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A lever grip grease gun that doesn’t make a mess.

A cordless grease gun with an extensive tube.

A pneumatic gun that is light and easy to aim.

A pistol grip grease gun made of high-quality materials.

A grease gun suited for beginners and professionals alike.

A reliable grease gun is essential if you work with vehicles or machinery that need regular lubrication. Because the cost of a grease gun can range from $30 to over $100, it’s worth learning about the different types to find the best grease gun for your specific needs. Whether it’s hand-powered or relies on a battery, grease guns deliver essential lubrication that can help maintain your mechanical equipment.

In this review, we break down our review team’s top picks for the best grease guns on the market and explain what makes them stand out. We’ll help you start your search for a new grease gun if you’re unfamiliar with them or simply need a refresher.

A grease gun is a tool used to inject lubricant into mechanical joints and fittings. Machines with moving parts generate friction which can wear down and eventually destroy important parts. Any place where metal rubs against metal needs to be lubricated with grease or oil to reduce wear.

In many cases, machine joints can be difficult to reach. A grease gun usually has a long, flexible hose and a specialized coupler that makes it easy to spread grease directly where it’s needed. It is a tool commonly found in workshops and garages as cars and other heavy machinery need greasing as a part of regular maintenance.

Fittings and joints that require regular greasing are becoming less common on modern automobiles. Most new cars have sealed joints that are pre-greased and guaranteed for the lifetime of the part. This means that most people do not need a grease gun as part of their home maintenance toolkit. However, if you need to replace a part, you may need to grease the replacement.

You should get a grease gun if you plan to maintain an older car, farm equipment, or heavy machinery. It’s also a good tool to have for many truck drivers, as trucks still often use grease fittings on tire rods and ball joints. Sometimes a grease gun may be useful for lubricating door hinges.

The LockNLube ® Lever Grip Grease Gun has impeccable grease-delivering capabilities thanks to its locking coupler that produces more grease with less effort. It can deliver up to 10,000.0 psi of pressure and an ounce of grease in only 28 strokes.

This grease gun has cartridge, suction, and bulk loading options and includes a bulk load port as well as an air bleeder valve . When locked onto any grease fitting , the LockNLube won’t leak thanks to its tight grease coupler . Our review team also likes this gun’s Loop & Lock storage design made to keep the coupler clean when not in use.

Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5.0 based on over 800 ratings.

One commonly praised feature is that the grease coupler fits very snugly when tightened. Many customers also like that this grease gun primes with little effort. One complaint from some customers was that the LockNLube leaked when left unattended for days on end.

With its powerful battery-operated motor, the DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Grease Gun delivers grease with ease. The variable speed trigger lets you control the grease flow, so you can get as little or as much as you need for a given job. And its 42.0-inch flexible hose is ideal for reaching into tight spaces .

In order to prevent clogging, this grease gun has a pump filter screen that stops dirt and contamination from building up. Its integrated no-mar foot design allows for this device to be rested on flat surfaces without worrying about leaking. DeWalt claims the battery life of this grease gun can last through 16 grease cartridges before needing to be recharged.

Amazon Review Score: 4.9 out of 5.0 based on over 6,100 ratings.

The DeWalt 20V is hailed by many customers as the best powered grease gun on the market because of its extensive battery life. They also say the priming setup is simple and takes little time. A complaint that a few customers have is that this grease gun is heavy, which makes it harder to aim in tighter areas.

The Lincoln 1162 Pneumatic Grease Gun is fully automatic with continuous operation and grease flow . This makes it ideal for jobs that require a large amount of grease . Its 30.0- inch flex hose with grease coupler and attachment clip ensure you can easily get into hard-to-reach areas without risking a leak.

Thanks to its ergonomic rubber grip and trigger, the Lincoln 1162 is ideal for one-hand operation . A feature of this gun that our review team likes is that its casting neck has been shortened to improve grease flow to the piston, which also strengthens the unit.

Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5.0 based on over 4,000 ratings.

Many customers claim the Lincoln 1162 is easy to load and that the priming process takes little time and effort. This gun is popular among people who have shoulder or hand issues and need a lightweight tool to reduce strain. Some customers who didn’t like the Lincoln 1162 say it jams frequently.

