Mobil1 Grease No Longer Mentions U-Joints?

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JerryBob

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I was about to purchase THIS today at AutoZone, when I noticed that the cartridge no longer mentions U-Joints, as it does in the item shown in the link.

Could this be an oversight, or is it possible that XOM decided that this grease is not, after all, suitable for U-joints?

I am getting ready to lube my truck U-Joints, and want to use the most appropriate product. I am also considering THIS.
 
I use greengrease and schaeffers 274. Schaeffers is great, but a bit hard to find in the marketplace. Greengrease is 9 bucks a tube, but if you use a coupon code at advance auto, you can get it down to 6 or less if ordered with other stuff you need. Waterproof and ability to stay in the bearings and prevent wear are 3 things that these greases do well. Have not tried the newest amsoil greases. I stopped using M1 grease a long time ago as it had what I considered average performance at a premium price. I do still use some M1 oils and filters though.

Other greases work ok, but I find that i must regrease more often, not waterproof
 
I been wondering the same thing myself. Back a little while ago, when I was deciding what grease to use in our vehicles u-joints, the Mobil clearly stated it could be used in u-joints as well as wheel bearings and other chassis components. Now, they changed the web page and data sheet for the grease, there is no mention of it anymore.

What I think is interesting is that the Mobil 1 grease tub that was right next to the grease tube in AutoZone DOES say it can be used in u-joints. I'm not sure if it is just older stock with older labels, and the newer stock will be different. Or maybe it was an older formulation that Mobil has now tweaked and they now no longer recommend it for u-joints. It could even be still the same and unchanged, but Mobil determined it is not suitable for u-joints.

I bought some tubs of the Mobil 1 grease, and am planning on scooping it out of the tubs and loading it into my grease gun instead buying the tubes.

I am thinking of calling the Mobil technical line and seeing what they have to say about this.
 
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Originally Posted By: njohnson
What I think is interesting is that the Mobil 1 grease tub that was right next to the grease tube in AutoZone DOES say it can be used in u-joints. I'm not sure if it is just older stock with older labels, and the newer stock will be different. Or maybe it was an older formulation that Mobil has now tweaked and they now no longer recommend it for u-joints. It could even be still the same and unchanged, but Mobil determined it is not suitable for u-joints.uying the tubes.

I am thinking of calling the Mobil technical line and seeing what they have to say about this.



Saw the same thing at Autozone - cartridge vs tub. Be interesting to hear if you ever call Mobil.
 
Kluberplex BEM 34-132, a grade 1.5 calcium-based grease, is ideal for automotive u-joints. The key characteristic of lubricating u-joints is micromotion, which presents a challenge for the lubricant. This is unlike roller bearings, where the lube develops a boundary layer between the friction surfaces during rolling.

This is some of the Product Data Information:

"Kluberplex BEM 34-132 has the following characteristics: – excellent wear protection – good resistance to temperatures up to 140 °C – excellent resistance to water and ambient media – good corrosion protection – particularly good effect against micro motion – excellent resistance to ageing. Kluberplex BEM 34-132 is a special grease for many applications where extreme demands have to be met. It is particularly suitable for long-term and lifetime lubrication."

IIRC, the grease is rated for 2000 hrs at 140°C, which works out to around 100,000 miles on a vehicle.
 
Originally Posted By: tig1
Below is a link to the M1 site about grease. Notice it doesn't say M1 grease is good for bicycle gear shifters either. Really, just do a little research ,which I did for you, and you will find that M1 grease is well suited for bearings of all types. U-joints are needle bearings as we know.

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENGRSMOMobil_1_Synthetic_Grease.aspx


Condescending tone aside, I searched your link (which I did find in my "little research") and don't see the words "universal" or "needle". I do, of course, find the search term "bearing", but they're in a different context.

Asking a question on this site is research. If that bothers you, must move on to the next post.

Three decades in the Industrial Psych field has taught me that condescension is usually rooted in self-perceived inadequacies. Keep those inadequate feelings to yourself.
 
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Originally Posted By: JerryBob
Originally Posted By: tig1
Below is a link to the M1 site about grease. Notice it doesn't say M1 grease is good for bicycle gear shifters either. Really, just do a little research ,which I did for you, and you will find that M1 grease is well suited for bearings of all types. U-joints are needle bearings as we know.

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENGRSMOMobil_1_Synthetic_Grease.aspx


Condescending tone aside, I searched your link (which I did find in my "little research") and don't see the words "universal" or "needle". I do, of course, find the search term "bearing", but they're in a different context.

Asking a question on this site is research. If that bothers you, must move on to the next post.

Three decades in the Industrial Psych field has taught me that condescension is usually rooted in self-perceived inadequacies. Keep those inadequate feelings to yourself.


