John Deere Corn Grease- steering box

[Gary R.]

I have heard for a while many like the John Deere green corn grease, which is a poly grease. I just checked a box that had it in it today. I doubt I'll ever use it. It's too thin and will thin out even more in use. Even with new seals I wouldn't be surprised if it leaks past the seals as Mobil 1 does.
Use what you like, as I will do the same.

[Mike M.]

I've found that all the lubricants John Deere sells are way overpriced and am not sure of their claimed superiority. my JD 6115 ag tractor gets rosella for the engine and any hydraulic oils that tractor supply carries. their oil, fuel and hydraulic filters are extremely pricey. their tractors are my favorites., they too are more expensive than most all other farm tractors, but their resale values are superior to the red and orange tractors in this neck of the woods. the 6115 will not out run any of our FI's but it deftly out-torques the vets. mike mccagh

[Duke W.]

Given the close proximity of the C2/3 steering gear to the exhaust manifold/head pipe it needs a high drop point grease that doesn't doesn't get too runny at high temperature. So-called John Deere Corn Grease is NGLI #0 which is much less viscous than NGLI #2, which is usually specified for wheel bearings and chassis lube points like ball joints and steering linkage joints, but the "corn grease" does have a decently high drop point of 450F, which is in the ballpark of typical "disk brake" wheel bearing grease.

Back in the day GM sold a specific grease for the C2/3 steering gear (1052084) in a 10 oz. package, and the instructions were to pack the entire amount into the pitman bore/ballnut/steering gear housing upon rebuild. It's what I used when I rebuilt my SWC's steering gear back in the late seventies. IIRC it had a consistency similar to typical "disk brake" wheel bearing greases of the era, and I expect the drop point was at least 450F.

Given the high temperature requirement a synthetic-base grease is best since synthetic base oils have lower oxidation rates than mineral oils. I used to think that Mobil 1 would be a good fit, but reports of oil leaking from the pitman shaft seal indicate excess separation.

I don't know what to recommend today other than a synthetic-base NGLI #2 high temperature wheel bearing grease, but something other than Mobil 1.

The "drop point" is the temperature at which the liquid oil separates for the solid "soaps" that make the grease very viscous, which can result in inadequate lubrication of the mechanism.

As far as filters are concerned, my first choice for ANY automotive filter is:

https://www.baldwinfilters.com

Duke