Grease and oil, competitors or complements?
Chariot owners in ancient Egypt already knew that a greased axle would lead to a smoother ride. Over time the importance of greases did not abate, they just keep on gaining importance!
Grease and oil, competitors or complements?
Greases can be used as lubricant, but not all lubricants are greases! Let’s use the definition of the American Society for Testing and Materials as a handhold:
“A solid to semi-fluid product of a thickening agent in a liquid lubricant; other ingredients imparting special properties may be included.”
A fluid or a solid? Well, following this definition it is a semi-fluid, meaning that grease will change form depending on the conditions. The thickening agent in grease soaks up engine oil like a sponge. Under pressure or at high temperature, the oil will be released from the thickening agent. The point at which oil escapes the sponge and lubricates all the parts is known as the yield point.
Let’s take grease used inside a modern bearing as an example. Once grease gets exposed to pressure, oil will leak out from the matrix structure and provide lubrication. When the pressure alleviates, the matrix will start to soak up the oil back into it. This shapeshifting property gives grease its unique set of properties and applications!
Grease vs Oil
Both oil and grease serve as great lubricants for specific applications. A high-performing team is born when they are used as complements.
| Grease | Oil |
| Once grease is attached to a surface it will stick to it. There is no additional packaging or sump required to avoid spillage. In addition to this, grease has great resistance to dissipation. The combination of these two properties makes grease ideal for long-term lubrication. | Oil tends to dissipate over time. This is why a completely sealed container, a reservoir or a sump is required to secure the supply of engine oil. |
| Grease is a thermal isolator; it won’t disperse the heat from the parts they are lubricating. An engine filled with grease instead of engine oil will build up heat, resulting in severe engine damage. | Oil is a thermal conductor, meaning that it will transfer heat. During engine operation, the engine oil will dissipate the generated heat and provide necessary cooling in hard to reach places. |
| The sponge structure of grease makes it compressible. Grease is not capable of transferring hydraulic power because of this elasticity; rendering it useless as transmission, braking or steering fluid. | Slowing down with a swift push on the pedal can only be achieved with incompressible oil inside the braking system. This property makes that oil based products give reactive and stable performance when used in transmissions, braking systems and steering systems. |
| Grease has great sealant properties. It is capable of keeping water and dirt out of the system by sealing all the gaps and cracks. | Oil can seal off tiny gaps, but it can’t bridge wider gaps. The higher the oil’s viscosity the better its sealing capacity. A great example of this is the engine oil sealing off the gap between the cylinder and the cylinder wall. Modern engines have tighter fitting parts and lower viscosity oils are now capable of preventing energy from escaping the combustion chamber. |
Powerful greases
The hinges of an industrial oven, the bearings of a truck or the mirror of a tractor; one grease can’t fulfil all lubrication needs! Let us show you some of the greases in the Champion product range and explain you how they are capable of improving a customer’s driving experience.
In need of a lubricant capable of withstanding high-pressure? Looking for grease which is pumpable at low temperatures? Look no further, lithium grease is your go-to solution! Lithium greases are multipurpose greases because of their all-round performance. They are good at withstanding high temperatures, shear, water and heavy loads. But good doesn’t mean excellent! Lithium grease is a true all-rounder without any specific specialisation.
A set of bearings in need of lubrication? Our range of Lithium complex greases is capable of fulfilling this demanding task. Violent shocks, high pressure and corrosion are countered by this true specialist. The bearings of a 2015 FORD F650 lubricated with Champion Lithium Complex EP2 grease will be able to carry heavy loads over rough terrain without any hassle.
Some applications need grease with improved water resistance. Are you working on the wheel hubs of a New Holland F200? Try our Lithium Calcium EP2 grease. This type of grease will prevent water from reaching the metal parts whilst offering optimal lubrication.
Need assistance at finding the right grease for your specific vehicle? Use our handy product finder tool to find the best grease for your application within seconds!
Summary
- Grease consists of a thickening agent soaking up oil.
- Grease is sometimes fluid and sometimes solid.
- Oil has different properties than grease.
- From door handle to bearings, greases are widely used.
- Champion has a high-quality grease range.