Choosing the proper bearing lubricant can help keep a facility’s machinery safe and operational. Emerson Bearing Boston, a bearing company catering to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) markets, offers tips for proper bearing lubricant selection and a complimentary online “Bearing Maintenance Guide”.

Grease or lubricant selection can make a huge difference in the performance and life span of a piece of equipment or system. While the proper lubricant can ensure smooth and reliable performance, the wrong lubricant can result in frequent maintenance and service outages.

For industrial applications, bearing lubricants come in three basic forms: oils and fluid lubricants; semi-solid or solid grease products (which are similar to fluid lubricants but also include a thickening agent); and dry lubricant powders and films for precise placement.

Below, Emerson Bearing offers five grease/lubricant selection tips:

– The machinery system and its operating conditions dictate which form and makeup of lubricant are the most suitable for use.

– Because lubricants need to be able to withstand heat and reduce friction, the most important factors to consider when selecting a lubricant are operating speeds, minimum and maximum system, and the viscosity of the lubricant in that range of operating temperatures.

– Different greases should not be combined unless the product directions explicitly allow for such mixtures. Instead, look for specialty greases and lubricants specifically designed for the conditions of the machinery and systems.

– Mixing two or more greases, with different base oils together, may result in a final lubricant product that loses many of the individual products’ unique benefits.

– It’s critical to match the service life of the grease to the service life of the bearing.

Emerson Bearing Boston
www.emersonbearing.com