Did I put the wrong grease in my s2000 CV joints?

[gtical]

I put this amsoil nlgi 1 in the inboard side of my Honda s2000 axles about half a year ago. I asked amsoil and they did not recommend this grease for my axles. Anyone know why? Is this grease going to be ok? Not really a job I want to do again but I’ll take it on again if I need to.

https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-nlgi-1-synthetic-polymeric-truck-chassis-and-equipment-grease-gptr1/

 

[Kestas]

What I've heard of CV joint grease is that it needs to contain a lot of antiwear additives. The CV joint experiences sliding motion, micromotion, and fretting, and needs a lube that protects under these conditions. It also needs to be resistant to heat for inner CV joints for FWD cars, where they operate close to a heat source.

The application is also sensitive to viscosity. It needs to maintain a fine balance. Too high a viscosity and the lube won't creep into the surfaces where lubricant is needed... too low a viscosity and it'll run out. And the lube needs to be shear stable because it can get sheared down rather quickly in application.

I don't have a specific grease in mind. I just know enough to use a CV joint-specific grease.

 

[Pablo]

I put this amsoil nlgi 1 in the inboard side of my Honda s2000 axles about half a year ago. I asked amsoil and they did not recommend this grease for my axles. Anyone know why? Is this grease going to be ok? Not really a job I want to do again but I’ll take it on again if I need to.

https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-nlgi-1-synthetic-polymeric-truck-chassis-and-equipment-grease-gptr1/

What is your climate?

Who/what did you ask at Amsoil?

What did that source recommend?

 

[gtical]

What is your climate?

Who/what did you ask at Amsoil?

What did that source recommend?

I’m in Northern California so temps are around 40-90F
I asked them if this grease is suitable for cv joints and they said they recommend none of their greases for cv joints

 

[wings&wheels]

The inner joints are tripodes, and the factory service manual states "Use the grease included with the inboard boot set". No driveshaft lubricant is noted in the lubricants table, so, short of any official recommendation and with their very specific lubrication needs I would pick something from here: Pegasus Racing, CV Tripod, etc.

GKN is possibly the OEM.

I'd get the correct stuff in there.

Wonderful cars, I had one when I lived in Palo Alto. Fun running around Skyline and the hills. One of very, very few cars I truly regret selling...

 

[slo town]

The inner joints are tripodes, and the factory service manual states "Use the grease included with the inboard boot set". No driveshaft lubricant is noted in the lubricants table, so, short of any official recommendation and with their very specific lubrication needs I would pick something from here: Pegasus Racing, CV Tripod, etc.

GKN is possibly the OEM.

Wonderful cars, I had one when I lived in Palo Alto. Fun running around Skyline and the hills. One of very, very few cars I truly regret selling...
View attachment 324018

Skyline - a great driving road - but too high speed for my liking. IMO Hwy 9 from Saratoga leading up to Skyline (The Gap) is even better because of its lower speeds, which challenged the chassis more. In the "sporting sense" I never really cared for the Hwy 9 descent into the Boulder Creek area. I always found that part of 9 difficult to drive because its was hard to get a rhythm.

My first date with Sue in 1974, my wife of 49 years, was a drive up Hwy 9 to Skyline. We were kids; she was 19 and I was 21. We parked at the turnout overlooking Palo Alto and Stanford University - I'm sure you know the turnout I'm referring to. No hanky panky - we simply talked. This was the car we were in. Seems like yesterday in ways.

Scott

 

[Nukeman7]

There is some good information provided by @Trav in this earlier BITOG thread about CV joint grease.

 

[JavierH19]

From what I know japanese brands like to use tripod type joints and sometimes they're made with a moly coating on the surfaces from the factory and if that's the case a semi fluid non moly lithium or polyurea is used. You don't want moly for a roller or needle bearing but I think i've heard of 1% being okay. But the repezza type joints with ball bearings seem to do okay with nlgi 1 or stiffer than semi fluid moly grease.

 

[Trav]

This will do the job for the outer joint, good stuff. You can also use Schaeffers 219 NLGI #1 Red cap, not the #2 with yellow cap for the inner.

https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/GK-90..._zDwfOi2cwG1Mpb_q7UtW8ZIxUg22HIRoCo_kQAvD_BwE

 

[gtical]

Anyone know why that particular amsoil grease is not suitable? Is it safe to continue using?

