Maintenance 139 Lubrication VN, VHD Chassis Lubrication Lubrication Procedure Make sure the grease fittings are cleaned off before filling grease. Dirt on the fitting that is not cleaned off is pushed into the part together with the new grease. Always fill grease to the point where old grease and contaminants are forced out from the part and only new grease comes out. If new grease cannot be filled so old grease is flushed out, the part needs to be checked for problems. If a fitting does not accept lubrication due to damage or internal stoppage, replace it with a new fitting.
DANGER Before working on or servicing a vehicle, set the parking brakes, place the transmission in neutral and block the wheels. Failure to do so can result in unexpected vehicle movement and can cause serious personal injury or death. General lubrication includes lubricating all the grease fittings in the drivetrain, front and rear suspensions, power steering, and front axle, using a grease gun. Note: Think of greasing the same way as an oil change. All old grease should come out and be replaced with new grease. Grease the chassis every 15,000 miles (24,000 km).
However, if the vehicle is in a demanding application or running in a dirty or corrosive atmosphere, adjust the lubrication intervals to reflect heavy-duty use. For example, if driven in heavy stop-and-go traffic with a lot of maneuvering, the lubrication intervals should be every 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or less. Where rubber or plastic parts are involved, do not heat part for better grease application. Remove excess grease from fittings, shackles and other surfaces. Note: Always grease a Volvo front axle with the wheels on the ground. All lubricating points are found on the chassis lubrication chart on the next page.
Lubricating Grease Use grease with a lithium base with EP additives and a consistency of NLGI No. 2. The No. 2 consistency is suitable for most temperatures. Use NLGI No. 1 or No. 0 for extremely low temperatures. Care should be taken not to use any grease other than one with EP additives for the driveshaft. DO NOT use any solid lubricants, such as graphite, copper or molybdenum disulfide.