“Grease is the forgotten cousin when it comes to lubricants.” Jim Rossbach, CHS Energy director of technical services and quality team. They can help you select a compatible grease of the highest quality to extend equipment life and reduce downtime and repairs,” he says. Staying Ahead About 70 to 75 percent of greases sold are lithium or lithium complex greases, which are compatible with most other greases and have a wider temperature range. Top-selling Cenex® greases are lithium complex greases manufactured to meet the highest performance levels set by the National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI), which are designated as “LB” for chassis and “GC” for wheel-bearing greases. “We go above and beyond the guidelines to ensure Cenex greases stand up to the toughest challenges of agricultural and industrial applications,” says Jim Rossbach, CHS Energy director of technical services and quality. “That includes having about a half dozen extra tests conducted by independent laboratories for additional quality assurance. OEMs are using more sophisticated greases that form stronger bonds and contain complex thickeners to withstand extreme environmental and mechanical pressures, he adds. “CHS has a number of advanced greases, including full synthetics, currently in product development.” LEARN MORE: For more on CHS greases and compatibility, go to http://ow.ly/rOyJ4. Prep for Planting with Proper Greasing Service your farm equipment now to be sure it’s ready for spring planting, recommends John Nowatzki, North Dakota State University agricultural machine systems specialist. “Make sure everything is in good working order. Get any bearings or working parts serviced that need replacing, so you don’t experience delays in the spring,” he says. “Because today’s vertical tillage equipment goes 8 to 12 miles per hour, twice as fast as conventional tillage equipment, there’s more chance of kicking up rocks or doing other damage in the fi eld. That’s one reason why it’s more important than ever to check equipment carefully in the down season.” Bearings, surface shafts and any areas that require it should be greased for winter storage. “Ideally, you should grease your equipment in the fall before you put it away for the winter,” says Nowatzki, “but if you haven’t done it yet, it’s not too late. Greasing is a critical step. Without it, moisture can get into bearings and rust or pit the surfaces.” Check the owners’ manual for lubrication and greasing instructions. “With modern engines, you really need to follow the manufacturers’ recommendations as far as all lubricants go to fully protect your investment,” he says. “Many times, the equipment warranty depends on proper lubrication.” CHS lubricants lab technicians Doug Bringgold, left, and Dane Jeppesen custom-blend oils for use in oil-fi eld equipment. Bakken “Grease” Boom When is a grease not a grease? “Over the years, grease has become kind of a generic term, which can sometimes cause confusion. For example, people often mistakenly refer to wireline lubricant as a grease. But it’s actually a fl uid similar to a heavy gear oil, rather than a paste,” explains Andrew Hamilton, director of marketing for CHS lubricants. “People who use our Cenex® Sure Seal™ WL (wireline lubricant), a newer product for oil fi eld applications, tend to call it a grease because they pack it around the well opening and use it to lubricate the wirelines. But no matter what you call it, it’s a great product,” he says. Sales of Sure Seal WL have been doubling monthly in the Bakken oil fi elds, where CHS also sells a high volume of gear oils, hydraulic oils and other heavy-duty lubricants. Your CHS Connection 17