Wheel bearing grease: specification, compatibility and sealed hubs
Choose wheel bearing grease by the wheel-end design and its documented lubricant specification, not by colour or a 'multipurpose' label. A serviceable bearing, an oil-lubricated hub and a factory-prepared sealed assembly are different systems. Identify the system before deciding whether to repack, replenish or leave the factory fill untouched.
On this page19 sections ⌄
NLGI 2, GC-LB and lithium complex do not mean the same thing
Read each label as a separate specification. One matching label does not replace the rest of the data sheet.
On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to read all columns.
| Label or property | What to compare | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| NLGI consistency grade | The required grease consistency | A complete wheel-bearing performance approval |
| GC / GC-LB | Wheel-bearing performance category; GC-LB also includes a chassis category | Approval for every axle, duty or wheel-end design |
| Lithium / lithium complex | The actual thickener system | That any two products can safely be mixed |
| Base oil and viscosity | The lubricant data required by the application | Something that can be calculated from grease colour |
| Temperature and water exposure | The specified operating conditions and limits | A universal temperature limit for the bearing itself |
A real specification example, not a universal recommendation
Timken's January 2024 GR224 data sheet describes an NLGI No. 2, lithium-complex automotive grease with GC-LB certification. Those are distinct properties of that product, not a rule that all lithium greases suit wheel bearings.
The same sheet recommends removing the previous grease before changing products. Its compatibility guidance applies to that formulation; it is not a licence to mix two unidentified greases. Use the current product sheet and the axle or hub requirement together.
BearingScope uses this example to show what a verifiable specification looks like. We do not sell the grease, rank a 'best' product or claim approval for an unverified vehicle.
Questions to settle before choosing or adding grease
Can I use any lithium, white lithium or multipurpose grease?
The generic description is insufficient. Compare the exact product's performance category, consistency and application limits with the equipment requirement. Keep an unsupported product match as unknown, not approved.
Does a sealed hub need repacking?
Do not assume so. Timken Wheel-Pac is an example supplied pre-set, pre-greased and pre-sealed. Identify the actual assembly and follow its service scope; a repacking procedure for loose tapered bearings is a different case.
What about marine, disc-brake or racing grease?
These words describe application demands, not a single interchangeable specification. Record immersion, operating duty and the exact axle or hub requirement before comparing products.
Can grease fix an already noisy wheel bearing?
A lubricant choice does not establish the cause or condition of a noisy wheel end. Use the noise and inspection references rather than treating extra grease as a repair.
What if I only know the bearing number?
Search that number to identify construction and catalogue facts. The vehicle or axle lubrication requirement can still be missing; a bearing-size match does not supply it.
Find a named wheel-bearing grease: product and application reference
Start with the exact product name, not the brand or colour alone. The records below identify published wheel-bearing applications and selected specification fields; they are not an interchange list or a best-to-worst ranking. A listing does not approve a particular car, trailer, motorcycle, bicycle or sealed hub.
Type a brand, product or thickener into the table filter. A dash means that a value has not been established from the cited document, not that the grease has no rating. Manufacturer statements of meeting a specification are distinguished from statements of certification. Source editions are listed below.
11 reference rows. Filters apply as you type.
On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to read all columns.
