Home ​​​​>​​​​ Knowledge Center​​​​

You use grease to lubricate mechanical systems that cannot be automatically supplied with oil. You can also lubricate tools with this. 

• Ball earing grease: you use this to lubricate and protect all types of sliding, ball and roller bearings, shafts, chains, gears, hinges and other rotating parts. This is often called ‘tandbanenvet’ in horticulture. The most used ball bearing grease in horticulture is Molykote, because this product does not drip when it gets warm. This makes it suitable for lubricating the screen installation, for instance. This product is available in tubes for lubricating closed systems (in which you apply it with a grease gun) and in tins for lubricating open systems (in which you apply it with a grease brush). Agia Lube is another commonly used type of ball bearing grease. This product is resistant to very high temperatures and pressures, making it very suitable for, among other things, steam and heating boilers.
• Ceramic grease: this is used for the installation of bolts, nuts, spark plugs, exhaust parts and disc brakes, among other things. It ensures that the metal parts in threaded connections do not rust and can still be easily tightened or loosened after years. The best-known ceramic grease is copper grease.  
• Vaseline: you can use vaseline for all sorts of applications. It is a great lubricant for metal parts such as the air installation, but it is also regularly used for installing PVC parts. Note: contrary to ball bearer grease, vaseline does become liquid at higher temperatures (40 - 60°C), causing it to drip. 

Lubricant – just like grease – is used to lubricate systems or tools. The difference, however, is that grease is a (semi) solid substance that becomes liquid when it starts ‘moving’ while lubricant is already liquid.

• Penetrating oil: you use this to loosen stuck parts. Penetrating oil can ‘penetrate’ deep into small spaces between two parts, making it very suitable to loosen rusted bolts and nuts or to lubricate a lock (for the latter, you can also use graphite). You can apply penetrating oil as early as with the installation of bolts and nuts, so that they do not rust together over time. The best-known products are WD-40 and IMAL. 
• Silicone spray: silicone spray can be used for all sorts of applications: as lubricant, solvent, insulating agent or care product. It repels water, reduces friction and has an anti-rust effect. In horticulture, it is used for measuring pipes in the manure bins, so that the float can move more freely.  
• Teflon spray: teflon spray has basically the same effect as silicone spray. The main difference with silicone spray is that teflon spray is not made of oil or silicone, but of PTFE. This material is much more hygienic and therefore HACCP certified. That is why teflon spray is mainly used in the food industry, to lubricate harvesting machines in vegetable cultivation, for instance. 

Oil can also be used to lubricate mechanical systems, but contrary to grease and lubricant, you pour the oil into the system, after which it is automatically lubricated. It is therefore important to regularly check the oil of a system and change or replenish it if necessary.

• Engine oil: you use this to lubricate a gasoline or diesel engine, so that the moving parts continue to move smoothly. The type of engine oil you use depends on the device. Firezone TCW Semi Synthetic is mainly used for small, 2-stroke gasoline machines, while Firezone Heavy Travel is intended for larger gasoline machines.  
• Hydraulic oil: this transfers movements and forces within a machine, e.g. for cranes and brake systems. In horticulture, hydraulic oil is used to lubricate the moving parts of a pipe rail trolley, for instance. The most commonly used product for this is Hydro HVLP.
• Transmission oil: transmission oil is used to lubricate transmissions of vehicles (the gearbox). By lubricating the gearbox, you ensure it shifts more smoothly and therefore lasts longer.
• Chainsaw oil: chainsaw oil is used to lubricate the saw chain of a chainsaw, so that it does not get stuck or break.  
• Piston compressor oil: piston compressor oil is used to lubricate a compressor. It is also suitable for lubricating air tools. 

It may happen that you spill grease, lubricant or oil or that a machine or device leaks oil. This can cause problems, especially on a floor, because it makes it very slippery. By spreading absorption granules over the spilled substance, the agent is absorbed and the surface is cleaned.
 

Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Martin Meuldijk will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.