1、Designation: D 4950 01 (Reapproved 2004)e1An American National StandardStandard Classification and Specification forAutomotive Service Greases1,2This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4950; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in
2、the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.e1NOTEParts of speech were added to Section 3 editorially in June 2004.INTRODUCTIONThis specifi
3、cation describes current categories of lubricating greases for automotive service-fillapplications. A specific designation is assigned to each category. The system is open ended, that is,new designations are assigned for use with new categories as each new set of grease performancecharacteristics is
4、 defined. Grease categories are referenced by automotive manufacturers in makinglubrication recommendations and used by grease suppliers and users in identifying products forspecific applications.1. Scope1.1 This specification covers lubricating greases suitable forthe periodic relubrication of chas
5、sis systems and wheel bear-ings of passenger cars, trucks, and other vehicles.1.2 This specification defines the requirements used todescribe the properties and performance characteristics ofchassis greases and wheel bearing greases for service-fillapplications.1.3 The test requirements (acceptance
6、limits) given in thisspecification are, as the case may be, minimum or maximumacceptable values for valid duplicate test results. No additionalcorrections for test precision, such as described in PracticeD 3244, are to be applied inasmuch as the precision of the testmethods was taken into account in
7、 the determination of therequirements.1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard. The values given in inch-pound units are for infor-mation only.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:3D 217 Test Methods for Cone Penetration of LubricatingGreaseD 566 Test Method for Dropp
8、ing Point of LubricatingGreaseD 1264 Test Method for Determining the Water WashoutCharacteristics of Lubricating GreasesD 1742 Test Method for Oil Separation from LubricatingGrease During StorageD 1743 Test Method for Corrosion Preventive Properties ofLubricating GreasesD 2265 Test Method for Droppi
9、ng Point of LubricatingGrease over Wide Temperature RangeD 2266 Test Method for Wear Preventive Characteristics ofLubricating Grease (Four-Ball Method)D 2596 Test Method for Measurement of Extreme-PressureProperties of Lubricating Grease (Four-Ball Method)D 3244 Practice for Utilization of Test Data
10、 to DetermineConformance with SpecificationsD 3527 Test Method for Life Performance of AutomotiveWheel Bearing GreaseD 4170 Test Method for Fretting Wear Protection by Lubri-cating GreasesD 4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum, PetroleumProducts, and LubricantsD 4289 Test Method for Elastomer Comp
11、atibility of Lubri-cating Greases and FluidsD 4290 Test Method for Determining the Leakage Tenden-cies of Automotive Wheel Bearing Grease Under Acceler-ated ConditionsD 4693 Test Method for Low-Temperature Torque ofGrease-Lubricated Wheel Bearings2.2 SAE Standards:41This classification and specifica
12、tion is under the jurisdiction of ASTMCommittee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsi-bility of Subcommittee D02.B0 on Automotive Lubricants.Current edition approved May 1, 2004. Published June 2004. Originallypublished in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as
13、 D 495001.2This classification and specification was developed as a cooperative effortamong the American Society for Testing and Materials, the National LubricatingGrease Institute (NLGI), and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).3For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.
14、org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.4Available from Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive,Warrendale, PA 15096.1Copyright ASTM International, 10
15、0 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.AMS 3217A Standard Elastomer Stock-Test SlabsAMS 3217/2B Test Slabs, Acrylonitrile Butadiene (NBR-L)-Low Acrylonitrile, 65-755AMS 3217/3B Test Slabs Chloroprene (CR)-65-75SAE J310 Automotive Lubricating Greases3. Termi
16、nology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 lubricant, nany material interposed between twosurfaces that reduces the friction or wear between them.D 41753.1.2 lubricating grease, na semi-fluid to solid product ofa dispersion of a thickener in a liquid lubricant.3.1.2.1 DiscussionThe dispersion of the thickener form
17、s atwo-phase system and immobilizes the liquid lubricant bysurface tension and other physical forces. Other ingredientsimparting special properties are often included. D 2173.1.3 thickener, nin lubricating grease, a substance com-posed of finely-divided particles dispersed in a liquid to formthe pro
