Wheel bearing grease - mixing different types

[BOAH]

I just replaced the wheel bearings in my trailer the night before a trip. I started with a wheel bearing grease made by Castrol that I've used for years on my cars and trucks. After one wheel, I ran out of what I had and started using another type that I had recently purchased made by Valvoline called Dura Blend which is also a wheel bearing grease. I didn't realize it when I bought it but it is black in color and appeared to be a completely different kind of grease than what I'm used to. I went ahead and finished the project but now that I'm back from my trip, should I take out all of the grease and do it again? At least a couple of the wheels have a 50-50 mixture of the different types of grease.

If so, what kind of grease should I use for the trailer bearings?

For a little more info, I use the trailer about once a week and haul it about 40 miles each time in both fresh and saltwater.

Thanks for your help!

 

[robert graham]

Re: Wheel bearing grease - mixing different types

You're most likely in good shape, but I use green marine grease in wheel bearings because it seems to be sticky, stays fluid, doesn't get hard, says it's waterproof and recommended for wheel bearings. I pump it in the zerk fitting in the center or my axle, behind the little rubber plug, the old grease oozes out and I wipe it off, replace plug. No problems at all for many years!

 

[JimS123]

Re: Wheel bearing grease - mixing different types

Yes, replace the 50/50. Or take your chances. Use any marine wheel bearing grease from a marina a good auto parts store.

Some years ago I did the same thing when I did my fall maintenance. The first trip the next Spring I noticed what looked like liquid oil runing out of the rear seals. When I took the hubs apart the grease had liquefied.

I went to a local distributor of lubricants and he said that some greases are not compatible. Just my luck I got those two!

Now I buy a stock brand from NAPA and always go back to the same one.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Wheel bearing grease - mixing different types

You can interchange brands as long as you use the same type of grease. Where you get into trouble is mixing types of grease.

http://www.mindconnection.com/library/handyman/greasecompat.htm

 

[krakatoa]

Re: Wheel bearing grease - mixing different types

you should use waterproof wheel bearings grease ....

 

[JimS123]

Re: Wheel bearing grease - mixing different types

You can interchange brands as long as you use the same type of grease. Where you get into trouble is mixing types of grease.

http://www.mindconnection.com/library/handyman/greasecompat.htm

When I got into trouble it was when I mixed 2 different brands - and both were labeled as "waterproof marine wheel bearing grease". The first was in a can from Lubriplate, and it was what was recommended by the trailer manufacturer in the owner's manual. The second was from a tube and I bougth it at a marina.

 

[BOAH]

Re: Wheel bearing grease - mixing different types

Thank you for all of the replies. I'll play it safe, clean them out and try it again.

Thanks!

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Wheel bearing grease - mixing different types

BOAH, where do you get CASTROL grease. Walmart quit selling it. I'm switching to Waterproof Green Grease.

 

[BOAH]

Re: Wheel bearing grease - mixing different types

Hi, Carl

Good question. I've had it for years. No telling where I bought it.

Sorry about that.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Wheel bearing grease - mixing different types

I think you can mix greases in a pinch and I don't think you will run into any major problems if you leave things that way for awhile, but I prefer to use the same grease (green marine type) all of the time.



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