Smart grease choices for construction operations

Construction managers have multiple priorities fighting for their attention every day. When you have a full plate, it can be easy to overlook equipment maintenance, including your equipment’s grease which is critical to protecting your operation from equipment issues and downtime. Much like determining the best hydraulic fluid or fuel for your operation, there are many important factors to consider when determining what type of grease is best for your construction equipment.

To best understand specific requirements for various grease points across your machines, read your owner’s manuals. In the meantime, here are some details to consider when selecting grease.

Don’t compromise quality

When choosing equipment grease, keep a close eye on the product’s label. The National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) oversees grease specifications and standards, and it approves certain quality identifiers that are found on grease product labels. These identifiers include:

•  LB, which means the product is suitable as a chassis lubricant
•  GC-LB, which signifies the product is suitable for wheel-bearing and chassis lubrication

Pay attention to the formulation of the grease

There are certain specifications that the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) will reference in the owner's manual for each construction machine. In addition to NLGI quality standards, there are a number of manufacturers in the construction world that will recommend a grease that includes molybdenum disulfide (moly) in the formulation. Moly provides an additional layer of extreme pressure protection for equipment.

Evaluate the different grease options

The Cenex^® brand offers grease product options that work across a range of construction maintenance routines. You’ll want to take a closer look at your equipment specifications to find the right grease for your operation, but a few options include:

• Maxtron^® EP, an extreme-duty, lithium complex, semisynthetic, multipurpose grease formulated with 3% moly to enhance lubrication capabilities between sliding components
• HD Moly Xtreme, a calcium sulfonate complex, extreme-duty grease that contains 5% moly for superior lubricating capabilities
• Red Protect XT^®, a multi-purpose high-temperature lithium complex grease designed for extreme pressure applications where a tacky grease is needed for mechanical stability and longer re-lubrication intervals

Like all other lubricants, formulation compatibility is key with grease. Before you switch to a different grease, ensure the product you’re changing to is compatible with the grease currently being used on your equipment.