 

[Trav]

No idea, I would ask Amsoil.

 

[wings&wheels]

Skyline - a great driving road - but too high speed for my liking. IMO Hwy 9 from Saratoga leading up to Skyline (The Gap) is even better because of its lower speeds, which challenged the chassis more. In the "sporting sense" I never really cared for the Hwy 9 descent into the Boulder Creek area. I always found that part of 9 difficult to drive because its was hard to get a rhythm.

My first date with Sue in 1974, my wife of 49 years, was a drive up Hwy 9 to Skyline. We parked at the turnout overlooking Palo Alto and Stanford University - no janky panky - we simply talked. This was the car we were in. Seems like yesterday in ways.

Scott

View attachment 324021

9 is fun as is the one I scared myself on somewhere around La Honda....

 

[wings&wheels]

Is it safe to continue using?

Considering Amsoil said "no", it is a stressed rolling and sliding application and there are very specific lubricants for those joints which the Amsoil is not, I'd say most likely no, or at least I would not run it. Why would you knowing it is incorrect and the proper lubricants are available?

Did you read the information in the Pegasus link about the differences between CV and tripode lubricants?

 

[facility1]

Red Line CV-2 may also work, its a bit thicker though, call them and see if this may work or if they offer a nlgi 1, I see on other forums its works fine. Schaeffer's #1 219 is also a good al around option.

 

[slo town]

9 is fun as is the one I scared myself on somewhere around La Honda....

That would be Hwy 84. It runs from Woodside up to Skyline at the summit, then descends to Pescadero on the coast.

I proposed to Sue in 1976 when we made a daytime drive over to the coast via Hwy 9/Skyline/Hwy 84. We were in the TR6 I posted above. I pulled off Hwy 1 where Hwy 84 intersects at Pescadero, whipped out a ring, and asked her. She said "yes". Yay!

Scott

 

[wings&wheels]

I'll save folks the effort, from Pegasus racing Supplies:

"Tripod Joints have many small needle roller bearings inside each of the three rolling lobes. This reduces the spot loading, eliminating the need for such a heavy grease. More importantly, the very fine, tight tolerances do not tolerate the solid additives typically used in CV joints."

Its tripode, tripode

 

[wings&wheels]

That would be Hwy 84. It runs from Woodside up to Skyline at the summit, then descends to Pescadero on the coast.

I proposed to Sue in 1976 when we made a daytime drive over to the coast via Hwy 9/Skyline/Hwy 84. We were in the TR6 I posted above. I pulled off Hwy 1 where Hwy 84 intersects at Pescadero, whipped out a ring, and asked her. She said "yes". Yay!

Scott

Celebratory drink at Applejacks??

 

[slo town]

Celebratory drink at Applejacks??

I may be confusing that with what we called Alice's Restuarant, which was bad guy biker bar back in the old days. Alice's was on the NE corner of the Skyline/Hwy 84 junction. Was Applejack's on the other side of Skyline on the NW corner of the junction? Or are we talking the same place but different names?

Scott

 

[wings&wheels]

I may be confusing that with what we called Alice's Restuarant, which was bad guy biker bar back in the old days. Alice's was on the NE corner of the Skyline/Hwy 84 junction. Was Applejack's on the other side of Skyline on the NW corner of the junction? Or are we talking the same place but different names?

Scott

Applejacks is a small dive looking place in La Honda, in the middle of nowhere between the one lane road section and the hairpin IIRC. Bikerish maybe, but we didn't get the bad biker vibe, but did get the "you aren't a local" vibe... Not rude at all, but you know the feeling.

Been to Alices, but more Silicon Valley types than bikers when we were there. That whole area is interesting for nothing else than the changes in climate as you cross the ridge.

 

[slo town]

Applejacks is a small dive looking place in La Honda, in the middle of nowhere between the one lane road section and the hairpin IIRC. Bikerish maybe, but we didn't get the bad biker vibe, but did get the "you aren't a local" vibe... Not rude at all, but you know the feeling.

Been to Alices, but more Silicon Valley types than bikers were we were there. That whole area is interesting for nothing else than the changes in climate as you cross the ridge.

You have assessed the situation correctly. The folks who live up on Skyline are a different breed from the valley and coastal folks, especially those who live on Skyline north of Hwy 84.

When did you live in Palo Alto?

Scott