Quick answer
Cold makes every grease thicker and stiffer, so the best choice is one the maker rates below the coldest temperature the equipment will see. No single product is best for every job.
- Grease has no single freezing point and stiffens gradually as it gets colder.
- Common white lithium sprays are rated to about 0°F, while cold weather greases reach -60°F or lower.
- Aerosol lubricants are extremely flammable, so keep them away from heat, sparks, and open flames.
Freezing temperatures, snow, and ice can be brutal on your equipment.
That’s why it’s important to use the right grease for the job. Whether you’re maintaining industrial equipment, automobiles, boats, railways, garage doors, or aircraft, using the wrong grease can lead to serious problems.
This article answers common questions about grease and cold weather, using the temperature ratings that grease makers publish for their own products.
What Happens To Grease in the Cold?
Cold weather can have a major impact on grease, making it thicker and harder to spread.
As a result, using the wrong grease can lead to equipment failures and costly repairs.
Lubricating grease is a thickener, such as a lithium or calcium soap, spread through a liquid lubricating oil. As the temperature drops, the oil gets thicker and many thickeners stiffen. The grease flows less easily and moving parts take more force to turn.
Unlike water, grease has no single freezing point. It stiffens gradually as it gets colder. As a guideline, Machinery Lubrication notes that the pour point of the base oil is treated as the low-temperature limit of a grease.
How cold is too cold depends on the product. CRC and WD-40 rate their aerosol white lithium greases down to 0°F. Greases made for cold, such as Lubriplate Low Temp and Jet-Lube Arctic, are rated by their makers down to -60°F and -65°F.
Can Grease Be Frozen?
Can grease be frozen?
It is a common question for anyone who works on vehicles or equipment in winter. A grease that handles heat well does not automatically handle cold well, so the two ratings have to be checked separately.
However, the answer is not as simple as you might think.
Grease does not freeze solid at one set temperature the way water does. Instead it becomes stiff enough that it will not pump through a grease gun or let a bearing turn freely.
Cold grease can sharply increase friction inside bearings, which raises the force needed to start them and keep them turning, according to lubricant maker Fuchs.
Before winter, check the low-temperature rating on the product data sheet and compare it with the coldest weather the equipment will see.
What Is Low-Temperature Grease?
Low-temperature grease is a type of lubricating grease that is designed to maintain its consistency and performance at low temperatures.
Maker ratings for low-temperature greases commonly reach about -60°F. Mobilgrease 28, a synthetic aviation grease, is rated from -65°F to 350°F (-54°C to 177°C).
The base oil does most of the cold-weather work. Low-temperature greases often use thin synthetic base oils, such as PAO or esters.
Softness matters too. NLGI consistency grades run from 000 to 6, and softer grades such as 0 or 00 help grease keep moving through pumped lubrication systems in the cold.
Low-temperature grease is used in a variety of applications where conventional greases would fail because they become too stiff at low temperatures.
Lubriplate lists its Low Temp grease for chains, ball and roller bearings, garage door openers, railroad switches and electronic equipment.
Low-temperature greases are also used in aviation and in industrial equipment that works outdoors in winter.
What Grease Does Not Freeze?
While most greases will thicken or solidify when exposed to cold temperatures, there are some that are designed to withstand extreme conditions.
These low-temperature greases use base oils that stay thin in the cold, so they keep flowing where a standard grease would be too stiff to work.
Some examples of low-temp greases:
- Mobilgrease 28 (maker rating: -65°F to 350°F)
- Lubriplate Low Temp (maker rating: -60°F to 250°F)
- Jet-Lube Arctic Extreme Low Temperature Grease (maker rating: -65°F to 225°F)
No grease works at every temperature. Each of these products has a lowest rated temperature on its data sheet, and below that point it may be too stiff to protect parts.
Is White Lithium Grease Good in Cold Weather?
Only down to about 0°F. CRC and WD-40 both rate their aerosol white lithium greases for 0°F to 300°F.
In a typical winter that is enough for hinges, latches and garage door tracks. In places where temperatures fall below 0°F, choose a grease with a lower rating.
For extreme cold, white lithium grease is the wrong choice. Use a grease that its maker rates for the temperatures you expect.
What Temperature Is White Lithium Grease Good To?
White lithium grease is a general-purpose grease thickened with lithium soap. It is not designed for extreme cold.
The aerosol white lithium greases from CRC and WD-40 are rated from 0°F to 300°F. Ratings vary by brand, so check the data sheet for the product you buy.
It also helps protect metal from rust.
White lithium grease is relatively inexpensive and easy to find, making it a great option for those on a budget.
Is Lithium Grease Low Temp?
Not especially. Common white lithium greases are rated down to about 0°F, which covers a normal winter but not severe cold.
One common use for white lithium grease is in lubricating door hinges and other moving parts such as latches and garage door tracks.
White lithium grease can also be used on inner mechanisms of both hand and power tools to keep them operating smoothly.
On vehicles, white lithium grease is commonly used on hinges, latches and cables. Lucas Oil says its white lithium grease is not recommended for use in wheel bearings. For wheel bearings and chassis points, use the grease the vehicle maker’s manual specifies.
For snowblowers, chainsaws and other winter equipment, use the lubricant named in the owner’s manual and check that its rated temperature range covers your winter lows.
CRC lists its white lithium grease for slide conveyors, guide rails, cams, chains, cables and general machinery. It is a general-purpose grease, not a low-temperature specialist.
What Is a Good Cold Weather Moly Grease?
When it comes to cold weather grease, you want something that is going to stay put and not turn into a solid brick.
Phillips 66 Moly Low Temp is one grease made for this job.
It is a moly grease that Phillips 66 literature rates for low temperatures down to -30°F. Confirm the current data sheet before buying, because ratings and product lines change. A high dropping point is a heat rating and says nothing about cold performance.
Do not pump any new grease on top of a different grease without checking that the two are compatible.
What Grease Is Best for Cold Weather?
The best grease for cold weather is one whose maker rates it below the coldest temperature your equipment will see. No single product is best for every job.
Among the greases compared here, Jet-Lube Arctic Extreme Low Temperature Grease and Mobilgrease 28 have the lowest ratings.
Jet-Lube rates Arctic from -65°F to 225°F. Lubriplate Low Temp is close behind at -60°F to 250°F.
Here are the temperature ranges the makers publish for each grease:
| Grease | Maker’s rated range |
|---|---|
| Aerosol white lithium grease (CRC, WD-40) | 0°F to 300°F |
| Jet-Lube Arctic Extreme Low Temperature Grease | -65°F to 225°F |
| Lubriplate Low Temp | -60°F to 250°F |
Grease for Guns in Cold Weather
A good cold weather grease for guns is one that will maintain its consistency and not harden or freeze in the cold.
Break Free CLP is a common choice. It is a liquid cleaner, lubricant and preservative, not a grease, and its maker says it performs from -65°F to +475°F.
Always unload a firearm and check for yourself that it is unloaded before cleaning or lubricating it. Use the lubricant and the amount the firearm’s maker recommends.
What Spray Lubricant Works Best in the Freezing Cold Weather (Video)
As the winter weather sets in, it’s important to make sure that your house and equipment is properly prepared for the cold temperatures.
For many home owners and businesses, that means using a spray lubricant to prevent freezing and maintain smooth operation. But with so many products on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for your needs.
The video below is an informal test of several spray lubricants in freezing weather.
It is one person’s test, not a lab result, so treat it as a starting point and check each product’s data sheet.
Aerosol lubricants are extremely flammable. Keep them away from heat, sparks and open flames, and never warm a can with a flame or heater.
So whether you’re looking to protect your own equipment or keep your business running smoothly, be sure to check out this video review:
Final Thoughts: Grease and Cold Weather
Cold makes every grease stiffer. The fix is to match the maker’s lowest rated temperature to your winter: about 0°F for common white lithium sprays, and -60°F or lower for greases made for cold.
Do not mix different greases unless the maker confirms they are compatible. Machinery Lubrication advises avoiding grease mixtures whenever possible.
Related posts:
- Best Glue for Cold Weather
- Are Overalls Good for Cold Weather?
- Is Dri-FIT Good for Cold Weather?
- Is PEX Good for Cold Weather?
Sources
NLGI (grease glossary)
Machinery Lubrication (grease basics)
Machinery Lubrication (grease mixing risks)
Fuchs (low temperature grease selection guide)
WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease (technical data sheet)
CRC (white lithium grease)
Lucas Oil (white lithium grease)
Jet-Lube (Arctic Extreme Low Temperature Grease)
Lubriplate (Low Temp)
ExxonMobil (Mobilgrease 28)
Safariland (Break Free CLP)
NSSF (firearm safety rules)
ResearchGate (Industrial Lubrication and Tribology journal)
Reviewed October 2026. We corrected the claim that white lithium grease is the best cold-weather grease, replaced invented temperature figures with the ranges the makers publish, removed a personal test claim, and added guidance on mixing greases, flammable aerosols and firearm safety, using NLGI, WD-40, CRC, Jet-Lube, Lubriplate, ExxonMobil, Machinery Lubrication and the NSSF.