| Exact product | Consistency / thickener | Published performance classification | Wheel-bearing scope and selection boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Red 'N' Tacky | NLGI 2 / calcium sulfonate, current formula | Manufacturer states GC-LB certification | Automotive wheel bearings and chassis are listed. Check the formula/version note before changing grease. |
| Lucas Marine Grease | Consistency grade not explicitly tabulated in the reviewed PDS / overbased calcium sulfonate | Manufacturer states GC-LB certification | Trailer wheel bearings are listed. The PDS excludes centralized dispensing systems requiring NLGI 1 or softer grease. |
| Lucas X-Tra Heavy Duty | Consistency grade not explicitly stated in the reviewed PDS / polyurea | Manufacturer states GC-LB and HPM Core +HL +LT certification | A GC-LB reference candidate; the same PDS also lists high-speed and electric-motor bearings. Polyurea is not automatic permission to mix with the old grease. |
| Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease | NLGI 2 / lithium complex; synthetic base oil | Manufacturer states meets/exceeds GC-LB | Disc-brake wheel bearings are expressly listed. Do not take the larger temperature claim as an unconditional continuous-service limit. |
| AMSOIL Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease (GLC) | NLGI 2 / calcium sulfonate complex; synthetic base oil | Manufacturer states GC-LB and HPM performance | Wheel bearings and automotive applications are listed. Match the equipment requirement rather than treating synthetic as a universal upgrade. |
| AMSOIL Synthetic Water-Resistant Grease (GWR) | NLGI 2 / calcium sulfonate complex; synthetic base oil | Manufacturer states GC-LB and HPM+WR performance | For specified NLGI 2 GC/LB applications with frequent moisture exposure; the manufacturer includes automotive wheel bearings. |
| Castrol Premium Heavy Duty — New Zealand | NLGI 2 / lithium complex | GC-LB claim not established from this regional page | The regional application statement includes wheel bearings subject to long high-speed journeys or increased hub temperature from braking. Do not transfer the record to another Castrol product. |
| Valvoline Multi-Vehicle High Temperature Red Grease | NLGI 2 / lithium complex | Manufacturer labels GC-LB | Disc-brake wheel bearings are listed. Red colour alone does not identify this formulation. |
| Valvoline Full Synthetic Moly-Fortified Gray Grease | NLGI 2 / lithium complex | Manufacturer labels GC-LB | A named moly-fortified automotive grease, not a rule approving every moly grease. Confirm the equipment specification and the exact formulation. |
| Chevron Starplex EP 2 | NLGI 2 / lithium complex | Manufacturer states GC-LB certification for EP grades 1 and 2 | The reviewed Starplex EP literature includes wheel-bearing applications. EP 2, EP 00 and EP 2 M3 are distinct records, not interchangeable labels. |
| Timken Automotive Wheel Bearing Grease GR224 | NLGI 2 / lithium complex | GC-LB in the January 2024 product reference | Use the existing documented GR224 example above. A Timken bearing part number alone does not select this grease for every machine. |
No verified row matches these filters. Clear a field to widen the reference; an empty result does not prove that a part does not exist.
Compare like-for-like technical fields
The following are manufacturer typical values, not product acceptance tolerances. Base-oil viscosity at 40°C is measured in mm²/s, numerically the same as cSt. It is not the NLGI consistency grade. Higher viscosity is not automatically better for a fast bearing.
Dropping point is a laboratory property of the grease, not a maximum bearing temperature. No service-temperature limit is derived from it here. Where an operating range is shown, the equipment, seals, speed, load and lubrication interval must still be checked.
7 reference rows. Filters apply as you type.
On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to read all columns.
| Product | Base-oil viscosity at 40°C | Dropping point — source unit | Operating-temperature evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Red 'N' Tacky | 144 cSt | >579°F | Not specified as an operating range in the reviewed PDS. |
| Lucas Marine Grease | 120 cSt | 570°F | Not specified as an operating range in the reviewed PDS. |
| Lucas X-Tra Heavy Duty | 122 cSt | Minimum 562°F (294°C) | No numerical continuous operating range established from this PDS. |
| Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease | 150 mm²/s | 300°C | The page gives both −40 to 150°C under an operating-range label and a separate −50 to 246°C claim; retain this discrepancy instead of certifying a temperature limit. |
| AMSOIL GLC | 170 cSt | >600°F (>316°C) | PDS operating range: −40 to 350°F (−40 to 177°C). |
| AMSOIL GWR | 170 cSt | >600°F (>316°C) | PDS operating range: −40 to 350°F (−40 to 177°C). |
| Chevron Starplex EP 2 | 220 cSt | 255°C (491°F) | PDS: −40 to 177°C; minimum assumes grease already in place, and maximum requires daily relubrication. See the source conditions below. |
No verified row matches these filters. Clear a field to widen the reference; an empty result does not prove that a part does not exist.
