The process of lubricating a car is one of the important procedures closely associated with preserving the quality and safety of mechanical parts of industrial machinery, vehicles, transportation methods like cars, and machines in general. Lubrication significantly contributes to protecting the parts and components of the car, preventing friction between them, prolonging their operation and optimal continuity, and resisting external factors, especially reducing noise, preventing cracking, wear, and rust that can affect the car's metal.
It should be noted that the concept of lubricating a car does not encompass the whole vehicle. Rather, it applies to the metallic parts and heavy equipment, such as the engine, brakes, gearbox, and so on. If you decide to lubricate your car, you will find more than one type of car grease, each with its properties, composition, and specific design to deal with and address certain conditions. Therefore, you need to know the types of car grease and differentiate between them, and find the one suitable for you. Thus, in this article, we will discuss these types, their components, their special attributes, and where they can be used.
Car Lubrication: Components of Car Grease
Despite the variety of greases used in machinery, equipment, and cars, they usually possess the same main components, with slight variations between them. The main components are:
The Oil Base:It mainly consists of mineral oil, or synthetic oil.
The Thickener:It works to increase the cohesion of the grease and adjust its texture to become more effective. It is composed of a metallic soap, which contains one of the following metals: calcium, sodium, lithium, polyurea, or aluminum, and it may contain another metal or another component such as clay.
Add-ons:It can be controlled to accomplish certain tasks, and determine the functions of the grease related to high pressure and harsh factors.
Types of Car Grease
There are various types of grease available that can be used for lubricating cars. It's important to research and use the right type of grease for your car to ensure it performs as expected. Using improper grease to lubricate the car can damage some parts. In fact, there are types that aren't suitable for general or multi-purpose use, like those capable of preventing clumping, and which are made by mixing suitable greases and oil additives to help them perform specific tasks. These types include assembly grease or silicone grease.
In order to determine the appropriate type of grease to use when lubricating your car, several factors must be taken into account. This includes understanding the properties and components of the grease materials, where each can be used, the maximum temperature ranges, etc. As for the five main types of car grease, they are:
Molybdenum Grease:This is a synthetic grease, mainly composed of an added oily substance called molybdenum disulfide. This grease provides good friction prevention and lubrication. Experts recommend using it for disc brake wheel bearings, and it can also be used for lubricating a car or machine's structure. Because it has high resistance to friction and prevents it, experts do not recommend this grease for fast-moving parts and pieces as it slows their movement, especially rotary bearings.
In general, molybdenum grease is used to lubricate heavy-duty parts and high-pressure components, such as steering arms, steering links, car axles, and car joints.
Polyurea Grease:This is a grease that is noticeably used in various parts of the world, because it is the best grease in terms of long-term applications. It is also known as thermal car grease, and it consists of dense and concentrated non-soap grease. It also has a cohesive and thick texture, and is able to withstand high temperatures, making it great for car axles. It is one of the stable greases that lasts for a long time, can withstand high pressure and high temperatures, absorbs surrounding noise, and finally, it can resist water.
Also read: Understand the components of your car's suspension and how it works.
Lithium Grease:It is one of the most commonly used greases, noted for its high resistance to elevated temperatures, where it can withstand temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius. Moreover, it doesn't dissolve in water quickly or easily, making it one of the best water-resistant greases.
Lithium grease is characterized by its strong adherence to metal, and its ability to handle heavy metal cutting loads superbly. This grease is used to lubricate locks, joints, moving gears, rotating fittings, and many other useful applications for cars.
General Purpose Car Grease:This grease is composed of medium viscosity oil, providing adequate protection against impurities, water, and dirt. It cannot be used for long-term purposes, and is typically utilized for various applications in cars, industrial and household machinery. Generally, it is used for lubricating bearings, gears, cables, hinges, and ball joints in the car.
Calcium Sulfonate Grease:It is one of the good greases used forLubricating the carIt is multi-purpose and has a high resistance to water, often referred to as marine grease because it is used to protect and lubricate maritime vehicles and machinery. It is ideal for car parts that are constantly exposed to moisture, as it is water-resistant, and thus prevents their corrosion and preserves them from rusting. This grease is used in the car's structure, joints, and ball joint parts.
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