Marine Grease vs. regular grease

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Sep 13, 2003
Messages
5,987
Location
Waterloo, ON
What is the difference between marine grease and regular grease? I know marine grease is supposed to be waterproof, or water resistant I guess, but so is all grease...What additive makes it different?
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
What additive makes it different?


A "real" marine grease will have an aluminum or calcium based thickener...and be much more water resistant than a lithium complex grease...regardless of being labeled as "Marine" or not.
 
Originally Posted By: Rob_Roy
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
What additive makes it different?


A "real" marine grease will have an aluminum or calcium based thickener...and be much more water resistant than a lithium complex grease...regardless of being labeled as "Marine" or not.


Bingo !

Calcium Sulfonate soaps in particular are much more water resistant and act as an anti-corrosive compared to almost all other soaps/thickeners, particularly lithium soaps which aren't great in very wet or even just humid environments.

Calcium Sulfonate is even added to some oils for it's moisture repelling properties, eg. Motul adds it to their racing two stroke brews to prevent throttle sticking in wet race conditions and impart a degree of corrosion resistance for when the engine is shut down.
 
Great info guys....I take it there must be some down side to the waterproof thinkeners or they would be used everywhere?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top