On average because there is a LOT of grease that fits under the lithium and silicone umbrella. Which grease resists water/washout best?
Washout resistance? Lithium vs Silicone?
- Thread starter Rust_Belt_Pete
- Start date
My experience is that silicone is more resistant to water absorption vs. lithium (complex). I'm not sure about washout (it's different), but lots of grease specs show that number for comparison. Take a glob of each on you hand, hold under running water while mixing it. The lithium will turn cloudy with moisture quicker than silicone.
And even more so a fluorosilicone such as Molykote 3451 which is designed to be resistant to washing out.
So is that why caliper pin grease tends to be silicone?
Perhaps, along with superior cold weather performance. It also won’t harden and become sticky to the pins.
Did more research, apparently lithium soap has lower adhesion so doesn't do well for sliding lubrication.
Any way my 10 year old CRC silaramic tube may run out I'm 10 more years and I'll be able to try new caliper grease
Any way my 10 year old CRC silaramic tube may run out I'm 10 more years and I'll be able to try new caliper grease
Silicone is a very poor metal on metal lube. It's used in brakes because of heat/washout but brakes don't move much. There is a reason they don't make silicone engine oil...
Plus nonexistent solubility and it is not miscible with normal engine oil. Good luck getting that past the API.
Only grease I've found that holds up on PU bushings is Jetlube silicone compound