Lucas Red 'N' Tacky, Marine and X-Tra Heavy Duty are different products
For the question 'is Red and Tacky grease good for wheel bearings?', the current Red 'N' Tacky PDS explicitly includes automotive wheel bearings and GC-LB certification. That establishes a documented application category, not approval for an unidentified wheel end.
Lucas reports a change from lithium-complex to calcium-sulfonate thickener in Red 'N' Tacky. Do not combine old formulation data with the April 2025 PDS. The formula announcement recommends a complete grease changeover even while describing compatibility with the former product.
Marine Grease is a separate calcium-sulfonate record with trailer wheel-bearing use. X-Tra Heavy Duty uses polyurea. Their product names, GC-LB statements and viscosity fields can be compared above, but a colour match or a shared brand is not evidence of mixture compatibility.
Mobilgrease XHP 222, XHP 222 Special and XHP 223: do not move claims between columns
The reviewed Mobil XHP page describes several grades in one table. The severe truck wheel-bearing recommendation belongs to XHP 223, not automatically to XHP 222. A heading containing '222' does not make every paragraph on that page a 222 approval.
On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to read all columns.
| Exact designation | Grade / base-oil viscosity at 40°C | What the reviewed source actually distinguishes |
|---|---|---|
| Mobilgrease XHP 222 | NLGI 2 / 220 mm²/s | Lithium complex; industrial, marine, chassis and farm-equipment applications. A wheel-end-specific approval is still needed. |
| Mobilgrease XHP 222 Special | NLGI 2 / 220 mm²/s | Separate formulation containing 0.75% molybdenum disulfide; do not omit Special when identifying it. |
| Mobilgrease XHP 223 | NLGI 3 / 220 mm²/s | The source specifically assigns severe truck wheel-bearing and vibration-related rolling-bearing applications to this grade. |
Castrol and Valvoline: match the named product, not a general grease label
On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to read all columns.
| Name being searched | Verified distinction | What this does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Castrol Spheerol EPL 2 | The New Zealand page identifies a lithium NLGI 2 grade within a range for plain, roller and ball bearings. | It does not make every EPL grade a disc-brake wheel-bearing recommendation. An implausible temperature rendering on that page is not reproduced here. |
| Castrol Spheerol LMM | The same regional page lists NLGI 2 lithium-soap grease with molybdenum disulfide, aimed at shock-loaded ball joints and CV joints. | That application statement alone does not approve LMM for the customer's wheel bearing. |
| Castrol Premium Heavy Duty | This is the regional product with the explicit high-temperature wheel-bearing application statement above. | It is not an automatic substitution for EPL 2, LMM or an unidentified marine grease. |
| Valvoline Heavy Duty Crimson | The reviewed manufacturer page identifies lithium 12-hydroxy soap and commercial-fleet use. | A wheel-bearing FAQ recommending another Valvoline product is not a Crimson approval. Crimson and Multi-Vehicle High Temperature Red must remain separate. |
| Valvoline Full Synthetic Moly-Fortified Gray | Its GC-LB and NLGI 2 labels identify this specific product. | Neither 'synthetic' nor 'moly' supplies an equipment-specific approval, grease quantity or mixing instruction. |
Temperature, water and changeover: conditions that must stay with the number
For Chevron Starplex EP 2, the March 2025 GR-35 sheet qualifies its temperature table: the low value applies with grease already in place, not to pumping through a dispensing system; the upper value assumes daily relubrication. A table that drops these conditions would overstate the range.
A water-washout percentage without its test temperature is not enough for a fair ranking. Likewise, laboratory bearing-life hours and four-ball weld loads are not a promised road-service interval or an allowable wheel load. This reference deliberately does not rank products from mismatched test conditions.
