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Greenwood Aerospace
The Comprehensive Greenwood Aerospace Guide to VV-P-236 Petrolatum in Defense & Aviation
You have probably noticed we write a lot about aircraft-grade lubricants, and that's true. We do this because they are the lifeblood of all aircraft flight operations. All modern military and commercial aircraft rely heavily on oils, hydraulic fluids, coolant fluids, greases, and other assorted lubricants, which Greenwood Aerospace is proud to provide with our partnering agencies.
VV-P-236 lubricants are reddish-colored, aircraft-grade greases. Greases enable major control-surface movements on aircraft. Without grease, these just don't work. There is more than one case of an aircraft being "pencil whipped" off a wash-and-lube, only to find that the lube wasn't fully done, and the aircraft couldn't retract the landing gear. A simple gear-lubrication fix solved all of that.
Let's take a look at VV-P-236 grease and how you can procure it for your military or federal mission.
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VV-P-236 Overview and Military Specifications
So, what is VV-P-236 grease?
This is a light-duty grease. It is not suited for high heat or high pressure, namely hubs and wheels. Instead, it is a general-purpose grease used throughout the aircraft for flapping slat tracks, landing gear, and other applications.
It is also a moisture barrier, so it can be applied as a thin film to prevent moisture and contact on the surface. This would be a good candidate for nose-landing-gear steering test plates, in which two large pieces of thick sheet metal are sandwiched over globs of grease to test an aircraft's nose-landing-gear system. It is not a very scientific apparatus, but it works great.
Decoding VV-P-236 Terminology and P-236 Designation
"VV-P" is the old US federal spec prefix for a product category in the military/federal supply system, where VV is the commodity group, and P is the item: petrolatum. In this case, VV-P-236 is a federal spec for technical petrolatum used as a light lubricating grease, not a general-purpose consumer petroleum jelly.
The "P-236" is the specific item number for that petrolatum spec. Sources show that VV-P-236 was later superseded by VV-P-236A, and current product sheets often reference VV-P-236A or later revision markings such as VV-P-236A(2)N3 as the active.
Technical Properties and Performance Considerations for VV-P-236
Now let's cover the physical properties and performance characteristics of VV-P-236.
First, it is important to distinguish between the different types of VV-P-236 greases. There are industrial-grade and pharmaceutical-grade. Always make sure you are applying the right grade.
These are relatively easy to identify: industrial-grade grease is reddish, while pharmaceutical-grade grease is more yellowish and has a lighter consistency.
Aviation and Defense Applications for VV-P-236
VV-P-236 grease is a general-purpose grease widely used for most common airframes. It is not a specialized grease, so consult the technical data if you plan to use it. Make sure that general-purpose greases are suitable and that the application doesn't require high-pressure or high-temperature grease.
Procurement, NSN, and Supply Chain Considerations for VV-P-236
Armite Labs VV-P-236 industrial-grade grease is a staple item for your supply lockers. You can procure it directly from Greenwood Aerospace. For all standard federal contracts, we use the GSA schedule to make it easy for you to source Armite Labs VV-P-236 grease.
Sourcing Best Practices for VV-P-236 with Greenwood Aerospace
We strongly suggest you source VV-P-236 grease and other Armite Labs products via GSA Advantage. Designed for use as a lubricant, it meets the requirements of many aircraft and accessories. While VV-P-236 is an old military standard (MIL STD), it still meets the standards of many government organizations.
Storage, Handling, and Logistics for P-236 Stocks
Store VV-P-236 in a cool, well-ventilated area and avoid heat exposure. Segregate VV-P-236 from strong oxidizers and incompatible chemicals, and physically separate from food, drink, and unrelated lubricants or sealants to prevent mix-ups. For warehouse control, store by lot and revision level so that older stock cannot be issued ahead of newer or requalified material unless the order specifically allows it.
Use lot control procedures that record manufacturer, specification revision, lot number, receipt date, and shelf life or reinspection due date at receipt and at every issue transaction. For shipping, treat material as a non-regulated commodity under DOT, IMDG, and ICAO/IATA unless packaging size or a customer-specific contract clause changes the transport requirement.
Risk Management and Quality Assurance for VV-P-236
There is always some risk when you accept lubricants, oils, and fluids for aircraft. Here are our best practices:
Accept incoming lots only if they match the spec paperwork and show no signs of contamination, container damage, or labeling errors. The spec also requires sampling tied to the product name, manufacturer, spec number, lot and batch numbers, sample date, and contract number. For technical checks, compare the lot to the supplier's published physical properties and functional limits, such as semi-solid form, a flash point of 390°F or higher, and the stated penetration/consistency range for the revision being purchased.
Base shelf-life control on the manufacturer's stated expiration or retest interval; requalify for age, broken seals, heat exposure, contamination, or any deviation in appearance, consistency, or identification marking. If material fails incoming inspection or later in-process checks, segregate it immediately, document the deficiency and rework, and replace or resubmit only after corrective action and inspector notification, per the specification rejection and retest language.
Sourcing VV-236 from GSA Advantage
Greenwood Aerospace is your trusted provider for consumables in your aircraft maintenance operation, whether your team is a federal or military organization. We are the one-stop shop for nearly one thousand of the most common items in your inventory. We offer Armite Laboratories VV-236 in one pound packages.
ITAR-registered and AS9120B-certified, Greenwood Aerospace supports defense contractors with compliant export solutions for military programs.
GSA Contract Number: 47QSMS25D00B8
UEI: KVSUYYSJS174 · DUNS: 604006874 · Cage Code: 2Y735
ITAR DDTC Export Compliant · NAICS: 488190, 336413, 332722, 336411, 481212, 532411
Availability, expedited shipping, or large orders?
gsasales@greenwood.aero | 580-865-6000 | 833-GSA-EBUY
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