Realmacaw

The Ariens Grease (Part 00036800, which is Sten Mix Hi-Temp Grease) arrived after I special ordered it.  Even though the Ariens' Owner/Operator Manual says this is the grease to use, it does not match the factory fill.  You would expect it to match the factory fill, but it does not.  The factory fill is black/green and looks like it is lithium moly grease.  This grease Ariens said to use looks like any other red lithium hi-temp grease.  I doubt there is anything special about it.  It says it performs well under a temperature range from 0 to 500 F.  I think Mobile 1 synthetic grease is said to perform well at a much lower temperature.

Snowmann was correct, this grease that Ariens says to use is not the factory fill.  This is disappointing.  Unfortunately he hadn't replied until after I had placed my order for this grease that Ariens said to use.  I'm thinking it would be best to follow Snowmann's recommendations on grease, that there is nothing special about the grease Ariens says to use, that other types of grease might be better including marine grease.

Snowmann wrote:

Snowmann,

That's great information to know.  Thanks!  If the factory fill is Mobile Ronex MP, why doesn't Ariens just say that.  Instead, Ariens says to use Ariens grease, part number 00036800, which I believe is Sten Mix Hi-Temp grease.  I will try to locate a tube of Mobile Ronex MP and compare it to the factory fill to see if i'ts the same thing.  I've read Mobile Ronex MP is green.  The factory fill is black with a slight green tint to it and looks like and has the consistency of Lithium Moly.

I bought an 8 ounce bottle of L3 and will replace the L2 with L3.

I ordered Ariens grease, part number 00036800 (Stens Mix High Temp Grease) from an Ariens Master Service Dealer.  It will take 3 weeks to arrive.  I bought it because it is recommended by Ariens and I know different types of grease should not be mixed.  You are supposed to clean all previous traces of grease with solvent before installing a different type grease.  It cost $13.80 for 3 x 3 ounce tubes.  I would prefer it came in a regular size 14 ounce grease tube but it doesn't.  The dealer made fun of me for buying it and tried to convince me not to buy it, saying I am wasting money.  The dealer told me to go to any auto parts store and buy any Lithium grease.  I think it is supposed to be for high temp and/or high pressure.

Later I went to Pep Boys and opened up every type of their grease in regular size 14 ounce tubes and looked at it.  The grease that looks like what comes on the Ariens snow blower is Lithium Moly.  It is high pressure.  It also said it was high temp, 500 F.  I've read Stens Mix High Temp Grease is not made by Stens, they just repackage it with their name on it.  It appears to me it is Lithium Moly grease, which can be bought at any auto parts store for about $4 for a 14 ounce tube.

If I wasn't trying to match grease, I would think Lithium Marine grease would be the best choice.  I was surprised it said it is rated for 500 F, which is what high temp grease is rated at.  The Marine grease I looked at was blue and thick but very similar looking to regular yellow colored lithium grease.  Lithium Moly is different from these other types of Lithium grease.  It is black and not as sticky, an unusual consistency like it has graphite in it.

I looked at Mobile 1 synthetic grease and Castrol synthetic grease.  I'm not sold on synthetic grease!  Both of them were unlike the other gooey greases.  They are much drier like paste.  In both of them the grease was separating from the walls of the tube.  In other words, the grease seems to stick to itself but not to other things around it.  I did not see this in any of the other types of non-synthetic grease.  From reading online, I've read complaints of Mobile 1 synthetic grease hardening up and bleeding.  I wondered how can this be true since Mobile 1 has a reputation for making a high quality synthetic oil.  But after looking in the new tubes of synthetic grease and seeing that it was separating from the walls of the tube, I believe the online complaints about synthetic grease and am going to avoid it.  I'm using Mobile 1 0w-30 synthetic oil in my car.  I'll probably use that in the Ariens snow blower too.  But I am not going to use synthetic grease in any application.

The Ariens non-synthetic grease costs $1.53 an ounce versus about 28 cents an ounce for other types of non-synthetic lithium grease.  I highly doubt Ariens grease is worth 5.5 times as much.  I think it is just Lithium Moly grease repackaged.

Thank you for your replies to my question.  These are all good comments.  The reason I asked about which grease is best for my new machine is it is a year old and has areas on it that came with very little grease where I feel there should be more.  I would just go with the what the machine calls for, Ariens 00036800 (Sten Mix Hi-Temp Grease), but it is expensive and unavailable in my area.  Unless a local dealer will order it for me, I will have to order it mail order and it only comes in packs of 3 small 3 ounce tubes.  I realize it is not good to mix different kinds of grease.  I would prefer a grease that is readily available and comes in a regular full size tube.  But when I feel this black grease that might have graphite in it I have to admit it has a very nice consistency.  It is not thick and waxy like other High Temp grease including Mobile One Synthetic grease.  It probably isn't Synthetic or it would say so.  But it is an unusual grease and nice.  I will try to get some.  From what I have read this is a common problem across the US.  The grease is almost impossible to find locally, you have to order it mail order.  The closest grease I can compare it to in looks and feel is black lithium grease that has Moly in it that Wal-mart sells.

As for the gear oil, I have read Ariens L-2 which it calls for is obsolete and has been replaced with Ariens L-3 Synthetic severe duty gear lube.

It comes with 5W-30 engine oil but it is not synthetic.  When I change the oil for the first time I will replace it with Mobile 1 sythetic oil.  I think I will use 0W-30 which claims to be better in the cold and protect as well as 5W-30 and get better mileage in vehicles.  I am using that same oil in my car so it will be nice to use the same oil.

I also read a comment from someone elsewhere saying it is a good idea to wax a snow blower to protect it.

I just bought a new 2009 Ariens 20" 2-stage snow blower, model 920007.  It is the smallest 2-stage snow blower I could find and it is now discontinued.  Its gear case comes with Ariens L2 oil.  I've read there is a new Ariens L3 synthetic gear case oil that is superior.  It says to use Ariens grease, part number 00036800.  This is Sten Mix Hi-Temp grease.  Does anyone know if this grease is synthetic?  Is this the best grease to use?  It is a black grease that looks like lithium moly grease.  It does not look or feel like waxy red high temp grease.