How to determine whether the grease has deteriorated?

The following aspects can be used to determine whether the grease has deteriorated:

1. Appearance inspection

Color change

Normal grease has uniform color. If the color of the grease becomes significantly darker, lighter, or has uneven spots, it may be a sign of deterioration. For example, the originally light yellow grease becomes dark brown.

Texture change

Observe the consistency and texture of the grease. Deteriorated grease may become thinner or thicker, or even clump. Touch it gently with your fingers or tools to feel whether its viscosity and smoothness are abnormal.

2. Odor judgment

Smell the grease. Normal grease usually does not have a strong odor. If you smell a pungent sour, smelly or other abnormal odor, it means that the grease may have deteriorated.

3. Equipment performance

Abnormal temperature

If the temperature of the lubrication part of the equipment increases significantly during use, it may be caused by the deterioration of the grease, resulting in a decrease in lubrication performance and increased friction.

Increased noise

Deteriorated grease cannot effectively reduce friction and wear, and may cause greater noise when the equipment is running.

Increased wear

Check the wear of the equipment. If the wear rate is found to be accelerated and abnormal wear marks appear on the surface of the parts, it may be that the grease has lost its protective effect and has deteriorated.

4. Detection method

Dropping point test

Dropping point refers to the temperature at which the grease reaches a certain fluidity under specified conditions. A professional dropping point tester can be used for detection. If the dropping point is significantly reduced, it means that the thermal stability of the grease has decreased and it may have deteriorated.

Cone penetration test

Cone penetration reflects the consistency of the grease. The cone penetration of the grease is measured by a professional cone penetration tester. If it is significantly different from the standard value, it may be that the grease has deteriorated and caused the consistency to change.