Bearing Grease Speed Factor Planning Guide
Check grease compatibility with bearing speed and temperature, get regreasing interval estimates
Free bearing lubrication planning guide that screens grease speed and temperature suitability with ndm speed factor, base oil viscosity, NLGI consistency grade, and operating temperature context. The result is a preliminary review signal, not a product approval or manufacturer-certified relubrication interval. Verify the grease data sheet, bearing catalog, seals, housing, purge path, contamination, duty cycle, and OEM instructions before changing routes or CMMS records.
Check bearing speed against ndm limits before reviewing grease speed capability
Bearing Speed Limit Checker →Calculate expected bearing life at your operating conditions and load
L10 Bearing Life Calculator →Diagnose bearing failure symptoms if a grease-related problem already occurred
Bearing Failure Symptom Triage →Set up a PM interval schedule that aligns regreasing with your maintenance rounds
PM Interval Optimizer →How It Works
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Enter Bearing Information
Input the bearing bore and pitch diameter in millimeters, bearing type, and operating speed in RPM. The calculator computes the ndm speed factor to evaluate against the grease speed limit.
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Select Grease Properties
Choose the NLGI grade (1, 2, or 3) and base oil viscosity class. NLGI 2 is the most common general-purpose grade. Higher-viscosity base oils are better for slow, heavy-load applications. Lower-viscosity oils are needed for high-speed bearings.
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Enter Operating Temperature
Input the bearing operating temperature. The calculator checks against the grease dropping point and base oil oxidation limits. Temperature above 70°C starts reducing grease life significantly.
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Select Environment Factors
Indicate the contamination level (clean, moderate, or severe) and bearing orientation (horizontal or vertical). Vertical shafts require more frequent regreasing because grease migrates away from the contact zone under gravity.
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Review the Screening Result
Review the preliminary grease suitability signal and estimated interval warnings. Confirm the result with product data, OEM instructions, condition monitoring, and site reliability review before changing maintenance instructions.
Built For
- Maintenance teams setting up lubrication schedules for plant equipment
- Reliability engineers evaluating grease selection for high-speed or high-temperature bearings
- Millwrights determining regreasing intervals after bearing replacements
- Plant managers standardizing lubrication practices across multiple machines
- Lubrication technicians verifying that specified grease is appropriate for operating conditions
Assumptions
- Relubrication screening rows draw on general SKF/Schaeffler-style guidance and must be checked against current manufacturer data.
- Bearing operating temperature is within the grease base oil and thickener working range.
- Bearing seals or shields are intact and providing the expected level of contamination protection.
- Grease gun delivery volume is known (typically 1-1.5 grams per pump stroke for a standard grease gun).
Limitations
- Does not account for specific grease formulations (polyurea, lithium complex, PFPE) that have different relubrication characteristics.
- Sealed bearings (2RS, 2Z) with lifetime grease fill are not candidates for relubrication and are excluded.
- Vertical shaft applications, high-vibration environments, and washdown conditions require shorter intervals not calculated here.
- Automatic lubrication system (single-point or centralized) dispensing rates are not sized by this tool.
References
- SKF Maintenance Handbook - Bearing Lubrication: Relubrication Intervals and Grease Quantities
- FAG/Schaeffler - Rolling Bearing Lubrication (WL 81 115 technical publication)
- NLGI Lubricating Grease Guide - Grease Selection and Application
- ISO 12924 - Lubricants, Industrial Oils, and Related Products: Family L, Greases
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More
Bearing Speed Limits: What ndm Means and Why It Matters
How to check if your bearing is running too fast for the lubrication method, what ndm represents, and what to do when grease cannot keep up with the speed.
Bearing Grease: Choosing the Right One and Knowing When to Apply It
Base oil viscosity, NLGI grade, thickener type, regreasing intervals, and why over-greasing causes as many failures as under-greasing.
Bearing Failure Modes: Reading the Evidence
How to tell what killed a bearing by looking at the damage pattern. Fatigue spalling, lubrication failure, contamination, electrical fluting, and corrective actions.
Bearing Lubrication Intervals: SKF Source Boundaries & Grease Selection
How SKF relubrication guidance uses speed factor, bearing factor, load ratio, temperature, contamination, grease quantity factors, and OEM review.
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