An Experiment on Synthetic Versus Non-Synthetic Grease

[Harv]

While attempting to remove the plastic pulley from my power steering pump using a cheap puller purchased from Harbor Freight, I discovered something significant about the value of synthetic grease. This is a screw-in type of puller that has a "freely" rotating end pin that pushes against the power steering pump shaft as the pulley is extracted. It fits inside of the screw-threaded piece that has a bolt head on the wrench end. The inside of this piece is also threaded for reinsertion of the pulley. On the first pulley extraction, I coated all moving surfaces of the puller with a conventional non-synthetic grease. I got the pulley off, but the process galled the end of the threaded piece, its inside threads and the insert pin so badly that it was unusable for reinstallation of the pulley. I re-tapped the threads and resurfaced the ends of both pieces and tried again. The turning friction was just too much for the "not-so-hard" steel of this tool. I removed the tool again, cleaned up the internal threads and resurfaced the contact ends. This time, I coated all moving surfaces of the tool with Amsoil synthetic wheel bearing grease. Low and behold, the force required to turn the tool was much lower than before. I was able to easily re-install the pulley without any signs of damage to this cheap tool. Bravo for the syntheic!

 

[Ray Lobato]

Harv,
Thanks for the information. I think that is interesting and very good information to know.

 

[AgExplorer]

Thanks for the story Harv. AMSOIL to the rescue. If it will do that for a pulley puller, just think what it will do for your wheel bearings, etc.