The International Cessna 170 Association

I have been using Aeroshell 5 for some time successfully. Just wondering if others have found a better one?

Greases are like beers, every body has their preferences [don’t get them mixed up]. Aero shell 5 is good but I have been using aero shell 22 . It’s has a water resistance qualities and very good load qualities . I use it nearly every where on a aircraft .

Boy, you are opening a can of worms here. People have their opinions about favorite greases. All I will say is that Cessna does not specify any particular wheel bearing grease for 170's, although Cleveland (Parker-Hannifin) identifies Mobil Aviation Grease SHC 100 in its Maintenance Manual and Technician's Service Guide for Cleveland wheels. Good aviation greases for the 170 wheel bearings include Aeroshell 5, Aeroshell 22, Aeroshell 33 and Exxon-Mobil Aviation SHC 100. Other good greases include Lubrimatic Marine Trailer Wheel Bearing Grease (now called Lubrimatic Marine Corrosion Control), Amsoil Synthetic Multi-Purpose Grease, Amsoil Synthetic Water Resistant Grease, Morey's Super Red Premium EP-2 Waterproof Grease, Morey's Red-I Marine Grease and Mobilith SHC 220. Take your pick. I'm sure there are others. C-170 wheel bearings are not a particularly demanding application for any of the greases mentioned above. If you are having success with Aeroshell 5, no reason not to stick with it. It's a good grease. The important thing, however, is DO NOT MIX GREASES. Pick one brand and stick with it. Different brands use different base oils and, most importantly, different thickening agents, which usually are not compatible with other types of thickening agents. For example, Aeroshell 5 uses a clay thickening agent, which is not compatible with a grease having lithium complex thickening agent (i.e., a lithium grease). So if you decide to change to a different brand of grease, clean out all of the old-brand grease first. I use the same brand/product for everything I grease on my 170 -- wheel bearings, Scott tail wheel and trim actuator. Keeps it simple.

Yes, everything Gene said. I switched from Aeroshell 5 to 22 to get a wider temperature range. Aeroshell 33 seems to be the standard do-all grease now. But of course, I'd guess that just about any quality grease from an auto parts store would work.

Here's a Shell book on grease, which includes info on mixing thickener types.

In honor of Dick Lemmon I'll say it; " just grab the grease gun off the back of the tractor and use whatever is in it! It's grease and low speed bearings, not rocket science…."

Jughead

I tend to think Dick hit the nail on the head! I appreciate the input from everyone. A friend here used bearing grease from an auto supply store that was "for" boat trailers. Thinking that those bearings going under water on a regular basis and traveling at highway speeds had to be pretty good grease. He chanced IA's and the new guy told him he needed to clean that out and use an approved grease as the boat trailer grease wasn't approved. Don't know what grease "is approved", but as I am about out of Aeroshell 5, I am considering using some of that marine grease. Don't know if its synthetic or not.

I defy your IA to identify any grease specifically approved for the 170. Even the greases identified by Parker-Hannifin for Cleveland wheels are just called "preferred" greases, allowing you to use other greases. As Jughead said, this isn't rocket science for our 170's. Nothing wrong with a good marine trailer grease. The Lubrimatic one I mentioned above is my favorite. BTW, it's now called Lubrimatic Marine Corrosion Control. Same stuff, just different name and graphics. It's good stuff.

Fortunately that wasn’t my IA.

Super Lube synthetic.

George will be on here shortly to tell you what he's always told us and what I use. Plain old WalMart boat trailer grease.

Wally World Aircraft Supply I wonder if it comes in GREEN

Would that be in the FAA-PMA section of Wal-Mart?

The one and only

Bearing are bearings, Rollers are rollers, Races are races....just saying...

Joe
4518C

As lightly as these bearings are loaded and as little as they rotate, I think bacon grease would work just fine if you could keep your dog from licking it out. In other words, any good grease will work, even green. The Cessna 170 Owner’s Manual states AN-15-G is to be used in the wheel bearings, whatever that is.

That being said, oldtimer Alaskan bushpilot Tom Wardleigh, who flew everything from Cubs to Gooses for the feds told me years ago the best wheel bearing grease was the RED Mobil 1 Synthetic bearing grease (https://www.zoro.com/mobil-mobil-1-synt ... /G3452364/). It is what the feds used in all of their amphibs and seaplanes because it is waterproof and won’t wash out plus it is chemically stable and does not break down or harden over time, as in the 500 hours Cessna recommends between grease changes on 170 wheel bearings.