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Hydraulic breakout forces that can exceed hundreds of thousands of pounds... Dirty, wet and muddy work environments that are home to damaging contaminants... It's no wonder that articulation joints, pins and bushings can seize and lock up if not given the appropriate care.

To keep moving parts functioning properly for a long and productive life, it's essential to maintain regular greasing intervals using the appropriate grease formulation.

"When you grease a bearing, a universal joint, connecting rod, etc., it's important to re-grease it at the proper intervals to pump out the old grease that is contaminated with water, dirt or even metal from any wear that may have happened during the application," says Walt Silveira, U.S. technical services manager, Shell Lubricants. "Selecting the right grease will help extend service life. It's about reliability and longevity of the equipment to keep it from wearing prematurely."

Thick or thin?
There are several things to consider when selecting a grease. One of the first you will want to evaluate is pumpability.

Greases are classified according to National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) grades, which rate a grease's thickness or fluidity. Essentially, the difference between grades boils down to how much soap, or thickener, is added to the base oil - the higher the grade number, the greater the amount of soap used, and the greater the tendency for the grease to stay put in heavily loaded components.