Lubricant selection

Selecting a grease can be a delicate process. SKF has developed several tools in order to facilitate the selection of the most suitable lubricant. The wide range of tools available includes those from easy-to-use application driven tables to advanced software allowing for grease selection based upon detailed working conditions.

The basic 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 speed1) up to 300 000 2) Temperature: 50 to 100 °C (120 to 230 °F) Load: C/P ~8 3)	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

¹⁾ rotational speed = rotational speed, r/min x 0.5 (D+d), mm.

²⁾ for ball bearings, spherical roller bearings, tapered roller bearings and CARB bearings rotational speed up to 210 000 and for cylindrical roller bearings rotational speed up to 270.000.

³⁾ C/P = load ratio, where C = basic dynamic load rating, kN , and P = equivalent dynamic bearing load, kN.

The Grease selection chart (PDF, see link below) provides you with a complete overview of SKF greases. The chart includes the main selection parameters, such as temperature, speed and load, as well as additional performance information.

LubeSelect for SKF Greases (see link below) provides you a user friendly online tool to select the right grease and suggest lubrication frequency and quantity, while taking the particular conditions of your application into account. General guidelines for typical greases for different applications are also available.