Trailer Hub Grease

boater2018

boater2018

Member
Feb 26, 2018
148
Boat Info
2000 Sea Ray 210 Sundeck
Engines
Mercruiser 5.0 EFI
I was doing some preventative maintenance on my fishing boat trailer and have had issues getting the right seal for it, I guess it’s hard to find, go figure. Anyway, the previous owner was very meticulous with maintenance and included a number of extra parts with the boat, including an extra hub, greased and ready to go. The grease on that hub is blue, so I figure it’s blue marine grease. I picked up a new tube of marine/offroad grease at Tractor Supply the other day and packed my new bearings with it, planning to use it on the new hub. After having issues finding an evidently hard to find seal, I was considering putting the spare hub on and using it until I get this hub rebuilt. The Tractor Supply Marine grease is a different color, more of a brownish red color, also the grease in my gun is automotive wheel bearing grease, a reddish color. Can the blue marine grease that is in the spare hub mix with the different color marine grease or the automotive grease in the gun? I’m considering replacing the grease in the gun with the marine grease and using that on everything I have, which is trailers, boats, and mowers.

Link to the TSC grease:
 
I'm no expert, but I have always been told to not mix regular wheel bearing grease with marine grease.
I'm in the process of repacking my 5th wheel bearings and I'm thinking about using marine grease in them because that's what I keep in my grease gun.
Here's a Q&A from Etrailer about it. I buy from them occasionally, good company.
 
It's not "always" about the color - it's about the formulation as to whether or not you can mix. Don't assume all "marine" grease is the same, either -- or of high quality just because it says marine.

I've made it very simple on myself - Mercury makes a grease called Extreme Grease. It can actually be used in all applications. That's the only thing I keep in my guns now.
 
The link I attached has very detailed info on grease.
 
Not all seals are the same either. You can buy the cheap ones at the home improvement store that don’t even have the spring in it. Or you can buy a quality one at an automotive supply store.
 
Eons ago I had 2 different cans of marine grease. Not enough to do both trailers, so I mixed them. Turned to "water" and bled out all over the wheels and tires.

For the last 2 trailers I called the manufacturer with the SN and asked what grease was used. Bought the same, no problem.

If I don't know, I COMPLETELY repack and use the same grease year after year. OK, OK, I have to inventory 4 brands now, but the safety down the road is priceless.
 
They are readily mixable as long as they are the same base, calcium, lithium, aluminum complex, etc. , or the two bases are compatible.

Get a compatibility chart like this one to verify. I personally don’t mix bases even if claimed compatibility.

1711145547905.jpeg
 
Mine are lithium complex and calcium sulfonate, so should be ok. I will probably still swap the grease out of my gun to the new marine grease. I was able to hopefully get the right seal today and get it fixed up
 
Seals should never be a problem. When you take one out all you need to do is replace it in like kind. They should have a part number on it that is easily cross-referenced.

Don't go to a hardware store, or maybe even a marina. An industrial supply store that carries seals is the place to go.

You want one that has the spring inside. As much as I hate chinacrap, a USA seal is getting harder and harder to find.

Auto grease is a nono. I personally use a lithium base, but there are other marine products that work well too.
 
Not to hi-jack the thread, but the shop I bought used to be a oil and gas fishing tool shop, there is a 55 gallon drum of grease base, I have no idea what to do with it. It is of no use to me, but I bet someone could use it.
IMG_1367.jpeg
 
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