Grease ôEPö Additives 5

[kgerber]

Hello everyone,
I am researching grease for the slide pads of telescopic crane booms. A previous employer specified an “EP2” grease with a molybdenum disulfide additive. I think EP stands for Extreme Pressure.

Here are my questions:
1. What is the 2 for? Is it the NGLI grade?
2. Are there EP1 and EP3 greases?
3. Where did the EP nomenclature come from? Is it a specific type of grease as designated by a governing standard? If so which standard?
4. What other additives are mixed into grease which would give it very good low speed high load characteristics?

Thank you very much,
Kyle

 

[gruntguru]

http://www.royal-purple-industrial.com/prodsi/tt100.html

Engineering is the art of creating things you need, from things you can get.

 

[kgerber]

gruntguru,
Thank you for the link but it doesn't really answer any of my questions. I came across many greases like this one during my research but no none really gives an explanation of how a grease gets to be classified as an "EP" grease, if it is even a real classification. Is EP just a trade name people loosely give to really goopy stuff?

Kyle

 

[kingnero]

I've seen EP1 and EP2 greases, don't know where it comes from.
Normally Moly-greases are very target specific, they come from from .xx% MoS2 ($) to over 60% MoS2 ($$$) .

The latter (60%) is used for splines which drive things, like motorcycles with a hard drive system (as opposed to chain or belt driven rear wheels, I don't know the exact translation)

I doubt that would be beneficial for your needs.

Please check ceramic grease as well, as it also is rain-proof.

Contact your local supplier and ask for the expert.
I am also curious about the EP1 and 2 nomenclature, I'll see if I have something in my catalogues.

 

[kgerber]

kingnero,
Thank you for your response. Very informative. I will look into ceramic grease. Unfortunately we do not have a US supplier (yet). Thanks again.

Kyle

P.S. How does this forum work? If I click "Thank kingnero for this valuable post" does it close the question? Are questions ever "closed"? Does doing this give you points or votes or something? Thanks for helping out a noob.

 

[hydtools]

EP, extreme pressure, evalution appears to determined by the 4-ball test results.

http://www.mapro.skf.com/pub/pds/LGEP2_datasheet_e.pdf

refers to a DIN standard.

Ted

 

[TVP]

Kyle,

I can't answer your specific question about EP1, EP2, etc., but I can give you some recommendations for suppliers to contact for high quality, engineered greases, and they should be able to give you the proper information as well as suitable product recommendations:

Klüber Lubrication

http://www.klueber.com/

Dow Corning Molykote

http://www.dowcorning.com/content/dchome/Molykote.aspx?WT.dn=home/molykotehome.aspx&bhcp=1

Nye Lubricants

http://www.nyelubricants.com/

 

[kgerber]

hydtools, TVP,
Thank you both for your posts. Very good information.

Kyle

 

[unclesyd]

EP numbers for grease are real and covered under ASTM D-2596

A little more information from advertisements.

http://www.tri-iso.com/SiteAdmin/Portals/0/Literature CERECLOR - oil.pdf

http://www.expotechusa.com/Catalogs/OFITE/Instructions/111-00.pdf

Technical papers cheap.

https://www.nlgi.org/technical_papers/index.php

People who make the test equipment

http://www.falex.com/index2.htm

 

[rmw]

kgerber,

You are wise to try to learn all you can about greases. Grease is not created equal. Greases are created for purposes. When the proper grease is selected, it works great. When not, the failures can be spectacular.

Grease is lubricating oil mixed with a carrier soap. Different soaps have different benefits. For your application you want a grease with a soap base that won't wash off. The grease that will do the best job for you on an outdoor telescoping boom would be a terrible grease for a roller bearing. Believe me, it has been tried.

You want about the same thing a trucker wants for his fifth wheel; a grease that will stay there in all weather conditions and will take some extreme abuse and not flow out from under it. Look to see if the grease you select is recommended for fifth wheel lubrication. That would be a plus for me.

rmw

 

[kgerber]

unclesyd,
Thank you! I will get a copy of ASTM D2596 to see how the classifications of EP grease are broken down. Good links as welll. Thank you.

rmw,
Thanks for the post. I will look for fifth wheel greases and compare to the greases I have been looking at. Thanks again.

Kyle

 

[diskullman]

Also try the latest technology in moly grease

https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/gpor2.aspx

If you want to order, enter 505630 as the "referral code"

Russell Giuliano