Ball-joint lube problem -- ??

gnutruk · June 17, 2003

Hi All :

At about 5,000 miles I started to lube the 11 zerks on my 2002 4x4 1500, using the red Mobil 1 synthetic stuff. Now I notice that a very thin, watery red liquid is "sweating" out of the lube gun all over the plastic case I store it in, and also my suspension components around all the lube points are greasy with a thin coat of the same red liquid. It seems that stuff is being pounded out of the rubber boots.

Any ideas what might be going on here? Is it "normal" for synthetic lube grease to do this?

This leaking has made a mess of my front suspension parts. More to the point, however, I'm concerned that my suspension isn't being adequately lubed, if the grease is breaking down or just liquifying away and losing its lube characteristics.

I may consider going back to white lithium grease if this keeps up.

TIA

gnutruk

tommyboyZ71 · June 17, 2003

you may have overfilled the boots. only put enough grease in until the boots are firm. only takes a few pumps if that. overfilling will cause the boots to give way.

Rotorwrench · June 17, 2003

I use synthetic greases alot in my work maintaining helicopters. Synthetic grease in normally a parafin wax carrier with synthetic oil for a lubricant. When stored in a grease gun during warm weather the oil will seperate from the wax and run out of the grease gun. I don't know what the Mobil 1 automotive grease is like, but if it is like Mobil 28 aviation grease I wouldn't use it to lube a truck. I would prefer something a bit thicker. How thick is the Mobil 1 compared to the regular grease?

SilveradoWV · June 17, 2003

Doesnt sound too good IMO. Especially since its doing it in the gun because the gun shouldnt put near the stress that the truck would. I dont use synthetic greases so I have never had this problem, actually I dont think I want too. I know alot of guys on here use it, they should be able to tell you if its normal or not!

gnutruk · June 18, 2003

Rotowrench :

The Mobil 1 seemed just about the same thickness as standard lube greases I've used before - maybe even a little firmer. When I opened the tube for the first time, I took some on my finger to check it. It felt sorta 'dryer' than regular lube greases. But obviously it doesn't react the same under use conditions. The Mobil 1 claims to have the same NLGI - GC - LB rating that GM calls for in the Recommended Lubricants page of the Owners Manual.

It is true, as tommyboyZ71 said, that I may have overfilled a couple of the boots, and that's why I've got the liquid spread around the suspension members near all the boots. However, I'm sure I didn't overpump ALL the zerks. Also, that doesn't explain why thin, watery red fluid is leaking out of the gun when it's just sitting in its box, which is the point SilveradoWV made.

At this point my thoughts are just as you said ; I would prefer something thicker. Specifically, something that won't have separation of the liquids in the grease from the solids. You'd think that lube grease technology would have advanced enough that they could prevent this sort of separation from happening.

I'm probably gonna go back to the white lithium stuff I've used in my previous vehicles.

gnutruk

Rotorwrench wrote:

use synthetic greases alot in my work maintaining helicopters. Synthetic grease in normally a parafin wax carrier with synthetic oil for a lubricant. When stored in a grease gun during warm weather the oil will seperate from the wax and run out of the grease gun. I don't know what the Mobil 1 automotive grease is like, but if it is like Mobil 28 aviation grease I wouldn't use it to lube a truck. I would prefer something a bit thicker. How thick is the Mobil 1 compared to the regular grease?