18、ducts structure.3.1.3.1 DiscussionThe thickener can be fibers (such asvarious metallic soaps) or plates or spheres (such as certainnon-soap thickeners) which are insoluble or, at the most, onlyvery slightly soluble in the liquid lubricant. The generalrequirements are that the solid particles be extr
19、emely small,uniformly dispersed, and capable of forming a relatively stable,gel-like structure with the liquid lubricant. D 2173.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 automotive service grease, na lubricating greasesuitable for the periodic relubrication of serviceable-type,chassis
20、components or wheel bearings of passenger cars,trucks, and other vehicles and distinct from factory-fill greases(also known as initial-fill and OEM greases) initially installedby the original equipment manufacturer.3.2.2 category, nwith respect to automotive servicegrease, a designation, such as LB,
21、 GC, etc., for a given level ofperformance in standardized tests.3.2.3 chassis grease, nan automotive service grease usedto lubricate ball joints, steering pivots, universal joints, and,other lubrication points designated in the vehicle ownersservice guide.3.2.4 classification, nwith respect to auto
22、motive servicegrease, the systematic arrangement into categories according todiffering levels of performance.3.2.5 “G” category group, nautomotive service greasesof such composition, properties, and performance characteris-tics as to be suitable for the service lubrication of those typesof wheel bea
23、rings that require periodic relubrication.3.2.6 “L” category group, nautomotive service greases ofsuch composition, properties, and performance characteristicsas to be suitable for the service lubrication of those types ofsuspension, steering, and drive-line components that requireperiodic relubrica
24、tion.3.2.7 multipurpose grease, nan automotive service greasesuitable for both chassis and wheel bearing lubrication.3.2.7.1 DiscussionCommercial lubricating greases otherthan automotive service greases are often designated as mul-tipurpose greases.3.3 Abbreviations:ASTMAmerican Society for Testing
25、and MaterialsNLGINational Lubricating Grease InstituteSAESociety of Automotive Engineers4. Performance Classification64.1 Automotive service greases are classified into twogeneral groups. Those designated with an “L” prefix (chassisgreases) are intended for the service lubrication of ball joints,ste
26、ering pivots, universal joints, and other chassis componentsas designated by the equipment manufacturer. Those desig-nated with a “G” prefix are intended primarily for the servicelubrication of wheel bearings. These groups are further subdi-vided into categories with intended service applications as
27、follows:4.1.1 LAService typical of chassis components and uni-versal joints in passenger cars, trucks, and other vehicles undermild duty only. Mild duty will be encountered in vehiclesoperated with frequent relubrication in noncritical applications.4.1.2 LBService typical of chassis components and u
28、ni-versal joints in passenger cars, trucks, and other vehicles undermild to severe duty. Severe duty will be encountered invehicles operated under conditions which may include pro-longed relubrication intervals, or high loads, severe vibration,exposure to water or other contaminants, etc.4.1.3 GASer
29、vice typical of wheel bearings operating inpassenger cars, trucks, and other vehicles under mild duty.Mild duty will be encountered in vehicles operated withfrequent relubrication in noncritical applications.4.1.4 GBService typical of wheel bearings operating inpassenger cars, trucks, and other vehi
30、cles under mild tomoderate duty. Moderate duty will be encountered in mostvehicles operated under normal urban, highway, and off-highway service.4.1.5 GCService typical of wheel bearings operating inpassenger cars, trucks, and other vehicles under mild to severeduty. Severe duty will be encountered
31、in certain vehiclesoperated under conditions resulting in high bearing tempera-tures. This includes vehicles operated under frequent stop-and-go service (buses, taxis, urban police cars, etc), or undersevere braking service (trailer towing, heavy loading, mountaindriving, etc.).5With respect to elas
32、tomer AMS 3217/2A, the elastomer specification has beensuperseded by AMS 3217/2B. Per SAE, the elastomers are identical, however thesynthetic lubricant immersion fluid used to reference the elastomer has beenexchanged from ARM-200 to AMS 3021. Reference fluid AMS 3021 betterrepresents current market
33、 aviation fluids.6The letter designations for the grease categories and the correspondingPerformance Classification descriptions in Section 4 were developed by an ad hocpanel of the NLGI Literature Subcommittee in cooperation with ASTMD02.B0.04.02, (Subsection on) Automotive Grease Specifications. A