Before a changeover, identify the installed grease and confirm a permitted removal or purge procedure for that assembly. Do not flush an assembled vehicle hub while operating it just because an industrial product bulletin describes a running-machine procedure. Keep grease off brakes, and do not open a presealed hub merely to use a product listed here.
Which documents support these records?
Source review: 2 October 2026, China time. The following document dates describe the referenced editions; they do not guarantee that every container in service uses the same formulation. Product data sheets describe performance; a current, local-language safety data sheet is a different document. This page is not an SDS download or a substitute for one.
On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to read all columns.
| Record | Reviewed edition / source | Scope retained |
|---|---|---|
| Lucas Red 'N' Tacky | Lucas PDS — 14 April 2025; manufacturer formula-change notice | Current product values separated from former lithium-complex formulation. |
| Lucas Marine | Lucas PDS — 26 March 2024 | Trailer use and centralized-system consistency restriction. |
| Lucas X-Tra Heavy Duty | Lucas PDS — 11 February 2026 | Polyurea chemistry, certifications and typical values; consistency grade not explicitly stated. |
| AMSOIL GLC / GWR | Manufacturer bulletins G1279, September 2025 / G1281, December 2025 | Each named product's chemistry, classification and technical fields. |
| Chevron Starplex EP 2 | Chevron GR-35 — 15 March 2025 | EP 2 column and temperature footnotes, not the EP M3 column. |
| Mobil 1 / Mobilgrease XHP | Manufacturer US product references, reviewed 2 October 2026 China time | Unresolved temperature claims and grade-specific applications are retained separately. |
| Castrol | Manufacturer New Zealand automotive grease reference | Regional product scope only; unreliable rendered temperature omitted. |
| Valvoline | Manufacturer product pages for Red, Full Synthetic Gray and Crimson | Product identity and application statements are not transferred between products. |
| Timken GR224 | Timken automotive wheel-bearing grease reference — January 2024 | Existing documented example, not a universal Timken machine-grease chart. |
Questions a product comparison can—and cannot—answer
Which is the best wheel-bearing grease?
There is no defensible universal winner from these records. First check whether the wheel end is serviceable and grease-filled; then compare the required classification, viscosity, temperature conditions, water exposure and approved maintenance practice. The table supplies identifiable candidates and the fields that distinguish them, not a performance league table.
Can I replace an unknown red grease with another red grease?
No compatibility conclusion follows from colour. Even the same product name can span a formulation change, as the Red 'N' Tacky version note shows. Identify both greases and the assembly's permitted changeover method.
Does this page provide a grease MSDS or SDS?
No. A safety document must match the exact product, market, language and current edition. The performance information on this page is not a safety data sheet; SDS files are not hosted here.
Does 'wheel bearing grease' include oil-filled or sealed-for-life hubs?
Not automatically. A grease-filled serviceable bearing, oil-lubricated hub and sealed unit have different service requirements. Follow the linked hub-system and repacking references before choosing a lubricant or tool.
How to pack a serviceable tapered wheel bearing with grease
First establish that the cone is serviceable and that the specified grease is suitable. Timken MDV21 describes these packing methods; they do not authorize opening a sealed hub or reusing damaged bearings.
Filling the cone is not filling the entire hub. Excess cavity grease can churn and overheat; use the actual hub instructions for quantity. Keep brake surfaces free from lubricant. Never spin a bearing with compressed air.
Packing does not set endplay, establish seal condition or supply a nut torque. Finish inspection, reassembly and adjustment under the identified axle procedure. For trailers, the separate repacking and adjustment guides retain system-specific limits.
