Selecting a SKF grease can be a delicate process. Poor lubrication accounts for more than 36% of premature bearing failures. If including contamination, this number rises to well above 50%. The importance of proper lubrication and cleanliness is self-evident in the determination of bearing life.
SKF basic bearing grease selection chart
The basic bearing grease selection chart provides you with quick suggestions on the most commonly used greases in typical applications.
| Basic grease selection table | ||
| Generally use if: | ||
|
Speed = rotational speed* up to 300 000 ** Temperature = 50 to 100 °C (120 to 230 °F) Load = C/P ~8 *** |
LGMT 2 | General purpose |
| Unless: | ||
|
Expected bearing temperature continuously >100 °C (210 °F) |
LGHP 2 | High temperature |
|
Expected bearing temperature continuously >150 °C (300 °F), demands for radiation resistance |
LGET 2 | Extremely high temperature |
|
Low ambient –50 °C (–60 °F), expected bearing temperature <50 °C (120 °F) |
LGLT 2 | Low temperature |
|
Shock loads, heavy loads, frequent start-up / shut-down |
LGHB 2 | High load |
| Food processing industry | LGFP 2 | Food grade |
|
Biodegradable, demands for low toxicity |
LGGB 2 | Biodegradable |
NOTE:
* rotational speed = rotational speed, r/min x 0.5 (D+d), mm.
** for ball bearings, for roller bearings SRB/TRB/CARB rotational speed up to 210 000 and for CRB rotational speed up to 270.000.
*** C/P = load ratio, where C = basic dynamic load rating, kN , and P = equivalent dynamic bearing load, kN.
Bearing operating parameters
| Temperature | |||
| L | = Low | <50 °C | (120 °F) |
| M | = Medium | 50 to 100 °C | (120 to 230 °F) |
| H | = High | >100 °C | (210 °F) |
| EH | = Extremely high | >150 °C | (300 °F) |
| Load | ||
| VH | = Very high | C/P <2 |
| H | = High | C/P ~4 |
| M | = Medium | C/P ~8 |
| L | = Low | C/P ≥15 |
| Speed | for ball bearings | |
| EH | = Extremely high | n dm over 700 000 |
| VH | = Very high | n dm up to 700 000 |
| H | = High | n dm up to 500 000 |
| M | = Medium | n dm up to 300 000 |
| L | = Low | n dm below 100 000 |
| Speed |
for roller bearings SRB/TRB/CARB |
CRB | |
| H | = High | n dm over 210 000 | n dm over 270 000 |
| M | = Medium | n dm up to 210 000 | n dm up to 270 000 |
| L | = Low | n dm up to 75 000 | n dm up to 75 000 |
| VL | = Very low | n dm below 30 000 | n dm below 30 000 |
SKF bearing grease selection chart
| Grease | Description | Application example |
|---|---|---|
| LGMT 2 |
General purpose industrial and automotive |
Automotive wheel bearings Conveyors and fans Small electric motors |
| LGMT 3 |
General purpose industrial and automotive |
Bearings with d>100 mm Vertical shaft or outer bearing ring rotation Car, truck and trailer wheel bearings |
| LGEP 2 | Extreme pressure |
Forming and press section of paper mills Work roll bearings in steel industry Heavy machinery, vibrating screens |
| LGWA 2 |
Wide temperature 4), extreme pressure |
Wheel bearings in cars, trailers and trucks Washing machines Electric motors |
| LGGB 2 |
Biodegradable, low toxicity 3) |
Agricultural and forestry equipment Construction and earthmoving equipment Water treatment and irrigation |
| LGFP 2 | Food compatible |
Food processing equipment Wrapping machines Bottling machines |
| LGFQ 2 |
Food compatible High load |
Pellet presses Mills Mixers |
| LGBB 2 |
Wind turbine blade and yaw bearing grease |
Wind turbine blade and yaw slewing bearings |
| LGLT 2 |
Low temperature, extremely high speed |
Textile and machine tool spindles Small electric motors and robots Printing cylinders |
| LGWM 1 |
Extreme pressure, low temperature |
Main shaft of wind turbines Centralised lubrication systems Spherical roller thrust bearing applications |
| LGWM 2 |
High load, wide temperature |
Main shaft of wind turbines Heavy duty off road or marine applications Snow exposed applications |
| LGEM 2 |
High viscosity plus solid lubricants |
Jaw crushers Construction machinery Vibrating machinery |
| LGEV 2 |
Extremely high viscosity with solid lubricants |
Trunnion bearings Support and thrust rollers on rotary kilns and dryers Slewing ring bearings |
| LGHB 2 |
EP high viscosity, high temperature 5) |
Steel on steel plain bearings Dryer section of paper mills Work roll bearings and continuous casting in steel industry |
| LGHP 2 |
High performance polyurea grease |
Electric motors Fans, even at high speed High speed ball bearings at medium and high temperatures |
| LGED 2 |