34、lthough thesedesignations and descriptions of the categories have been adopted in toto in thisstandard, the NLGI Literature Subcommittee retains jurisdiction over them aspublished in, “Chassis and Wheel Bearing Service Classification System,” availablefrom the National Lubricating Grease Institute,
35、4635 Wyandotte Street, Kansas City,MO 64112. It is the intention of Subcommittee D02.B to include in this standardfuture revisions to these descriptions providing they are deemed acceptable byASTM.D 4950 01 (2004)e125. Performance Description75.1 The performance characteristics of the several catego
36、-ries of automotive service greases are described as follows:5.1.1 LAThe grease shall satisfactorily lubricate chassiscomponents and universal joints where frequent relubricationis practiced (at intervals of 3200 km or 2000 miles or less forpassenger cars). During its service life, the grease should
37、 resistoxidation and consistency degradation and protect the chassiscomponents and universal joints from corrosion and wearunder lightly loaded conditions. NLGI 2 consistency greasesare commonly recommended, but other grades may also berecommended. (NLGI Consistency Numbers are shown inTable X1.1 of
38、 the appendix.)5.1.2 LBThe grease shall satisfactorily lubricate chassiscomponents and universal joints at temperatures as lowas 40C (40F) and at temperatures as high as 120C(248F) over prolonged relubrication intervals (more than 3200km or 2000 miles for passenger cars). During its service life,the
39、 grease should resist oxidation and consistency degradationwhile protecting the chassis components and universal jointsfrom corrosion and wear even when aqueous contaminationand heavily loaded conditions occur. NLGI 2 consistencygreases are commonly recommended, but other grades mayalso be recommend
40、ed.5.1.3 GAThe grease shall satisfactorily lubricate wheelbearings over a limited temperature range. Many products ofthis type are limited to bearing temperatures of 20 to 70C(4 to 158F). No additional performance requirements arespecified for these greases.5.1.4 GBThe grease shall satisfactorily lu
41、bricate wheelbearings over a wide temperature range. The bearing tempera-tures may range down to 40C (40F), with frequentexcursions to 120C (248F) and occasional excursions to160C (320F). During its service life, the grease shall resistoxidation, evaporation, and consistency degradation whileprotect
42、ing the bearings from corrosion and wear. NLGI 2consistency greases are commonly recommended, but NLGI 1or 3 grades may also be recommended.5.1.5 GCThe grease shall satisfactorily lubricate wheelbearings over a wide temperature range. The bearing tempera-tures may range down to 40C (40F), with frequ
43、entexcursions to 160C (320F) and occasional excursions to200C (392F). During its service life, the grease shall resistoxidation, evaporation, and consistency degradation whileprotecting the bearings from corrosion and wear. NLGI No. 2consistency greases are commonly recommended, but NLGINo. 1 or No.
44、 3 grades may also be recommended.6. Performance Requirements76.1 The greases identified by these categories shall conformto the requirements listed in Table 1 and Table 2. A guide to therequirements of all the grease categories is given in Table X1.2of the appendix.6.2 The consistency requirements
45、in Table 1 and Table 2cover NLGI Consistency Numbers 1 through 3 (see TableX1.1). However, because the equipment manufacturers recom-mendations may be more restrictive, it is recommended thatgrease containers display the consistency number as well as thegrease category designation.6.3 Some grease ma
46、kers market products under the termmultipurpose grease, implying or stating that such products aresuitable for both chassis and wheel bearing lubrication. Tocomply with this specification, greases intended and suitablefor both chassis and wheel bearing lubrication may carry suchdesignation but, in a
47、ddition, shall carry both an “L” and “G”designation (LB-GC, for example) and conform to the appro-priate requirements listed in Table 1 and Table 2.7. Keywords7.1 automotive grease categories; automotive servicegrease; chassis grease; multipurpose automotive grease; NLGI7The Performance Descriptions
48、 and Performance Requirements for the greasecategories, as described in Sections 5 and 6, were developed by ASTMD02.B0.04.02 in cooperation with the NLGI Literature Subcommittee. ASTMSubcommittee D02.B retains jurisdiction over these descriptions (see Footnote 7).TABLE 1 “L” Chassis Grease Categorie
49、sCategory Test PropertyAcceptanceLimitLA D 217 Consistency, worked penetration, mm/10 220340AD 566 or D 2265 Dropping point, C, min 80D 2266 Wear protection, scar diameter, mm, max 0.9D 4289 Elastomer SAE AMS 3217/3B Compatibility:Volume change, % 0 to 40Hardness change, Durometer-A points 15 to 0LB D 217 Consistency, worked penetration, mm/10 220340AD 566 or D 2265 Dropping point, C, min 150D 2266 Wear protection, scar diameter, mm, max 0.6D 4289 Elastomer SAE AMS 3217/3B compatibility:Volume change, % 0 to 40Hardness ch
