A Quick Guide to Grease Lines

Grease lines are essential in lubricating those hard to reach grease points found in many industrial applications. But, without proper insight into how grease lines work, you may not be providing your equipment with the lubrication it needs to operate at peak performance.

For best results using a grease line for remote lubrication, you should first consult the National Lubricating Grease Institute’s (NLGI) Steady Flow Charts to help size grease lines, select the right grease, and calculate the required head size to use.

Once you’ve gathered this information, it’s important to consider some additional insights and best practices taken directly from the field that can help ensure that your grease lines will effectively lubricate the system and not burst under pressure:

Picking the grease lines that work for each system

  •  The working pressure of the system should be a decisive factor in the type of tubing/piping material that is selected, and should always have a three to one safety factor to prevent the tube from weakening.
  • If the system environment contains chemicals or is consistently wet, make sure the lines are conducive to these conditions. Avoid using rubber covered hydraulic hoses on very wet areas or areas exposed to chemicals, as the hose will become brittle over time and fall apart, creating a potential contamination source. Similarly, a carbon steel line should not be used in a corrosive environment, as it will degrade in just a matter of months.
  • If the system requires a high flow rate, a larger diameter tube, pipe or hose will be needed.
  • Always try to engineer the grease system for the specific equipment’s needs in order to obtain proper lubrication and grease consolidation at the plant. Grease products should not be changed to meet the tubing requirements.

Best practices for grease line use

  • Separate all tubing in a section from one another by 1/8” to 1/4″ to avoid rubbing and to assist with troubleshooting.
  • Always try to install the lube lines in an area that’s easy to access for maintenance, leak detection and repair.
  • Use hangers and wall padding on all lubrication tubing to avoid rubbing breaks. If there is a high vibration problem, use a hydraulic hose and/or support the lines with shock-absorbing material.
  • Try to use a smaller size tubing/hose for an application that’s exposed to high temperatures and low flow rates in order to shorten the time of heat exposure for the grease

Following the guidelines outlined above can help ensure more reliable grease line operation, but, when in doubt, work with your local lubricant supplier for additional guidance.