Klubersynth UH1 6-100 vs Klubersynth UH1 14-1600: Food-grade oil viscosity selec
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Klubersynth UH1 6-100 vs Klubersynth UH1 14-1600: Food-grade oil viscosity selection
Selecting the correct lubricant for food-processing machinery requires balancing multiple technical parameters: viscosity, base oil chemistry, thickener type, operating temperature range, and application method. Two products from KLUBER's Klubersynth UH1 family -- Klubersynth UH1 6-100 and Klubersynth UH1 14-1600 -- address different segments of this requirement spectrum. Both carry NSF H1 registration and ISO 21469 certification, confirming their suitability for applications where incidental, technically unavoidable food contact may occur. Yet they differ fundamentally in composition, consistency, and intended service conditions.
Klubersynth UH1 6-100 is a polyglycol (PAG) based synthetic gear oil with an ISO VG 100 viscosity grade. It flows as a fluid oil and is designed for enclosed gearboxes, bearings, and drive chains operating under high loads and a broad temperature range. Klubersynth UH1 14-1600, by contrast, is an NLGI 00 semi-fluid grease built on a synthetic hydrocarbon base oil with an aluminium complex soap thickener. The "00" designation places it at the boundary between oil and grease -- pumpable enough for centralised lubrication systems, yet sufficiently adhesive to stay in place on open chains and gear flanks. Understanding where each product excels, and where each has limitations, is critical for maintenance engineers specifying lubricants in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and animal feed facilities.
Technical Comparison
| Specification | Klubersynth UH1 6-100 | Klubersynth UH1 14-1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Product Type | Synthetic gear oil (fluid) | Synthetic semi-fluid grease (NLGI 00) |
| Base Oil | Polyglycol (PAG / polyalkylene glycol) | Synthetic hydrocarbon oil |
| Thickener | None (unthickened fluid) | Aluminium complex soap |
| ISO VG / Consistency | ISO VG 100 (series: 100-1000 available) | NLGI 00 (worked penetration 370-430 x 0.1 mm) |
| Kinematic Viscosity at 40 deg C | ~100 mm2/s | N/A (grease; base oil viscosity not published) |
| Viscosity Index | ≥ 190 | N/A (grease) |
| Service Temperature Range | -35 deg C to +160 deg C | -45 deg C to +120 deg C |
| FZG Scuffing Load Stage | ≥ 12 (A/8.3/90) | ≥ 11 (A/2.8/50) |
| Micropitting Resistance | GFT ≥ 10 (FVA 54/7) | Not specified |
| Density at 15-20 deg C | ~1,040 kg/m3 | ~850 kg/m3 |
| Pour Point | ≤ -45 deg C | N/A (grease; drop point ≥ 200 deg C) |
| Certifications | NSF H1 (137872), ISO 21469, FDA 21 CFR 178.3570, HALAL, KOSHER | NSF H1 (136695), ISO 21469, FDA 21 CFR 178.3570 |
| Miscibility | Not miscible with mineral oils or PAO/ester synthetics; miscible with other PAG oils | Not miscible with mineral oils; remove old grease before changeover |
| Shelf Life | ~36 months | ~12 months |
| DIN Classification | CLP PG 100 (DIN 51502) | KP 00 G-200 (approximate) |
The most significant takeaway from this comparison is the product-type distinction: UH1 6-100 is an unthickened PAG gear oil, while UH1 14-1600 is an aluminium-complex-thickened semi-fluid grease. This difference drives nearly every other performance characteristic. The PAG base of UH1 6-100 delivers a naturally high viscosity index (≥190), meaning its viscosity changes less with temperature than a conventional mineral oil would -- an advantage in machinery that experiences wide temperature swings. However, PAG chemistry also means it is incompatible with mineral oil residues and most standard seal elastomers; thorough system flushing and seal verification are mandatory before conversion. UH1 14-1600 sacrifices some high-temperature capability (120 deg C vs. 160 deg C upper limit) but gains pumpability through centralised systems, enhanced adhesion from the aluminium complex thickener, and a lower density (850 vs. 1,040 kg/m3) that can simplify system design. The FZG figures should not be directly compared because the test parameters differ (A/8.3/90 for the oil vs. A/2.8/50 for the grease), though both products demonstrate robust scuffing protection within their respective categories.
