1.1    Purpose of the Grease App

• The Grease App is intended for the use by customers of Schaeffler who want to calculate guide values for grease lubrication of Schaeffler rolling element bearings:  

  • Grease amount for initial filling

  • Amount of grease for manual relubrication 

  • Amount of grease per time for relubrication by Schaeffler lubricators

• In addition, the grease operating life and relubrication intervals are calculated and several properties of the greases are listed. 

• The Grease App provides only a limited evaluation of the suitability of the grease. Please note: Not all possibly relevant aspects for the choice of the grease are considered. In case of questions, please contact the Schaeffler engineering service. 

Plain bearings cannot be calculated by the Grease App.

1.2    My bearing is initially lubricated by Schaeffler and can be relubricated: Which lubricating grease should be used?

If you use Schaeffler bearings that are already greased and you have to relubricate these bearings, Schaeffler generally recommends relubrication with a corresponding Arcanol grease, e.g.: GA13 → Multi3, GA14 → Multi 2, GA08 → Load 150, GA28 → Multitop, GA11 → Temp 200.

In the case that other greases are to be used, the miscibility with the original lubricating grease needs to be clarified!

1.3    Which lubricating greases can be mixed with each other?

In case different greases are used for the relubrication than for the initial lubrication, the miscibility of the greases must be definitely checked. Information on the subject of miscibility can be found e.g. at: Arcanol Rolling Bearing Grease

2.1    The operating temperature of the rolling bearing is not known to me exactly. What can I do?

If you do not know the exact operating temperature, please enter the estimated operating temperature. A deviation in the operating temperature usually has the following effect for multi-purpose greases (in case the temperature is above the upper continuous temperature limit): 

• 15K higher temperature: Reduction of grease operating life by approx. 50%

• 10K higher temperature: Reduction of grease operating life by approx. 35%

• 5K higher temperature: Reduction of grease operating life by approx. 20% 

Accordingly, the relubrication interval is reduced and the automatic relubrication quantity per time increases.

Please use the Grease App in order to assess the influence of the temperature by its variation. 

2.2    The exact operating speed is not known to me. How can I proceed?

The rotational speed has an influence on the guide value for grease filling and also on the grease operating life. If unknown, the rotational speed should be ideally measured. If this is not possible, the influence of the speed on the result can be easily checked with the help of the Grease App. 

2.3    Why is there no separate input for a rotating outer ring in the Grease app?  Doesn't this affect the result of the grease operating life and the relubrication period?

With a rotating outer ring, a shorter grease operating life is not generally to be expected. Instead - depending on lubricating grease and operating conditions - also longer grease service life can occur than with a rotating inner ring. 

For the grease operating life with rotating outer ring, the suitability of the grease in combination with the present operating conditions is decisive. In the case of a rotating outer ring, please contact the Schaeffler engineering service for the selection a suitable grease.

3.1    How are the lubricating greases sorted / which lubricating greases are displayed in the Grease App as alternatives? 

The order in which the greases are listed in the Grease App is based on the following criteria:

1. Grease operating life

2. Viscosity ratio κ: greases with κ values in the range 1 to 5 are displayed on the top, followed by greases with a viscosity ratio between 5 to 10

3. Suitability for roller bearings / ball bearings

Please refer also to the complete edition of the results, which lists the results of all eligible Arcanol lubricating greases. 

For you as a customer, further criteria might be relevant like the suitability for special applications like rotating outer ring or vertical shaft arrangements. The Grease App therefore is not intended to replace the personal contact to the Schaeffler engineering service.

3.2    What does it mean if no results are displayed for certain greases?

If no results are displayed for a certain grease, the suitability of the grease was rated as insufficient by the Grease App for the present operating conditions (please refer to the warnings and error messages). The following reasons are possible:

• Additives are needed for the application (load, viscosity ratio kappa), but there is no effective EP-additivation present for the boundary conditions

• Greases that are not suitable for the specified operating temperature (operating temperature below the permissible operating temperature or above the permissible upper operating temperature)

• Exceeding the n*dm limit of the lubricating grease

The assessment of the Grease App is a general one and deviations to it are possible among others based on practical experience. In case of questions, please contact the Schaeffler Engineering Service. 

Please note: An overview of the results for all Arcanol greases can be displayed. 

3.3    What does "upper temperature limit" and "lower temperature limit" in the results output mean?

Upper temperature limit

A lubricating grease should not be operated for a long time near its upper temperature limit, as the grease operating life is then relatively short (see also TPI 176). In this case, the grease selection should be checked. High temperatures are taken into account in the Grease App when the grease operating life and relubrication period is calculated.

Lower temperature limit

The lower temperature limit represents a limit for the start-up of the grease-lubricated rolling bearing. This should not be undercut, otherwise the lubricating greases have a significantly higher consistency than e.g., at room temperature. 

In the case of continuous operation at low temperatures, e.g., slow-running applications in a cold environment: Here, the grease selection should be made in particular with regard to the low temperatures present. The grease operating life and relubrication intervals calculated are not decisive for this case. In the case of such applications, please contact the Schaeffler Engineering Service. 

3.4    How should the relubrication be done? 

Especially for high-speed operation of rolling bearings it is advised to do relubrication in short intervals because the grease distribution is finished earlier for small relubricating amounts. 

Manual relubrication should be carried when the rolling element bearing is rotating and warm.

3.5    Is the adjacent construction taken into account by the Grease App for the calculation of the grease?

The initial and relubrication quantities are to be regarded as guide values and always refer exclusively to the bearing and its cross section. The surrounding as well as free space in the housing nearby the bearing are not taken into account. 

Please note the information in TPI 176 "Lubrication of rolling bearings" on this topic. 
 

Comprehensive information on lubrication and relubrication can be found at the following sources:

• TPI 176 “Lubrication of rolling element bearings” Lubrication of rolling element bearings 

• Products for maintenance, Products for Maintenance

• Overview on Arcanol Rolling Bearing Greases Arcanol Rolling Bearing Greases

• TPI 168 „Arcanol Rolling Bearing Greases“ Arcanol Rolling Bearing Greases

You can obtain individual advice on your application from Schaeffler Engineering Service. 

5.1    What needs to be considered with regard to the handling of lubricating greases?

The lubricants used for greasing may contain components that are hazardous to health. A safety data sheet exists for each lubricant that describes the hazards.

Avoid direct bodily contact with the lubricant and use protective gloves.

5.2    What needs to be considered with regard to disposal?

Any cloths soaked with grease or solvents, excess grease, packaging material and any other waste generated in connection with mounting and dismounting must be disposed of by environmentally acceptable methods. The applicable legal regulations must be observed.