Type of grease ?

[Oldsaltydog]

I plan to grease my trailer bearings soon. I just happen to have a can of red-colored "high speed" automotive type as well as a can of white-colored "marine" bearing grease. Is one preferable over the other? The boat and trailer will be on a 400 mile road trip down to the Keys.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Type of grease ?

Trailer bearings should have a water proof trailer wheel bearing grease. Also You should not mix types of grease so put in the same type as before or clean all the old grease out and start with a new type. A lot of factory trailers come with a blue boat trailer grease by staylube.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Type of grease ?

Make sure that the grease you use is for marine purpose and hi temp wheel bearing.Any marine store has this type of grease as does Walmart.I would pick up and extra tube and bring the grease gun along for the trip.What you DONT want to do is submerge the trailer right after traveling a long distance.Give the bearings some time to cool before submerging.That is usually what starts the beginning of the end for wheel bearings.The grease expands when hot and when submerged hot,the grease and bearings and hub cool rapidly creating a vacuum and leaving a void where there was grease and sucking in water.This you dont want.Charlie

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Type of grease ?

"Water proof" is misleading. This type of grease is not "water proof" in the sense that it prevents water, it just performs better when any water is introduced. Also, hi temp grease was developed for bearings subject to the high temperatures introduced by disc brakes. Just use a good grade of marine bearing grease and check regularly.

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: Type of grease ?

Thanks for the help.