How Often Should You Grease Your Truck?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Ideally, most tractor trailers should be manually greased at all lube points at

around 12,000–24,000 miles

and more frequently on the fifth wheel.

How often should you grease your vehicle?

Before the widespread use of sealed “lubed-for-life” bushing, bearings, etc., manufacturers would recommend lubricating your grease fittings at regular intervals.

Between 6,000 and 12,000 miles

, drivers would get a lube service where grease was injected into joints, links, and bushings in the chassis.

How often should you grease suspension?

If you do happen to see zerk fittings on any ball joint or tie rod, it would not be unreasonable to add a small amount of grease

every 36,000 miles or so

.

Can you over grease a truck?

In the same vein, over greasing your

can also be damaging

. In fact, if you apply too much grease to your semi-truck, it could result in high temperatures that can damage your truck's inner components. Other possible risks that could arise from over-greasing include: Collapsed seals.

Should you grease your truck?

Greasing your truck is very important. It

lubricates moving parts increasing their life

and reducing wear on your vehicle. Failure to keep these parts greased could cause you to have to under go some very costly and time consuming repairs.

How do you know when a grease fitting is full?

If this is the case, the best tactic is to “feel”

the grease into the bearing cavity until slight resistance or back pressure is felt against the trigger

, or lever, signaling the bearing cavity is now full.

Can you over grease a ball joint?

DO NOT CONTINUE GREASING ONCE YOU SEE THE BOOT SWELL.

The seal that holds that grease in the ball joint can be compromised if too much pressure is applied

. If this happens you will be replacing that part sooner than later.

What does the NLGI number of grease indicate?

The NLGI number is

a measure of the grease's consistency as indicated by its worked penetration value

. … The higher the consistency, the more resistant the grease is to releasing lubricating fluid under force. A grease with a low consistency will release lubricating fluid more readily.

What happens if you over grease a bearing?

Too much grease volume (overgreasing) in a bearing cavity

will cause the rotating bearing elements to begin churning the grease, pushing it out of the way

, resulting in energy loss and rising temperatures.

Is Lucas red and tacky good grease?

Lucas Red ‘N' Tacky Grease is a

smooth, tacky, red lithium complex grease

fortified with rust and oxidation inhibitors. It has good water resistance and washout properties. It has excellent mechanical stability and storage life. It is able to withstand heavy loads for extended periods of time.

What should I use to grease my truck?

Greasing your truck is very important. It

lubricates moving parts

increasing their life and reducing wear on your vehicle. Failure to keep these parts greased could cause you to have to under go some very costly and time consuming repairs.

How often should you grease the front end of a truck?

I grease the front end every oil change – about 7K/mile intervals – which is

about twice yearly

.

How often should you grease a dump truck?

Experts recommend greasing your truck

roughly every 12,000 miles

, though your fifth wheel will require service more often. Furthermore, it's important that you have an expert who knows how to grease a semi-truck properly perform the service because if a part is either over or under-greased it can cause problems.

What do I do if my grease fitting won't take grease?

While applying grease minimizes wear of parts and bearing,

over-lubrication can reduce a component's life expectancy

. For instance, too much grease can increase running temperatures and lead to energy losses. That is because too much grease will cause the components to push the excess lubricant away.

How do you free up a stuck grease fitting?

Heat up clogged grease fittings and pins with a standard hair dryer or a heat gun on the low setting. Attach the

grease gun

and use it immediately; the new grease will push the now-softened older grease out of the way and unclog the fitting.

Do new ball joints need grease?

Usually

the joints will come with enough grease for assembly

, but not enough for long term use. This is to keep the parts from metal on metal friction, but not to spill grease out making a mess. Also, if they have a zerk, this means that they are not sealed and will need to be greased at an interval.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.