. Automotive grease like bike grease is perfectly safe on rubber AFAIK since cars contain plenty of rubber seals as well
Apparently, however, some bike mechs use plain old lithium marine grease, which is just as water resistant as the bike stuff and a lot less money. In fact I've read a couple of comments elsewhere that imply the the fancy Phil Wood bike grease actually is just the same as plain old marine grease!
So for now I'm gonna use my dad's castrol since I cannot bear to fork out for more pricey bike grease when I have so much at home in the US.
Apparently, however, some bike mechs use plain old lithium marine grease, which is just as water resistant as the bike stuff and a lot less money. In fact I've read a couple of comments elsewhere that imply the the fancy Phil Wood bike grease actually is just the same as plain old marine grease!
So for now I'm gonna use my dad's castrol since I cannot bear to fork out for more pricey bike grease when I have so much at home in the US.
Pogo
Retrobike Rider
wordfool":3nj8prbh said:
A quick look on Wikepedia and here's a quick summary of why you're a bit off the mark-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NLGI_Grade
Add into the equation additives applied to different grades of grease, with differing properties and specialised applications in mind. I'd stay well clear of your 'castrol grease' on any bearing, pivot or load bearing surface- suppose it could be warmed up and applied to a rag and then dragged through your frame tubes as a cheap way of protecting them against rust (only worth it on a steel bike mind!)...
any grease is better than no grease
castrol LM is still one of the best greases you can get imo
its not as water resistant as some of the more specialist stuff but for wheel bearings headsets and old b/b's its fine , the only down side is
i gets displaced over a period of time ,probably more by pressure
washing than anything else ,but you shouldn't pressure wash bicycles anyway
like most things a wee inspection of the greased parts periodicaly wont go amiss
castrol LM is still one of the best greases you can get imo
its not as water resistant as some of the more specialist stuff but for wheel bearings headsets and old b/b's its fine , the only down side is
i gets displaced over a period of time ,probably more by pressure
washing than anything else ,but you shouldn't pressure wash bicycles anyway
like most things a wee inspection of the greased parts periodicaly wont go amiss
Pogo... I guess my statement was a bit broad, but from what I've read the basic automotive bearing grease sold at the likes of Halfords is pretty much the same as bike grease.
I know there are literally hundreds of types of grease, many with very specific properties for specific tasks (including the super-thick industrial stuff), but your basic run of the mill general car grease and general marine grease is apparently gonna do just as good a job as pricier bike grease. Moreover, bike grease AFAIK never comes with any sort of official rating like automotive and industrial greases, so who's to know what we're buying and what its properties actually are? But there is plenty of talk out there that some bike greases are basically re-packaged car or 'green' marine grease.
The Castrol lithium-based stuff I decided to use has exactly the same consistency as bike grease and is rated for car bearings so I have no worries that it'll be fine on bike bearings. Might not be quite as water resistant in the long term, but I rarely cycle in the rain and do not pressure wash my bike!
I know there are literally hundreds of types of grease, many with very specific properties for specific tasks (including the super-thick industrial stuff), but your basic run of the mill general car grease and general marine grease is apparently gonna do just as good a job as pricier bike grease. Moreover, bike grease AFAIK never comes with any sort of official rating like automotive and industrial greases, so who's to know what we're buying and what its properties actually are? But there is plenty of talk out there that some bike greases are basically re-packaged car or 'green' marine grease.
The Castrol lithium-based stuff I decided to use has exactly the same consistency as bike grease and is rated for car bearings so I have no worries that it'll be fine on bike bearings. Might not be quite as water resistant in the long term, but I rarely cycle in the rain and do not pressure wash my bike!