Best Pistol Grip 4/5 Check Price

The Bravex Heavy Duty Professional Grade Pistol Grip Grease Gun has a chrome-plated canister for increased durability and scratch resistance. Its three-way loading design works with both bulk fills and cartridge grease. Because of its non-slip rubber handle, this grease gun can be used with one hand.

This gun’s anti-aging fluorescent O-ring and plunger prevent grease from losing softness, even after being stored for long periods. Another noteworthy feature of the O-ring is that it stops grease leakage from the pump head.

Amazon Review Score: 4.4 out of 5.0 based on over 3,600 ratings.

The most common feature of this grease gun that customers commend is its ease of use . They say that couplers fit snugly and that it doesn’t leak. One frequent complaint is that the tube is not long enough, and many customers say they need to buy an extension tube to get the best use from their gun.

Thanks to its air bleeder valve , the Lumax LX-1152 Black Heavy Duty Grease Gun releases air pockets to prevent trigger malfunctions. With its reinforced wall thickness, this grease gun doesn’t leak and can be stored without allowing grease buildup to occur.

The Lumex’s die-cast head and no-drip cap prevent leaking. It is designed to hold one 16.0-ounce standard cartridge at a time and can be fitted with a wide array of grease gun couplers .

Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5.0 based on over 4,500 ratings.

One positive feature that customers tend to highlight in their reviews is the Lumax ’s heavy gauge steel barrel that holds up against corrosion . The most common complaint among customers is that the flow rate of this grease gun is lower than other pistol grip options.

Before your next purchase, consider the following information regarding grease guns to help you make an informed decision.

There are four types of grease guns :

Hand-powered grease guns (lever and pistol grip) are less expensive and easy to use for basic applications. However, grease can be particularly hard to pump in cold climates and operating a grease gun by hand can be tiring. If you use your grease gun in the cold or need to lubricate a great number of joints, it’s worth considering a pneumatic or battery-powered grease gun.

Many grease guns come with a standard hydraulic connection adapter, but there are several variations that depend on the application. For example, 90-degree adapters are ideal for reaching around corners and bends while needle-end adapters are suited for reaching into tight crevices.

Grease guns either have a fixed or flexible (flex) hose depending on its grease-fitting type, ease of location, and the type of gun. Hard-to-reach locations are better handled with guns that have a flexible hose . Grease guns that require two hands for operation, on the other hand, typically use fixed hoses for improved aim.

A grease fitting , also known as a Zerk or Alemite fitting, is the lubrication point at which a grease connector is attached. The standard fitting is either upright or angled for better application. Button-head fittings are better for when large volumes of grease need to be applied, and flush-type fittings work best when space is limited for protruding fittings.

A coupler is a useful grease gun accessory that makes it easier to attach a Zerk fitting. The LockNLube coupler helps prevent leaking, ultimately saving time and money. The downside of a coupler is that it can be difficult to position into hard-to-reach places that only a flexible hose could reach.

To select the five grease guns in this review, our team searched retailers like Amazon and Advance Auto Parts for top products, looking at factors such as customer ratings, prices, superlatives, and Prime shipping eligibility.

Each year, we review over 1,000 auto products. Our team of product experts thoroughly researches top products and tests items on real vehicles when possible before making our recommendations.

We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more.

Symptoms of over-greasing include damaged seals and motor windings, environmental issues surrounding the greased area, and fluid friction. You will know if you have under-greased if there are symptoms of bearing starvation, which shows through excessive friction wear. Be sure to apply the right amount of grease to avoid potential damage.

All greases are not created equal and have a variable time for which they can be safely stored in a grease gun. For example, lithium greases have a 12-month shelf life, while calcium-complex greases can only last for 6 months. It’s very important that you check the specifications of both your grease and grease gun to understand proper storage techniques to save their health.

If your grease gun is blocked, unscrew the hose or hardline from your grease gun to relieve pressure. This should unclog the Zerk fitting and allow grease to pass through. Should this not unclog your grease gun, consider consulting professional help.

A high-pressure grease gun typically handles 2,000.0 to 15,000.0 psi. Applying too much pressure can damage bearing seals, while not enough pressure will not provide the adequate amount of grease for a given project. Air-operated grease guns typically produce greater psi than manual grease guns since they use an external air supply for power.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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