The answer to the question of whether it is possible to use grease indefinitely is no. Because too much grease is used, there are many hazards to the bearing.
Grease has a very good effect on bearings. Its adhesion, wear resistance, temperature resistance, rust resistance and lubricity are all good. It can improve high temperature oxidation resistance, delay aging, dissolve carbon deposits, and prevent metal wear debris. The agglomeration with oil pollution improves the wear resistance, pressure resistance and corrosion resistance of the machine.
However, the greater the amount of grease filled, the greater the friction torque. For the same filling amount, the friction torque of the sealed bearing is greater than that of the open bearing. After the grease filling amount is equivalent to 60% of the internal space volume of the bearing, the friction torque does not increase significantly. This is because most of the grease in the open bearing has been squeezed out, and the grease in the sealed bearing has also been lost.
With the increase of the grease filling amount, the temperature rise of the bearing increases linearly, and the temperature rise of the sealed bearing is higher than that of the open bearing with the same filling amount. It is generally believed that the grease filling amount of sealed rolling bearings should not exceed about 50% of the internal space at most.
Generally speaking, the lubrication schedule of bearings is based on time. Equipment suppliers often develop lubrication schedules based on operating hours. Also, equipment suppliers often include guidance on the amount of lubricant during their maintenance planning process. For the staff, it is very common to change the lubricating oil in a short time, and often add too much grease.