Boat trailer wheel bearing grease

[volzfan59]

I'm replacing the hub assemblies on both sides of my boat trailer. The company, Carry-On, pre-packs the bearings using a red, lithium complex grease. The girl that I spoke with was unsure of the brand.

I'm going to top it off with Lucas Red and Tacky. Although Valvoline makes one too, I've always used Lucas lubrication products, even on my reels and weapons.

The Lucas packaging has marine wheel bearings listed under used. I've never seen red grease on wheel bearings. Have any of you used it before?

[BayouSlide]

Lucas Red & Tacky preferred for me 😎👍

[DaubsNU1]

12 minutes ago, BayouSlide said:

Lucas Red & Tacky preferred for me 😎👍

 

@BayouSlide, agree 100%. 

 

Youtube guy (The Farm Project), did a comparison, and Lucas Red & Tacky was top rated. I use it on everything.  

[A-Jay]

@volzfan59

I'd recommend a grease specific for marine applications.

Over-based calcium sultanate is usually quite compatible with whatever is already in there.

Lucas makes one https://www.lucasoil.com/product/marine-grease/

I use Corrosion X https://www.corrosionx.com/products/corrosionx-grease?variant=31163666563168

Also available on Amazon.

A-Jay

[A-Jay]

Some supplemental info ~

Compatibility

At its heart, grease is a heavy oil mixed with enough soap (the product of an acid+base; we're not talking about Ivory soap or Dawn here) to make it stringy and clingy enough to stay in place when it's put into places like bearings or high-speed moving parts.

But not all soaps and compatible with each other. This matters when you're introducing grease into an area that has previously been "greased" before and may have remnants of the old grease still in place. If an incompatible grease is introduced, there will be an interaction that results in the soap and oil separating, and the oil leaking out. Bad things typically result.

This is a big issue in, for example, bearing packs. If an incompatible grease is introduced, you'll see oil leaking out of the bearing pack after a week or so, depending on use. A big clean-up job then awaits.

Lithium complex and calcium sulfonate greases both have the advantage of being compatible with each other and many types of other common greases. That's a big plus. The only greases that are incompatible with lithium complex and calcium sulfonate greases are conventional polyurea grease and bentonite clay grease (calcium sulfonate is also incompatible with calcium complex grease, but you wouldn't typically put those two together).

https://www.bellperformance.com/bell-performs-blog/lithium-complex-vs.-calcium-sulfonate-grease-the-workhorses-of-the-industry

A-Jay

[Susky River Rat]

I use the Yamaha marine stuff. Same stuff I use to grease my jet bearing after every use. That basically sits in water the whole time I use my boat.

[T-Billy]

I've been using Lucas, Red & Tacky for years in my trailer bearings with zero issues. Good stuff.

[airshot]

What ever you choose, keep using it, issues only happen when different types are mixed together.

[volzfan59]

4 hours ago, airshot said:

What ever you choose, keep using it, issues only happen when different types are mixed together.

I'm a big believer in always using the same brand of lubricants. Engine oil, additives, grease, etc. I'm going to go with the Lucas Red and Tacky. While it might be a different manufacturer, it's the same style or component grease.

[Bird]

Ha Ha , I change a lot of oil for various family members and have various colored grease , " red-black-green-blue ".

Mix and match dino and synthetic oils just to reduce inventory, never an issue....... it's all slippery.

I have rainbow 🌈 colors coming out of grease fittings..... it's all slippery. 

[airshot]

12 minutes ago, Bird said:

Ha Ha , I change a lot of oil for various family members and have various colored grease , " red-black-green-blue ".

Mix and match dino and synthetic oils just to reduce inventory, never an issue....... it's all slippery.

I have rainbow 🌈 colors coming out of grease fittings..... it's all slippery. 

As long as the grease compounds are the same your good.  I have many times saw where different creases don't mix well and the grease turns to oil and runs out causing bearing failure at speed.  When you see oily residue running out of the hubs then you know the grease is not mixing and a thorough clean and re grease to keep things going.  Grease is actually cheap, I buy by the case so I have it on hand.  Losing a wheel/ tire on the highway is not worth saving a couple dollars in grease !!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Incompatible greases are a thing but not nearly as common as the internet would have you believe. Grease Color is just dye. It doesn’t really mean anything. The Lucas product is also lithium based , is a quality product and perfectly safe to use. 

[Mbirdsley]

16 hours ago, volzfan59 said:

I'm replacing the hub assemblies on both sides of my boat trailer. The company, Carry-On, pre-packs the bearings using a red, lithium complex grease. The girl that I spoke with was unsure of the brand.

I'm going to top it off with Lucas Red and Tacky. Although Valvoline makes one too, I've always used Lucas lubrication products, even on my reels and weapons.

The Lucas packaging has marine wheel bearings listed under used. I've never seen red grease on wheel bearings. Have any of you used it before?

yeah, i’ve always used Lucas red n tacky on my boat trailers. The  exception was last year as I had to buy whatever red axle grease ( i think it was wolfs head) the local part store had. As every one was out of lucas red N tacky.  relatively speaking for as cheap as axle grease is a tube. it’s hard not to pay the extra 2-3 bucks and get the best.  

 

I tear down inspect, clean, and re-pack the hubs on my trailer ever year before the start of the season. Gives me something to do in the winter. 

[Nitro 882]

FWIW. I have vortex bearings on my trailer. These are supposed to last 6 years or 100,000 miles without having to touch them. Thats their claim but I wouldn't/couldn't go that long without maintaining them. Anyway, they demand you use Lucas Marine (blue) to maintain the warranty. They must think very highly of the blue stuff to offer that kind of warranty.