Strengths of Klubersynth UH1 6-100
The PAG base oil in UH1 6-100 provides several technically grounded advantages. First, its high viscosity index (≥190) ensures stable film thickness across a wide temperature window, reducing the need for seasonal oil changes in equipment exposed to ambient temperature variation. Second, the product achieves FZG scuffing load stage ≥12 and micropitting resistance GFT ≥10 per FVA 54/7, making it suitable for highly loaded spur, bevel, and planetary gear sets where surface fatigue is the dominant failure mode. Third, the polyglycol chemistry provides inherently low friction coefficients against steel-bronze pairings, which is why KLUBER specifically optimised this fluid for worm gear reducers -- a common drive type in food mixer and conveyor applications.
The upper service temperature of +160 deg C is notably high for a food-grade lubricant, allowing UH1 6-100 to serve in oven-discharge conveyors, baking line drives, and other elevated-temperature zones where many H1-registered oils would oxidise prematurely. Its excellent ageing and oxidation resistance, combined with a 36-month shelf life, supports extended service intervals and reduces maintenance frequency. The product is also approved by major gearmotor OEMs including SEW Eurodrive, Siemens-Flender, Nord, Lenze, and Bonfiglioli, which simplifies compliance for end-users operating OEM-warrantied equipment. The availability of higher viscosity grades within the UH1 6 series (ISO VG 150 through 1000) allows engineers to standardise on one lubricant chemistry across multiple gearbox sizes while selecting the appropriate viscosity grade for each unit.
Strengths of Klubersynth UH1 14-1600
The defining advantage of UH1 14-1600 is its NLGI 00 semi-fluid consistency. This places it in a practical sweet spot: fluid enough to be pumped through centralised single-line lubrication systems, yet viscous enough to resist dripping or fling-off from open chains and gear trains. The aluminium complex soap thickener contributes two functional benefits. First, it provides strong adhesion to metal surfaces, maintaining a lubricant film on chain pins and bushings even under centrifugal force and washdown conditions common in food plants. Second, aluminium complex thickeners are inherently water-resistant, giving UH1 14-1600 an edge in wet processing environments such as poultry, seafood, and beverage bottling lines where frequent hose-down cleaning is unavoidable.
The low-temperature capability of -45 deg C is 10 K better than UH1 6-100, making UH1 14-1600 the preferred choice for freezer tunnels, spiral freezers, and cold-storage material handling equipment. Its density of approximately 850 kg/m3 -- roughly 18% lower than the PAG oil -- can be an incidental benefit in systems where lubricant weight contributes to inertial loads. For chain lubrication specifically, the semi-fluid grease format addresses a practical problem: fluid oils tend to migrate away from chain joints under gravity and centrifugal force, while stiffer NLGI 1 or 2 greases may not penetrate adequately into pin-bushing clearances. NLGI 00 strikes a balance, flowing into the load zone during operation while maintaining adequate residency time.
Limitations & Considerations
Klubersynth UH1 6-100 carries several constraints that engineers must evaluate. The polyglycol base oil is incompatible with mineral oils and most synthetic hydrocarbons (PAO, ester). Converting existing equipment requires draining, flushing, and potentially replacing seals -- a non-trivial maintenance operation that must be planned into production schedules. PAG chemistry also attacks certain elastomers; only specific fluoroelastomer (FKM) and nitrile (NBR) grades are confirmed compatible by KLUBER. Standard Buna-N or EPDM seals commonly found in older equipment may swell or degrade. Furthermore, PAG oils are hygroscopic to a degree; while this does not typically cause corrosion issues in properly maintained closed systems, it warrants attention in humid environments where breather vents or desiccant filters may be advisable.
