Difference Between Oil and Grease

October 2022 · 5 minute read

Many of us have usually come across some similar terms that we are not clear about. They sound so very similar that we don’t understand the exact difference between them. Oil and grease are two such terms. Both the oil and the grease are sticky but, they have some unique features that set them apart.

Oil vs Grease

The main difference between oil and grease is that oil is a liquid that is used in industries for lubrication purposes. Oil is obtained in different forms. One is the crude oil that is used in industrial areas, the other one is the vegetable oil that is used for cooking purposes. Grease is also a lubricant but, it contains thickener, and when kept a room temperature, grease tends to become solid.

Oil is a liquid that is very sticky. They are used in machine equipment as a lubricator. Unlike grease, oil tends to be in a liquid form when kept at room temperature. But oil can be turned to a solid form given, they are kept in cold temperature for long hours.

Grease is a type of lubricant. It is obtained from oil and other varieties of minerals. Grease contains thickener. They are used in vehicles, heavy machines, and other equipment for lubrication purposes. Grease is extracted from animal fats. They are a mix of thickener, base oils, and other addictive. There are different types of grease that serve different purposes. 

Comparison Table Between Oil and Grease

Parameters of ComparisonOilGrease
MeaningOil is a liquid, that is sticky.Grease is a type of lubricant.
UsesIt is used for cooking (vegetable oil), petroleum products, plastics (crude oil).They are used in vessels, machines, vehicles for lubrication.
Room temperatureOil tends to be in liquid form.Grease tends to be in solid form.
TypesVegetable oil, Crude oil, mineral oil, and so on.There are Lithium-based grease and calcium-based grease.
ExtractionExtracted from plant components.Made from minerals or animal fats.

What is Oil?

Oil is an essential item in everyone’s daily life. It is impossible to refrain from using oil in today’s world. Oil is also one of the most precious resources available on our planet. It is natural for everyone to understand the relevance of oil in our lives. Some specific aspects of oil add more importance and set it apart from other substances.

To put it in simple terms, Oil is a viscous liquid that is sticky. Oils are usually hydrophobic, which means that oil does not tend to mix well with water or other liquid substances. It is vital to understand that there are different types of oils in the world. These different types of oils are used for several purposes too. 

Vegetable oil, crude oil, mineral oil, motor oil are some of the types of oil that we use in our daily lives. While cooking any dish, vegetable oil remains the most necessary item of all. It is unusual and almost impossible to skip using even a little bit of vegetable oil in any dish.  

Oil is also used as lubrication for motors. Crude oil is used as fuel for vehicles all over the world. It is extracted by pumping in the ground and is shipped to oil refineries in the world. Oil is the new Gold and, it is common for countries to fight and dominate other areas to extract oil.

What is Grease?

Grease is another critical element that is essential for people around the world. Grease is a type of semisolid lubricant. It contains a lot of thickening agents that help to create the semisolid lubricant. It is taken from other oils like mineral and vegetable oils, and minerals. Grease is required for a lot of lubrication purposes in machines. 

The initial viscosity of grease is very high. After applying shear to the viscous grease, it tends to become the viscosity reduces and turns it into an oil-based lubricant. The process is known as shear thinning. The term grease is also used to denote the lubricating materials that are just highly viscous liquids in nature.

The thickener that turns the grease into a semisolid is usually a soap. It is the emulsifying agent that helps the grease to become viscous. There are several types of grease used for different purposes. Silicon grease, lab grease, fluoro-ether grease, and water-soluble grease are some of the examples.

Machinery that has not been used in a long time or machines that run in extreme temperatures can use grease. This grease is applied using a grease gun and smoothens up the machines. Grease also has a few unique features like water-resistant and pumpable. It sets it apart from oil and other liquids. 

Main Differences Between Oil and Grease

  • Oil is a type of sticky liquid, while grease is a type of lubricant. Both of them are used for lubrication purposes. 
  • Vegetable oil and crude oil are a few types of popular oils. On the other hand, lithium-based grease and calcium-based grease are some of the well-known greases.
  • Vegetable oil is used for cooking, frying. Crude oil is used in plastics and petroleum products, whereas grease is used in vehicles, machines, and vessels for lubrication.
  • When kept at room temperature, the grease tends to be in solid form, while the oil tends to be in liquid form.
  • Grease is obtained from varieties of minerals or animal fats, whereas oil is generally extracted from plant components. 
  • Conclusion

    It is very usual for people to misunderstand the terms oil and grease. Several people use these terms interchangeably and tend to confuse others too. While a lot of people are clear with the use cases of oil and grease, it is necessary to understand the fundamental differences between these two substances.

    Oil is a viscous liquid that is sticky. Oil is one of the most commonly used substances by people around the world. Different types of oils are used for various purposes like cooking, fuel, machines, etc. Grease is a semisolid lubricant that is used in machinery and other places. 

    References

  • https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1984)110:1(58)
  • https://doi.org/10.1006/wmre.1996.0062
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