On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to read all columns.
| Method | How grease enters the bearing | Completion check |
|---|---|---|
| By hand | With clean hands or suitable clean gloves, work grease into the cone's wide end while moving around its circumference | Grease emerges uniformly at the narrow end; coat the outside as directed |
| Mechanical packer | For the illustrated funnel-type packer, position the narrow end downward and use its conical retainer to force grease through the roller spaces | Follow the particular packer's instructions and confirm complete distribution |
What the evidence can — and cannot — tell you
| Observation or context | Interpretation to consider | Verification needed |
|---|---|---|
| Serviceable bearing and grease-filled hub | A repacking procedure may apply | Identify the axle or hub specification and the complete grease product. |
| Pre-greased, pre-sealed assembly | Factory preparation is part of the assembly specification | Do not transfer an open tapered-bearing packing procedure to it. |
| Oil-bath or specialist hybrid hub | Its lubricant system is not a grease-filled hub | Keep the required fluid type, level and sealing instructions with the hub identity. |
| Unknown grease or maintenance history | Compatibility is not established | Identify both products or plan the specified lubricant-change procedure before adding more. |
Plan the work safely
Identify and record
Record the vehicle or trailer, axle identification, hub type and full bearing marking. Use the vehicle directory for historical part references, not as a grease approval.
Check the context
Make a two-column record: the equipment requirement on one side and the proposed lubricant data sheet on the other. Compare each requirement separately; a blank field remains unknown.
Verify before acting
Check how the old product will be removed and how seals, brake surfaces and the lubricant path will be protected. Do not select a grease only because a different product has the same colour.
Keep the decision traceable
Retain the lubricant name, data-sheet revision and actual service date with the bearing record. For a serviceable tapered arrangement, continue to the separate repacking guide; use the equipment instructions for the final procedure.
Capture the information a model search cannot guess
Keep this checklist with your inspection or comparison. Checking a box only records that you have collected the item; it does not certify the bearing.
0 of 4 information groups recorded.
Technical basis & editorial scope
Original BearingScope workflow, written for catalogue research and comparison. Manufacturer material is used to check principles, not copied as a product endorsement or substituted for model-specific instructions. Reviewed 1 October 2026.
- NLGI — GC certification and grease terminology — Wheel-bearing performance category; vehicle requirements can be more restrictive
- NLGI — Technical FAQs, questions 5, 6, 16 and 20 — Consistency versus viscosity, mixing limitations and boat-trailer lubrication considerations
- Timken — GR224 automotive grease data sheet, 25 January 2024 — Documented example of NLGI No. 2 lithium-complex GC-LB grease and product-specific changeover guidance
- Timken — Wheel-Pac product overview — An example of a pre-set, pre-greased, pre-sealed wheel-end assembly; not every hub
- Dexter — Grease and oil caps — Separate grease, oil and hybrid wheel-end lubrication systems
- Lucas Red 'N' Tacky technical data — April 2025 — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- Lucas Marine Grease technical data — March 2024 — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- Lucas X-Tra Heavy Duty technical data — February 2026 — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- Lucas Red 'N' Tacky formulation-change notice — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- Mobil 1 Synthetic Grease — US technical product reference — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- Mobilgrease XHP 220 family — grade-specific US application and property table — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- AMSOIL Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease — G1279, September 2025 — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- AMSOIL Synthetic Water-Resistant Grease — G1281, December 2025 — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- Castrol New Zealand automotive grease range — regional application statements — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- Valvoline Full Synthetic Moly-Fortified Gray Grease — manufacturer product reference — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- Valvoline Multi-Vehicle High Temperature Red Grease — manufacturer product reference — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- Valvoline Heavy Duty Crimson — manufacturer product reference — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- Chevron Starplex EP and EP M3 — GR-35, March 2025 — Exact product and reviewed edition only; not universal fitment, product interchange or a copied safety data sheet. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- Timken TechTips MDV21 — Packing a Tapered Roller Bearing With Grease, publication 10845 (2016) — Hand and mechanical packing of a serviceable tapered cone. Not permission to dismantle sealed hubs; equipment-specific fill, adjustment and lubricant requirements remain controlling.
Source addresses and collection status are retained in the internal audit. No unpublished dimensions, torque settings, service intervals or interchange approvals are inferred.