Large Scale Central

Results tests of Mobil One Synthetic Grease vs. LGB white tube g

General Discussion
#1

TEST: Hartland “Mack” switcher loco.

Loco has a double gear motor shaft and a gear on each axle. Both sides were cleaned of any prior lube. One side was given Mobil One grease, the other the LGB white tube grease. The loco gear box was reassembled and tested for 3 minutes at 14 volts – running rapidly.
This test was conducted three times following the same sequence.

RESULTS:
Both gear sets showed no loss of lubrication visually. However, the LGB grease now had the appearance of heavy oil – in all of the 3 minute run tests. This is not to claim the motor and axle gears were not covered; they were well saturatedwith the LGB product. The same for the Mobil One side of the motor and axle gear – both were substantially covered also.

CONCLUSION:
I could find no difference in the outcome using the Mack’s gear sets. I removed with a Q tip the remaining grease after each test before new applications. Still no visually identifiable differences in quantity.

More tests are certainly welcome. Please report any you make.
The key is obvious: Cost and obtainability. Clearly both the grease and oil are readily available in any auto parts stores at a substantial cost difference.

I hope this helpful.

Wendell

#2

Wendell,

Very interesting. Do you have any further tests planned between the two greases?

Also one tip for the little Hartland switcher. I bought one several years ago after watching one run during a club run in Vegas, very noisy. But I bought one anyway. Brought it home tore it down and discovered a very nicely designed pick solution. The pickup brushes are in the axle journals, right at the top. Put in some conductive grease, buttoned back up, runs beautifully…a stealth switcher. Took one of the Mack hoods off and replaced with a tool box and a fuel tank.

One item of criticism, the motor gears are at the ends of long armature shafts. It hasn’t failed, but I keep watching.

Barry - BBT

#3

Leave some plastic parts soaking in the Mobil 1 and see if they disintegrate after 6 months.

Regards, Greg

#4

Go check on the R/C forums, apparently Mobil 1 has been used for that application, and may have some beta testing on what it will and will not damage?

#5

One concern, per MyLS, was a potential problem of Mobil One Synthetic grease “freezin” or becoming chunky when subjected to very cold temperatures. Granted, few will run their trains in the snow – yes, no mail, I know it is part of the hobby – however, storage in cold temperatures, as well as running, may be a concern.

For those with same, try placing equal amounts of LGB’s grease and the Mobil One grease in the freezer and make your own assessment. Me? I found little difference visually after three hours in the freezer. Both were flexible and both appeared to be useable.What is NOT cold but “hot” is the incredible cost difference between the squeeze tubes of LGB ($8.50+) and the cost of a 1lb. can of Mobil One ($6.50).

Wendell

#6

I cant imagine that a grease made for cars will freeze solid when it gets cold.

#7
Bob McCown said:
I cant imagine that a grease made for cars will freeze solid when it gets cold.
Ditto. I have never heard of any auto grease freezing. Motor oil maybe.

-Brian

#8

Any members in Stalingrad ?

#9

Nice one, Wendell. The cost difference is attention-getting.

I purchased some new wheel sets from USA Trains a few months back, and took the opportunity to ask what they used to lubricate the axle ends that slip into the bushings on the trucks of USA locos. The unhesitating reply was grease.

Up until then, I’d only used LGB oil for this job. I am trying USA grease now, and like it - sticky is good!

I think it was you who, quite a while ago, recommended Lubriplate, who make (among other things) plastic-friendly kitchen lubricants. The Australian distributor is in Cloverdale, a Perth suburb out near the airport. I have asked them to recommend a specific plastic-friendly product, as I couldn’t find a reference in the Lubriplate on-line catalogue to the specific item you described in your post.

If and when I get something, I’ll experiment and post the results.

#10
Wendell Hanks said:
One concern, per MyLS, was a potential problem of Mobil One Synthetic grease "freezin" or becoming chunky when subjected to very cold temperatures. Granted, few will run their trains in the snow -- yes, no mail, I know it is part of the hobby -- however, storage in cold temperatures, as well as running, may be a concern. Wendell
You would need one hell of a freezer to fully test Mobil 1's low temperature performance. The specifications include these:

Operating Temperature: -40 C (- 40 F) to 150 C (302 F)

–and–

Resistance to water wash: Withstands the effects of water washout from heavy rain storms or other high water wash events.

I think that would satisfy most model RR operating environment requirements.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

#11

Jerry -
Yes, on target is your response.
However, a posting was made indicating concern for those who choose to run their trains during the winter and the effect would be the Mobil One synthetic grease would lose its viscosity and be “chunky.” Yes, I doubted this, however, since the hobby can suffer from expensive “exclusive products,” I made the nutball test. Nuts, three hours in a freezer is somewhat close to an hour of run time outside in the winter. If its colder than a home freezer, what is anyone doing outside trying to enjoy running trains?
Sigh…

Wendell