Industrial lubricants FAQ

Synthetic products are produced by chemical reactions in which pressure, temperature and the ratio of component elements are carefully controlled. This results in a pure compound with maximized lubricating properties, which can lead to enhanced energy efficiency, improved equipment protection, more reliable equipment performance and extended oil service life.

In the most general form, the following formula can be used to determine your cost savings: Savings over time = (costs associated with lubricant A) – (costs associated with lubricant B). However, it is important to understand how to properly account for ALL of the costs of a lubricant. This article explains the primary factors to consider.

There are several Mobil industrial lubricants that are safe for the food service industry. These include the Mobil SHC Cibus™ Series, Mobil SHC Polyrex™ Series, Mobil Synturion™ 6 , Mobil Rarus™ PE, Mobil Gargolye™ and Mobilgrease™ FM Series lubricants.

You are able to find specification sheets for most finished lubricants at www.mobil.ca/pds.

Yes, all current lubricants have an SDS posted at www.msds.exxonmobil.com.

You can search the globe for our distributors here.

Your best source for all passenger vehicle questions is http://www.mobil.ca.

Yes. The Mobil Serv Lubricant Selector is available online, for public use, through our website and is designed to help you find a recommended lubricant for your specific piece of equipment. Click here to start searching for industrial lubricants.

Yes. You can browse our lubricants by application here.

Mobil Glygoyle Series lubricants are not compatible with mineral oil, PAO-based or other PAG-based synthetic oils.  A complete flush is highly recommended when converting from mineral oil to Mobil Glygoyle Series oils. You can contact your local distributor, an Mobil Field Engineer or Technical Help Desk engineer for more flushing guidance.

All of these products use advanced proprietary formulations designed to provide excellent protection from micropitting fatigue wear, as well as high resistance to traditional scuffing wear. Mobil SHC Gear Series also maintains the latest approvals from OEMs for gear boxes in industrial applications. Mobilgear SHC XMP 320 has long been our recommended oil for lubrication of the main gearbox in wind turbine applications, due to its proven oxidation performance over time. Its durability provides extended drain intervals required for the extreme wind turbine application. Mobil SHC Gear 320 WT is a more recent addition to our Mobil Industrial Lubricant product line and offers an enhancement for wind turbine gear boxes – above and beyond the performance of Mobilgear SHC XMP 320. Mobil SHC Gear 320 WT has improved oxidative stability and higher viscosity index compared to Mobilgear SHC XMP 320, enabling improved low temperature performance and well as oil life.

The dropping point is the temperature when the first drop of oil falls from the test cup and reaches the bottom of the test tube under ASTM D 2265. It's a good indicator of grease type in terms of thickener types, such as organic, inorganic or soap/complex soap. As the test method indicates, the dropping point alone has only limited significance with respect to service performance. The operating temperature of a grease product depends on components, base oil, thickener, additives, etc. High-temperature greases are often synthetic-based inorganic or soap/complex soap greases, such as Mobiltemp™ or Mobilith SHC™ Series greases.

Some of our product data sheets, such as those for lubricants with higher risk of seal incompatibility (like PAG oils), identify incompatibility issues. For best results, consult the equipment supplier or seal manufacturer for specific recommendations, or consult a Technical Help Desk engineer or a Mobil Field Engineer for general compatibility guidelines.

There are many typical indicators when looking for a good electric motor grease, including viscosity, consistency, thermo-oxidative resistance, antiwear, dropping point and shear stability.

Our primary recommendations for electric motor grease are Mobil Polyrex™ EM & EM 103* greases, which are specially designed for electric motors applications, enabling high temperature operation, long life and low noise applications.

Our secondary recommendation for electric motor grease is Mobilith SHC™ 100 – a high protection multipurpose grease. This is recommended particularly for electric motors exposed to harsh environments such as ambient temperatures below -20°C, or subject to a high level of vibrations or load.

Other recommendations for specific equipment builder applications include UNIREX™ N2 & N3 greases, which are recommend only when required to meet specific OEM approvals** (e.g.,  Siemens, ABB EU).

For more information please consult the Technical Topic titled “Guide to electric motor bearing lubrication.”

 

*Mobil Polyrex EM 103 grease mainly for vertical installed electric motors.

**Review EMEBS online for specific approvals.

Greases are manufactured by combining three essential components: base oil, thickener and additives.

Base oils are the liquid portion of any grease and may be mineral, synthetic, or any fluid that contains lubricating properties.

Thickeners may be any material that, in combination with the base oil, produces the solid to semi-fluid structure.

As in lubricating oil additives, grease additives and modifiers impart special properties or modify existing ones.

For more detailed information please consult the Technical Topic titled “Grease: components, consistency and compatibility.”

Mixing different types of greases can sometimes lead to incompatibility problems. Grease incompatibility results from chemical interactions between the thickener or additive systems of the dissimilar greases. In some cases, grease incompatibility can lead to equipment failure or damage of the lubricated components.

Mixtures of incompatible greases will exhibit either excessive hardening or softening relative to the consistency of the individual pure greases. The hardening or softening tendencies of the mixture will generally become more pronounced as the operating temperature increases or as the rate of shearing on the grease mixture increases.

Incompatible greases may also exhibit excessive oil separation or “bleeding” tendencies at higher temperatures.

For more information please consult the Technical Topic titled “Grease compatibility.”

There are several reasons to lubricate plain bearings with grease:

• As a result of the lower end leakage, the amount of lubricant required for the bearing is lower.
• When a grease-lubricated bearing is stopped for any period of time – with the flow of lubricant shut off – the high apparent viscosity of the static grease reduces end leakage sufficiently so the grease usually does not completely drain or squeeze out.
• Some grease remains on the bearing surfaces so that a fluid film can be established almost immediately upon startup. As a result, torque and wear during the starting phase may be greatly reduced.
• During shutdown periods, retained grease also acts as a seal to prevent the entry of dirt, dust, water, water vapour and other environmental contaminants and, thus, protects the bearing surfaces against rust and corrosion.

For more information please consult the Technical Topic titled “Grease-lubricated plain bearings and grease application system.”

Mixing different greases, even those with similar thickener types, can sometimes lead to ineffective lubrication resulting in damage of the lubricated components. If not spotted soon enough this may lead to equipment failure. These situations occur due to chemical or structural interaction between the thickener or additive systems of the different greases which would be classified as “incompatible.”

Symptoms of incompatibility come in various forms. Most frequently grease mixtures will exhibit a change in consistency relative to that of the individual pure greases. This tendency will be more pronounced as the operating temperature or the rate of shearing of the grease mixture increases. Incompatible greases may also exhibit abnormal oil separation or “bleeding” at higher temperatures. If greases that are incompatible are mixed in application it could lead to grease or oil leakage, premature aging or insufficient oil bleed in the contacting zones. Although less probable but not unknown, the greases’ performance additives may act antagonistically, adversely affecting the lubrication performance such as protection against friction, wear, rust or corrosion.

For more information please consult the Technical Topic titled “Grease compatibility.”