Needle bearings are bearings, so you are good to go with M1 grease. A quality synthetic grease like M1 or other comparable grease should work well for you. Sorry if you took my post so serious. No hidden meaning meant to offend. You need to realize there's a lot of bantering back and forth here at BITOG as men often do in real life. Since you're new here you'll figure it out. BITOG is often like guys with common interest and friendship needleing each other in the ribs, only here we do it verbally. Take care and no offence intended.
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Originally Posted By: tig1

Needle bearings are bearings, so you are good to go with M1 grease. A quality synthetic grease like M1 or other comparable grease should work well for you.
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I am pretty sure that needle bearings have different properties than high-speed bearings that spin (based on my research ); ). So I am hesitant to lump them in the same category.

Having 30 years in the private sector has made me cynical and suspicious, and I wonder if Mobil quietly removed the U-Joint specificity for a particular reason.....
 
I called Mobil tech this morning at I-800-ask mobil and ask them about U-joints and M1 grease, and he said no problems at all, but refered me to a differant department tech support. They told me M1 grease is excellant for all automotive bearing applications, including u-joint bearings. On their web site XM says their grease is well suited for use where water may be a problem, and u-joints are certainly in that inviroment. Hope this helps.
 
Originally Posted By: tig1
I called Mobil tech this morning at I-800-ask mobil and ask them about U-joints and M1 grease, and he said no problems at all, but refered me to a differant department tech support. They told me M1 grease is excellant for all automotive bearing applications, including u-joint bearings. On their web site XM says their grease is well suited for use where water may be a problem, and u-joints are certainly in that inviroment. Hope this helps.


I appreciate you doing this. My 4WD u-joints are especially vulnerable to water, even though I don't do any hardcore off-roading. I already bought some Valvoline, but may exchange it for Mobil1. At $4.59/cartridge, the Valv wasn't a big outlay...
 
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Thanks tig1, for looking into this and calling Mobil technical about it. I called them as well, and when I asked the question, the gentleman said it was weird because I was the second person to ask about using the grease in u-joints today. He also gave me the number of the other department technical support. The other gentleman who answered said, Yes, Mobil 1 grease can be used in u-joints. I explained we tow with our Tundra and Trooper, so I want to make sure I use a good grease in their u-joints, and he said Mobil 1 grease would work well in them for that.
 
Originally Posted By: njohnson
Thanks tig1, for looking into this and calling Mobil technical about it. I called them as well, and when I asked the question, the gentleman said it was weird because I was the second person to ask about using the grease in u-joints today. He also gave me the number of the other department technical support. The other gentleman who answered said, Yes, Mobil 1 grease can be used in u-joints. I explained we tow with our Tundra and Trooper, so I want to make sure I use a good grease in their u-joints, and he said Mobil 1 grease would work well in them for that.



That's funny. They must think u-joints are a hot item now.
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Originally Posted By: njohnson
Thanks tig1, for looking into this and calling Mobil technical about it. I called them as well, and when I asked the question, the gentleman said it was weird because I was the second person to ask about using the grease in u-joints today. He also gave me the number of the other department technical support. The other gentleman who answered said, Yes, Mobil 1 grease can be used in u-joints. I explained we tow with our Tundra and Trooper, so I want to make sure I use a good grease in their u-joints, and he said Mobil 1 grease would work well in them for that.



Maybe I'll call, and then get my wife to call...just to mess with their heads....
 
Spicer Lubrication Specifications: Universal Joints, published in June, 2008, page 5: recommends Chevron Ultra-Duty EP-2, or a compatible lithium based grease meeting N.L.G.I. Grade 2 specifications with an operating range of +325F to -10F. Elsewhere on page 5 it mentions a minimum Timken test load of 45 pounds. Nowhere in this, or in any other Dana/Spicer publication that I've encountered, is Moly grease recommended.
 
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Kluberplex BEM 34-132, a grade 1.5 calcium-based grease, is ideal for automotive u-joints. The key characteristic of lubricating u-joints is micromotion, which presents a challenge for the lubricant. This is unlike roller bearings, where the lube develops a boundary layer between the friction surfaces during rolling.


Really? I always assumed the needles rotated.
 
They do but in a U joint it is very minimal, much like needle bearings in roller lifters for example.
I think that is what Kestas meant by micromotion.
 
I need to go with higher temperature grease for my driveshaft U Joints. I was incorrectly under the impression that grease was grease was grease.

The problem I have is I can relube the front U Joint (gets significantly warmer than the rear as it does more work). No vibrations for 100 miles or so. Then slowly, it will start vibrating again as it gets hotter.

If I let it sit and cool down I'll be good for 20 miles ...

What seems to happen with cheaper grease is once the joint heats up, the oil runs out and all I am left with is carrier in the U Joint.

Speaking of which, I need to relube the front U Joint.
 
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