Klubersynth UH1 14-1600 has its own set of practical limitations. The most operationally significant is its documented tendency toward rapid penetration increase -- the grease softens measurably within approximately six months of service, to the point where it may fall outside the specified NLGI 00 penetration range. This means relubrication intervals must account not only for additive depletion and contamination but also for consistency degradation. The 12-month shelf life (versus 36 months for UH1 6-100) requires tighter inventory management. The upper temperature limit of +120 deg C excludes it from direct use in ovens, fryers, and high-temperature processing zones where UH1 6-100 would still perform adequately. The FZG scuffing test for UH1 14-1600 was run under less severe conditions (A/2.8/50 vs. A/8.3/90), so direct comparison of load-carrying capacity should be avoided; for highly loaded gear sets, the oil-based product typically offers demonstrably higher scuffing resistance.
Recommendation: When to Choose Which
Choose Klubersynth UH1 6-100 when:
- The application involves enclosed industrial gearboxes -- spur, helical, bevel, or planetary -- especially those from OEMs (SEW, Nord, Flender, Lenze) that have approved this product. The fluid oil format is the standard specification for splash and circulation-lubricated enclosed gear drives.
- Worm gear reducers with steel-bronze pairing are in use. The PAG chemistry is specifically optimised for low friction against bronze worm wheels, yielding measurable efficiency improvements and reduced wear versus mineral or PAO-based alternatives.
- Operating temperatures regularly exceed 120 deg C, such as in baking ovens, frying lines, or steam-heated process equipment. The +160 deg C upper limit provides margin that the grease cannot match.
- Extended service life is a priority. The oxidation stability of PAG, combined with a 36-month shelf life, supports longer drain intervals in well-sealed, low-contamination environments.
- A single lubricant chemistry is being standardised across multiple gearbox sizes. The UH1 6 series offers ISO VG 100 through 1000, enabling viscosity selection per gear stage while maintaining chemical compatibility.
Choose Klubersynth UH1 14-1600 when:
- The primary application is chain lubrication -- drive chains, conveyor chains, or lifting chains -- particularly in wet or washdown environments. The aluminium complex thickener provides the adhesion and water resistance that a fluid oil cannot deliver in open-chain service.
- The equipment is served by a centralised single-line lubrication system. NLGI 00 consistency is pumpable through standard automatic lubrication system components, enabling automated, metered dispensing to multiple points.
- Cold-temperature operation down to -45 deg C is required: spiral freezers, blast freezers, cold storage conveyors, and ice-cream processing lines where a fluid oil might become excessively viscous.
- Drip and migration control is a concern. In overhead conveyors, exposed gearing, or applications where lubricant dripping onto product would create a quality issue, the semi-fluid grease format provides greater residency at the lubrication point.
- Relubrication intervals are short and frequent. In high-contamination environments where lubricant is consumed or purged regularly, the 12-month shelf life and progressive softening of UH1 14-1600 are less likely to become practical problems.
In facilities operating both enclosed gearboxes and open chains, the two products can coexist within the same lubrication programme -- UH1 6-100 in enclosed gear cases and UH1 14-1600 on chains and open gearing. The key is recognising that they are not interchangeable. Attempting to use the semi-fluid grease in a splash-lubricated gearbox designed for oil may result in channeling and inadequate heat transfer. Conversely, applying the fluid oil to an open chain will lead to rapid migration, fling-off, and under-lubrication. Matching the lubricant format to the application method is as important as matching the viscosity grade to the load and speed.
Availability & Technical Support
KOEED maintains inventory of both Klubersynth UH1 6-100 and Klubersynth UH1 14-1600 in standard pack sizes, available for immediate shipment. For detailed product datasheets, elastomer compatibility charts, OEM approval letters, or technical consultation on lubricant selection for your specific equipment, contact our engineering support team at Moritta@KOEED.COM. We can also arrange sample quantities for compatibility testing prior to full conversion, and provide on-site technical guidance for system flushing and changeover procedures where PAG conversion from mineral oil is planned.