Grease... Trying to Find Best for Axles

Quick question here, because there has been a lot of talk about it, but I didn't want to screw anything up here.

Looking under the truck last night I found all the grease fitting for the axles. The only problem is, I'm not sure exactly what grease to use.

I have a full tube of Lucas Oil "Red and Tacky" (NLGI) but wanted to get some input before I start throwing a bunch in there. It needs to be done, because I'm not sure PO even knew the fittings were there, and I can see it hasn't been done in a while.

I'm just trying to get the best stuff for the truck and run synthetic everything in it.

Thanks for your help.

 

Amsoil makes a Synthetic Polymeric Truck, Chassis and Equipment Grease I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. I'm an Amsoil whore - use a bunch of their stuff religiously.

 

I use Amsoil grease myself, it's really good shit. I use the high lithium complex grease I believe it's called. Great for resisting water wash out and preventing wear. Only downside is you have to order from Amsoil and can't pick it up locally.

 

a long time ago a master mechanic I knew told me that "just about" all grease is the same, there are different types but brand doesn't matter as its all the same grease. he said its hard to make any bad decisions about grease "as long as you are buying the right type of grease"

A "marine" grease will have an aluminum or calcium based thickener...and be much more water resistant than a regular automotive grease. all grease is water resistant but the thicker nature of marine grease is what makes "it" even more water resistant then regular grease.

"marine" grease is the best product for a boat trailer, because the wheels get dunked regularly, and this particular type of grease is more water-resistant. if you have a 4wd truck that is in mud and water all the time then this is the type of grease you should be using everywhere on your truck. if its a road queen that never goes in the mud then regular grease is all you need.

while not "hugely" expensive, marine grease does cost more

 

That makes sense. Yes. I do have a boat, and yes, it gets dunked every weekend during duck season- everything on that gets marine grease... I live in Houston, so we don't have snow storms- we have hurricanes and stuff does "flood." Not my house thankfully, but it does happen in the area. I think I'll look to get some marine grease. I don't care that it's $5.00 more, I'll get the "big" tube.

Any ideas on lithium or anything like that?

 

Does it matter if it's NGLI #1 or NGLI #2?

 

Amsoil Synthetic Water Resistant Grease (NGLI #2)

 

I use Lucas Red n Tacky on my Camburg UCA bushings. And the whole driveline. Good stuff!

 

My Tacoma doesn't have any thing to grease except for the drive shafts, I use #2 high temp. lithium grease, I use Chevron but any major oil company would have good grease, need to be sure what type you need though, some things need a Polly grease, it's the black nasty looking kind.

 

The u-joints get standard bearing grease (or whatever 'improved' bearing grease makes you feel good (Mobil 1 for me)). And the splines of the shafts get a moly based grease. Don't recall off hand which of those is which regarding the #1 or #2 spec requirement.

 

yes. nlgi 2 only. lithium soap based only.

If it has moly no more than 2%. but moly not needed.

if you have a zerk on the skip yoke, that one uses moly.

if you have a 4runner with double cardan, the double cardan uses moly.

 

Red n Tacky #2 grease will work fine especially if you have a tube already, if you grease the truck at the oil change interval the u joints will last the life of the truck, if done regularly

 

Cruiserguy, #2 grease most places, #1 is a little thinner, use in very cold weather, but some gear boxes like corn head stalk rollers on a combine call for #1 all the time.

 

Thanks for all your help and your input. I'm stopping to get some lithium based, synthetic, #2 on the way home and I'll get them cleaned up and knocked out tonight.

Will grease regularly.

 

The difference I noticed in grease is when I use the Lucas r&t on my leaf spring shackles, the clunk comes back after a few days. A month ago I used moly based grease for ford/Lincoln made by valvoline. The clunk hasn't returned since.