Oil bath hubs?

[HP]

228163 Has anyone ever tried these particular oil bath hub caps? Appears they will turn an existing hub into an oil bath hub without having to buy the hub conversion design like Dura Lube. I've seen the Dura Lube's but was curious if these will hold up as well.

[DoktorC]

Grease is better/more reliable...I'm in the trailer business an you couldn't pay me to run oil bath hubs.

[gregpro50]

If oil works for an engine I don't see why it would be bad for hubs.

[Ron V]

My fear with the oil bath hubs is that if a leak develops, or a rock flies up and hits the cap and cracks it, etc., the oil can leak out while you are underway and you wouldn't know it. Grease can't do that. The bearings may run cooler with oil, but at least with grease you know that most of it will be in there even if the seal gets severely compromised or the dust cap falls off.

The seals on trailer bearings are constantly exposed to silt, grime, dried seaweed, etc, and the seal surfaces go to hell quick. None of the trailers that I've owned had enough left of the seal surfaces after a few years for the seals to hold oil with confidence.

[DoktorC]

My fear with the oil bath hubs is that if a leak develops, or a rock flies up and hits the cap and cracks it, etc., the oil can leak out while you are underway and you wouldn't know it. Grease can't do that. The bearings may run cooler with oil, but at least with grease you know that most of it will be in there even if the seal gets severely compromised or the dust cap falls off.

The seals on trailer bearings are constantly exposed to silt, grime, dried seaweed, etc, and the seal surfaces go to hell quick. None of the trailers that I've owned had enough left of the seal surfaces after a few years for the seals to hold oil with confidence.

Exactly...

It's not that it's bad for the hubs it's a durability thing....the cheap plastic cap and o-ring/seals are weak points. You can lose a grease cap and drive for 100's of miles....

[Liberator*21]

Don't do it, grease hubs have been great for a long time, stick with a proven hub.....JMO

[flabum1017]

Bearing Buddy's...... they keep the grease under pressure and the grime and water out.....even with a small seal leak they work.

[DanielC]

Engines have oil pumps, filters, probably about a quart and a half of oil reserve, and a gauge or idiot light to tell you when the oil is low.
Your trailer has none of that.

[99fxst99]

We have changed dozens of oil bath OEM hubs back to grease. Oil bath might work good for over the road tractor/trailers but we couldn't keep the oil from water contamination. Good bearing grease is tolerant of a small amount of water but oil isn't.

[HP]

Thanks for the quick comeback guys........Your right grease has worked forever. I think I'll stick to a good grade marine grease.

[laglass69]

My trailer has oil bath hubs on it. Seemed fine for the first 6 months i had it then one day walking around the boat in the yard i noticed oily residue all over one of the rims. When I pulled the wheels to inspect the hubs i found both sides were completely empty. I couldnt find a leak anywhere so I teflon taped the fill/drain screws and refilled em with oil to see if it happens again. If it does im switching back to regular old tried and true grease hubs.

[JWTjr.]

Thanks for the quick comeback guys........Your right grease has worked forever. I think I'll stick to a good grade marine grease.

Actually a good synthetic grease is the best there is. It will save you on the road if you have a problem. I've lost hubs due to hitting objects and also due to unbalanced tires...and as has been said, if that happens with oil bath hubs, you're toast. It can also be a problem with dino based grease. With synthetic grease, I lost a bearing buddy and went over 300 miles (to the next gas stop) without a problem...hub was still actually barely warm to the touch, grease was still in the bearings working fine.

John