Should we stop using Red and Tacky type of grease?

[MapleLeafFarmer]

So this mornings coffee shop talk turned to grease especially in light of the cold temp's we experienced this winter.

General consensus of the Old Farmers Club was Lucas or similar Red and Tacky grease is very commonly used top shelf product. Good stuff. Premium product was well accepted. Very widely used in our area. Just about everyone of us have cases of this stuff in our shops.

But what should a person do in the winter months. Rated down to 32F. On our farm we do nothing we use it even though temp's drop well below its spec min. limit.

The Kubota brand of grease has a much lower acceptable use range.
gets us arguing about whether our general use of non OEM Kubota grease may be a bad choice?
50% higher price but gets us thinking we should all be switching to Kubota grease?

so are these arguments foolish?
if Lucas gives spec. down to 32f should we be concerned when temps go lower?
should we ignore manufacturers spec's and use red and tacky even though their range stops at 32f.?
or this all a one big nothing burger and paying attention to ratings should just be ignored?

I decided its time for a nap and am calling this a nothing burger but those that like to only use Kubota fluids / etc.... might see this in a different light??

 

[#40Fan]

I believe as long as you're using grease, you're doing ok. I'll let everyone try and tell you which is better.

 

[skeets]

I figure if red sticky is good enough for the mining industry, to use on million dollar pieces of equipment it is probably good enough for my light duty things

 

[imnukensc]

It's a nothing burger.

 

[jyoutz]

I use Lucas green that has a lower temperature range and more heavy duty.

 

[hodge]

It works fine in my stuff.

 

[Shawn T. W]

I'm not switching ... What's supposed to happen to it at 30°F? Become hard as a rock, crumble, or permanently adhere to whatever it touches?

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

well that sucks..... I couldn't believe that red and tacky was only good till freeze point. This info. came from the data sheets of the large national oil distributor in our area and seems to be WRONG!!!

I found on the Lucas site where they say -30°F (-34°C) to 540°F (282°C) is the operating range.

So there you go.... our morning discussion was based on social media / internet information. Another reason why I think this AI craze is dangerous.

Perfect example of some stuff can be trusted while other not so much off the internet.

 

[Blue2Orange]

Had been using Lucas Red for years on the now gone NH. Nothing ever seized up or fell off. Never gave the lower operating temp a consideration. Good to now know the 0C is just more IBS. .Thanks for the update.

 

[jimh406]

I found on the Lucas site where they say -30°F (-34°C) to 540°F (282°C) is the operating range.

So there you go.... our morning discussion was based on social media / internet information. Another reason why I think this AI craze is dangerous.

Both the wrong and right information were both from the internet. AI like anything else is only a starting point.

Fwiw, Grok says the following which implies context matters. I guess we have to find out what that means next, wrt tractors.

However, the recommended operating temperature range varies slightly across sources, including retailer descriptions and some product variants:

• Many listings describe a broad effective range of 0°F to 450°F (-18°C to 232°C), especially for the aerosol/spray version.
• Other retailers and specs cite ranges like -15°F to 375°F (-26°C to 191°C) or up to 540°F for high-temperature resistance.
• Some mention performance down to around -30°F (-34°C) in certain contexts.

The grease is designed for good performance in both cold (stays pumpable and doesn't harden excessively) and hot conditions, with excellent heat resistance, water washout resistance, and mechanical stability. It won't melt easily and holds up under heavy loads.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

well that sucks..... I couldn't believe that red and tacky was only good till freeze point. This info. came from the data sheets of the large national oil distributor in our area and seems to be WRONG!!!

I found on the Lucas site where they say -30°F (-34°C) to 540°F (282°C) is the operating range.

So there you go.... our morning discussion was based on social media / internet information. Another reason why I think this AI craze is dangerous.

Perfect example of some stuff can be trusted while other not so much off the internet.

Yup AI = Absolute Idiots !
the proof... just ask how many outcomes there are to a coin toss.

 

[Old Machinist]

Most of my mechanical life I used Valvoline Ford/Lincoln/Mercury spec grease. They changed the name to multi vehicle grease. It is a 3% moly. Never had a failed bearing or seized pin. I have a trailer I built in 1993 that still has the original bearings that were used when I built it with this grease in it. I haven't done anything other than check it for tightness and noise by spinning a wheel since it was put in service.

10 years ago I bought a full size backhoe and started greasing it's pins with the same. It didn't seem like I would get 10 hours run time before the loader pins would begin to squeak. I switched to Amalie Pro Tac 5% moly and found I got much longer run time before needing to grease it. Just sold it this year and the pins were all tight and quiet.

I am not in a cold climate though.

 

[Spam Bot]

Yup AI = Absolute Idiots !
the proof... just ask how many outcomes there are to a coin toss.

While rare, a coin can technically land on its edge, but in standard probability, only the two face sides are considered.

 

[GeoHorn]

If/When it gets to the “minus” temps…. I don’t make my tractor do anything…..(it’s an open-station.)

The dog which adopted us and I stay inside:

 

[lynnmor]

10 years ago I bought a full size backhoe and started greasing it's pins with the same. It didn't seem like I would get 10 hours run time before the loader pins would begin to squeak. I switched to Amalie Pro Tac 5% moly and found I got much longer run time before needing to grease it. Just sold it this year and the pins were all tight and quiet.

It just might be the reason that Kubota specifies a moly grease for the pins. Of course now I will get entangled in a grease/oil debate.

 

[Tarmy]

Been using that stuff for decades on tractors and trucks. Not one problem…regardless of temps. Gotta love the internet. Seems everything I do, say, think, believe, use, wear, drive and most everything I own is wrong, lame, bad for the earf, mean, not fair to the animals and anti everything good.

 

[GeoHorn]

 

[Lil Foot]

When I worked in a production machine shop decades ago, we had a guy who had been oiling/greasing/lubing machines all over the plant for 30+ years.
He was of the opinion that any lube (even if not the recommended lube) was better than no lube at all.
I am of the same opinion.
YMMV.

 

[GeoHorn]

Been using that stuff for decades on tractors and trucks. Not one problem…regardless of temps. Gotta love the internet. Seems everything I do, say, think, believe, use, wear, drive and most everything I own is wrong, lame, bad for the earf, mean, not fair to the animals and anti everything good.

….and don’t forget “everything you post”.