High temperature Harsh environment |
Bakery/brick oven equipment Glass industry Vacuum pumps |
| LGET 2 | Extreme temperature |
Bakery equipment (ovens) Wafer baking machines Textile dryers |
| Grease | Temperature range | Temp. | Speed | Load | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTL | HTPL | ||||
| LGMT 2 |
–30 °C (–20 °F) |
120 °C (250 °F) |
M | M | L to M |
| LGMT 3 |
–30 °C (–20 °F) |
120 °C (250 °F) |
M | M | L to M |
| LGEP 2 |
–20 °C (–5 °F) |
110 °C (230 °F) |
M | L to M | H |
| LGWA 2 |
–30 °C (–20 °F) |
140 °C (285 °F) |
M to H | L to M | L to H |
| LGGB 2 |
–40 °C (–40 °F) |
90 °C (195 °F) |
L to M | L to M | M to H |
| LGFP 2 |
–20 °C (–5 °F) |
110 °C (230 °F) |
M | M | L to M |
| LGFQ 2 |
–40 °C (–40 °F) |
140 °C (285 °F) |
L to H | VL to M | L to VH |
| LGBB 2 |
–40 °C (–40 °F) |
120 °C (250 °F) |
L to M | VL | M to H |
| LGLT 2 |
–50 °C (–60 °F) |
110 °C (230 °F) |
L to M | M to EH | L |
| LGWM 1 |
–30 °C (–20 °F) |
110 °C (230 °F) |
L to M | L to M | H |
| LGWM 2 |
–40 °C (–40 °F) |
110 °C (230 °F) |
L to M | L to M | L to H |
| LGEM 2 |
–20 °C (–5 °F) |
120 °C (250 °F) |
M | VL | H to VH |
| LGEV 2 |
–10 °C (15 °F) |
120 °C (250 °F) |
M | VL | H to VH |
| LGHB 2 |
–20 °C (–5 °F) |
150 °C (300 °F) |
M to H | VL to M | L to VH |
| LGHP 2 |
–40 °C (–40 °F) |
150 °C (300 °F) |
M to H | M to H | L to M |
| LGED 2 |
–30 °C (–20 °F) |
240 °C (464 °F) |
VH | L to M | H to VH |
| LGET 2 |
–40 °C (–40 °F) |
260 °C (500 °F) |
VH | L to M | H to VH |
| Grease | Thickener/base oil | NLGI |
Base oil viscosity |
Vertical shaft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LGMT 2 |
Lithium soap / mineral oil |
2 | 110 | • |
| LGMT 3 |
Lithium soap / mineral oil |
3 | 125 | + |
| LGEP 2 |
Lithium soap / mineral oil |
2 | 200 | • |
| LGWA 2 |
Lithium complex soap / mineral oil |
2 | 185 | • |
| LGGB 2 |
Lithium-calcium soap / synthetic ester oil |
2 | 110 | • |
| LGFP 2 |
Aluminium complex / medical white oil |
2 | 150 | • |
| LGFQ 2 |
Complex calcium sulphonate/PAO |
1-2 | 320 | • |
| LGBB 2 |
Lithium complex soap / synthetic PAO oil |
2 | 68 | |
| LGLT 2 |
Lithium soap / synthetic PAO oil |
2 | 18 | • |
| LGWM 1 |
Lithium soap / mineral oil |
1 | 200 | |
| LGWM 2 |
Complex calcium sulphonate / synthetic PAO oil / mineral oil |
1-2 | 80 | • |
| LGEM 2 |
Lithium soap / mineral oil |
2 | 500 | • |
| LGEV 2 |
Lithium-calcium soap / mineral oil |
2 | 1020 | • |
| LGHB 2 |
Complex calcium sulphonate / mineral oil |
2 | 425 | • |
| LGHP 2 |
Di-urea / mineral oil |
2-3 | 96 | + |
| LGED 2 |
PTFE / synthetic fluorinated polyether oil |
2 | 460 | • |
| Grease |
Fast outer ring rotation |
Oscillating movements |
Severe Vibrations |
Shock load or frequent start up |
Rust inhibiting properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LGMT 2 | + | + | |||
| LGMT 3 | • | + | • | ||
| LGEP 2 | • | + | + | + | |
| LGWA 2 | • | • | • | + | + |
| LGGB 2 | + | + | + | • | |
| LGFP 2 | + | ||||
| LGFQ 2 | • | + | + | + | + |
| LGBB 2 | + | + | + | + | |
| LGLT 2 | • | • | |||
| LGWM 1 | + | + | + | ||
| LGWM 2 | • | + | + | + | + |
| LGEM 2 | + | + | + | + | |
| LGEV 2 | + | + | + | + | |
| LGHB 2 | + | + | + | + | + |
| LGHP 2 | • | • | + | ||
| LGED 2 | • | + | • | • | • |
| LGET 2 | + | + | • | • | • |
1) LTL = Low Temperature Limit
HTPL = High Temperature Performance Limit
2) mm2/s at 40 °C (105 °F) = cSt.
3) LGGB 2 can withstand peak temperatures of 120 °C (250 °F)
4) LGWA 2 can withstand peak temperatures of 220 °C (430 °F)
5) LGHB 2 can withstand peak temperatures of 200 °C (390 °F)
● = Suitable
+ = Recommended
SKF grease type
Grease for wide applications has the following products:
- General purpose industrial and automotive NLGI 2
- General purpose industrial and automotive NLGI 3
- High load, extreme pressure
- High load, extreme pressure, wide temperat
- Food grade
- Biodegradable
Grease for special requirements has the following products:
- Food grade
- Biodegradable
- Wind turbine blade and yaw
Grease for low temperatures
- Low temperature, extremely high speed
- High load, wide temperature
- Extreme pressure, low temperature
Grease for high loads
- High loads, wide temperature
- High viscosity with solid lubricants
- Extremely high viscosity with solid lubricants
- High load, high temperature, high viscosity
Grease for high temperatures
- High load, high temperature, high viscosity
- High performance, high temperature
- Extreme temperature, extreme condition
