Yup. I have heard from several sources that Phil's lubes are actually made by Mobil for outboard motor use. I got in the habit of using bulk pack grease when we went through tubs of it in the shops where I worked. We realized that the loads from bikes are much smaller than that of automobiles, and when lithium greases were developed for automotive use that were actually lighter and less "sticky" than those packaged and sold for many times more for bicycle use, we realized that this was a way to save money in the shop and actually give people a better product. The auto greases had characteristics we didn't need, like high heat resistance, but we experimented until we found the ones that had a nice light consistency and gave good results. I see it more as being pragmatic than cheap. Our results were so positive that I continue the practice, even though I don't wrench other people's bikes any more.
Steve "Grease Under the Fingernails" Barner, Bolton, Vermont
> Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 10:47:12 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Tom Dalton <tom_s_dalton@yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [CR]Re: Greasing BBs
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>
>
> >>Does anyone out there actually believe that bike lubricants are
specially
> >>formulated for use in bicycles?
>
> No, but... with the nearly endless variety of greases that are formulated
for all manner of characteristics and applications, it seems unlikely that
greases marketed as bicycle-specific are not selected from the available
offerings. Ideally the marketer selects the grease that is suitable in
physical characteristics and cost. I have observed that most of the
"bicycle" greases available today are pretty decent, and that this ideal is
largely met. This contrasts with the situation 20 years ago when some
"bicycle" greases were not suitable for their stated purpose. If folks can
save a nickel by selecting an inexpesive industrial product on their own,
rather than paying Perdo or Phil or whoever to do so, more power to 'em. I
haven't the inclination.
> Tom Dalton
> Bethlehem, PA