Lubrication in Aviation MRO: 7 Rules for the Hangar and Ground Support Equipment
Grease mixing, traceability, corrosion and ground support equipment lubrication: a practical checklist for aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul teams.
Aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) shops are among the most disciplined workplaces in any industry. Every task is recorded and every part is traceable. Yet lubrication is still one of the most common sources of mistakes. Mixing the wrong greases, using undocumented products or neglecting ground support equipment affects both safety and turnaround time.
Here are seven rules for getting lubrication right in the hangar and the shop.
1. On the aircraft, the manual decides
The lubricant for the aircraft, engine and components is set by the maintenance manuals (AMM, CMM) and the manufacturer’s approved product list. Using an unapproved product because an “equivalent is better” is unacceptable for both airworthiness and audits. Ask your supplier for a product that matches the specification or product in the manual, along with its documents.
2. Never mix greases
Greases with different thickener types can be incompatible. For example, when a clay (bentonite) thickened grease mixes with a lithium complex grease, the consistency can break down, making the grease run out or harden. In aviation, this risk is well known for greases of different make-up such as MIL-PRF-81322 and MIL-PRF-23827.
If you change grease type, remove the old grease completely as the maintenance manual describes, or purge it fully with the new grease.
3. Label grease guns and containers
The most common cause of mixing is filling the same gun with different greases. Label every gun and pail with the product name and specification, color-code where possible, and never use one gun for two greases.
4. Record traceability
Organizations working under regulations such as EASA Part-145 (or national equivalents such as Türkiye’s SHY-145) are expected to keep materials traceable. For every lubricant, record:
- Certificate of conformance (CoC)
- Batch / lot number
- Manufacturing date and shelf life
Don’t use product past its shelf life, and run the store on first-in, first-out.
5. Don’t forget ground support equipment (GSE)
No matter how well the aircraft are maintained, operations stop when the tugs, stairs, lift platforms, ground power units and hangar doors stop. GSE usually works outdoors in rain, dust and a wide temperature range. The aircraft grease restrictions don’t apply here, but the right industrial lubricant can greatly extend equipment life:
- Water-resistant, extreme pressure greases for tug and platform joints
- Wide-temperature synthetic greases for cold mornings and hot ramps
- Open gear and chain lubricants for hangar door mechanisms
- Penetrants and corrosion protectors for equipment parked outdoors
6. Fight corrosion proactively
Corrosion is one of the most expensive problems in aviation, for aircraft and ground equipment alike. The risk is higher at coastal airports, in humid hangars and wherever de-icing chemicals are used. Thin-film corrosion protectors applied regularly to fittings, cable ends and exposed metal stop the problem from growing. On the aircraft, always use the corrosion preventive compounds specified in the manual.
7. Cleanliness and FOD control
Contaminated grease does more harm than good. Wipe grease fittings before applying, keep open pails closed and include shop rags and brushes in your foreign object damage (FOD) control program.
How Oilsan helps
We support MRO shops and aviation maintenance organizations with products sourced to specification and complete documentation. We supply HUSKEY™ synthetic greases, corrosion protectors and penetrants for ground support equipment, hangar systems and shop equipment, and ship within Türkiye and worldwide.
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