# Auto Q, greaseable fittings vs permanently sealed

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-q-greaseable-fittings-vs-permanently-sealed/939411
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 5, 2021, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-q-greaseable-fittings-vs-permanently-sealed/939411 "2021-04-05T01:56:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2021, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-q-greaseable-fittings-vs-permanently-sealed/939411/1 "2021-04-05T01:56:39Z")

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Talking about ball joints and the like, is permanently sealed better if one never greases them? My thoughts are the serviceable ones have to have a way of expelling the pumped out grease, which opens up the door to contamination as if grease can get out, other stuff can get in , while the sealed ones can be, well sealed and may be better off if neglected.

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### Author: ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2021, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-q-greaseable-fittings-vs-permanently-sealed/939411/2 "2021-04-05T02:09:36Z")

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If you don’t intend to grease them, then get the sealed units. Not so much because of possible contamination, but because they are designed to last for a long time without maintenance.