Advice On Grease

[Drumstick63]

I am trying to put together some tools and maintenance items to bring along for pickup and the grand adventure afterwards. I have a few questions about grease.

1) What grease do you use for the Dexter's E-Z Lube hubs? We will be on the road for a while and I would like to bring a grease gun and grease.

2) We have a B&W Patriot 18K 5th Wheel Hitch. They recommend "white lithium grease" for the polyurethane bushings and "chassis grease" for the zerk fitting and the jaws. The white lithium grease is easy because I can get it in a tube or a small tub and don't need a grease gun to apply it to the polyurethane bushings. The "chassis grease" is what I am not clear about. Is there a difference between "chassis grease" and "wheel bearing grease"? Can I use the "wheel bearing grease" that I use for the Dexter E-Z Lube hubs for the zerk fitting and the jaws on the B&W Patriot?

Thanks,
Mark

[PGDriver]

HI Mark I have only used a good quality synthetic grease for everything for years. The axle hubs on my 19 were packed every year, the old grease was still fairly clean compared to the old days when I used axle grease. Also I just lubed up the jaws and pivot pin on my 5th wheel hitch with synthetic.

Cheers
Doug

[Rossue]

Be careful with what you use for the wheel bearings. I bought some Valvoline Synthetic grease on Amazon when buying other items and later found I would first have to completely clean out the existing OEM grease to avoid a pasty mess that would end up damaging the bearings. This due to incompatibility between compounds.

You should not have to lube your bearings for a year unless you really are putting on some miles.

[Donna D.]

I've used Lucas Red N Tacky for a number of years in the EZ lubes on my Scamp. I plan to use the same on Ten Forward.

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I've used Lucas Red N Tacky for a number of years in the EZ lubes on my Scamp. I plan to use the same on Ten Forward.

I'm with Donna on this. Lucas Red N Tacky is the only grease I use on wheel bearings and chassis fittings, and have done so for years. And I do not repack bearings annually. I do them at 25,000 to 30,000 or 3 years, whichever comes first. And for all those who will quote "manufacturer recommendations," I have never seen any indication upon inspection that service was needed annually or at 10,000 miles. We are not talking about boat trailers being immersed in water here.

[fudge_brownie]

Carl

Applause

[cpaharley2008]

I doubt you will need any wheel axle grease so you parameters should be what you will need for the fifth wheel set up. I'm sure Escape will lube your first set up and that should be enough to get you home after an extended trip. As far as the hitch fittings, what does the manufacturer specify. I do not carry a grease gun nor grease with me, Any lubrication I do at home before departure and it lasts me until I return.

[Drumstick63]

B&W recommends "white lithium grease" for the polyurethane bushings and "chassis grease" for the zerk fitting and the jaws. I was kind of hoping "wheel bearing grease" was the same as or even better than "chassis grease" and could be substituted.


Thanks,
Mark

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Drumstick63

B&W recommends ... "chassis grease" for the zerk fitting and the jaws. I was kind of hoping "wheel bearing grease" was the same as or even better than "chassis grease" and could be substituted.

Yes, that seems reasonable.

Since modern light-duty vehicles don't have any chassis parts which require greasing as part of maintenance, "chassis grease" is no longer a very familiar idea for most people (but then, their wheel bearings don't need re-greasing, either).

Standards for chassis (LA,LB) and wheel bearing (GA,GB,GC) applications are different, but the same product is routinely sold for both purposes (e.g. MotoMaster Wheel Bearing and Chassis Grease, "meets the NLGI Service Classification category GC-LB").

You can buy nice synthetic grease which is probably quite suitable in a convenient small tube (e.g. Permatex Ultra Slick Multi-Purpose Synthetic Grease, 85 g), just like the white lithium grease, if you don't want to pump a bit out of a gun (which I find awkward). If you are using a gun to push grease into the E-Z Lube fitting of the wheel bearings, then yes, I would put the same grease into the hitch's zerk fitting. If you want to be sure, look for NLGI Service Classification category LB on the grease container.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I doubt you will need any wheel axle grease so you parameters should be what you will need for the fifth wheel set up...

I agree. It doesn't make much sense to me to carry wheel bearing grease.

[Donna D.]

For those that are wondering about approved grease for the Dexter axles: