Standardized Evaluation of Grease Flow Characteristics for Low-Temperature Applications

Lubricating greases often exhibit a significant increase in viscosity at sub-ambient temperatures, resulting in reduced efficiency, restricted performance, and potential engine reliability issues. Current industrial formulations are rarely optimized for cold conditions due to the absence of accessible, precise testing instrumentation. This study presents the Koehler K95300 – Low Temperature Grease Flow Tester, an advanced instrument designed to evaluate grease flow characteristics in accordance with the Kesternich Method (DIN 51805) at temperatures as low as –50 °C. The system incorporates an integrated Peltier-based cooling mechanism, eliminating the need for external chillers, and requires only 2 g of sample material, ensuring cost-effective and sustainable testing. Comparative trials across multiple grease samples demonstrated reliable, repeatable results, following exponential flow pressure–temperature relationships. The K95300 thus provides an accurate, standardized, and user-friendly approach for assessing the low-temperature flow behavior of lubricating greases, enabling researchers and manufacturers to optimize formulations for extreme environments.