Industrial Grease Guide: NLGI 2, Lithium vs Lithium-Complex, MP vs EP

By the Lubesouq technical team · Last updated: 5 July 2026

NLGI 2 is the standard grease consistency for most bearings. The thickener decides heat tolerance: conventional lithium greases drop out around 180°C; lithium-complex greases hold to 240–290°C — the safer margin for UAE heat. EP means extreme-pressure additives for shock and heavy loads. Match all three to the job.

NLGI grades: what the 2 means

NLGI grades measure consistency — stiffness — by worked cone penetration (ASTM D217). The scale runs from 000 (near-fluid) to 6 (block grease). NLGI 2, with a worked penetration of 265–295, is the global default: soft enough to pump through a grease gun and flow into a bearing, stiff enough to stay put.

Every grease in the product list below is NLGI 2. The consistency isn't what separates them — the thickener and additives are.

Consistency per ASTM D217 worked penetration. Every grease in this guide is NLGI 2 — thickener and additives are what differ.

Lithium vs lithium-complex: the heat question

Around 70% of grease sold worldwide is lithium or lithium-complex thickened. The difference shows up at temperature. A grease's dropping point is where the thickener loses its structure and the grease stops being grease. Conventional lithium greases drop out around 180°C; lithium-complex greases hold to roughly 240–290°C.

Dropping point is not an operating temperature — greases must run well below it. That's exactly why the gap matters in the Gulf: the higher ceiling of a lithium-complex grease is your safety margin when bearing temperatures climb in summer.

The cleanest like-for-like comparison is in our own stock, verified from the manufacturers' datasheets — same NLGI 2 consistency, same ISO VG 220 base oil, different thickener:

Same consistency, same base oil — the thickener is the only variable (manufacturer TDS values)
Product	Thickener	Dropping point	Operating range
Shell Gadus S2 V220 2	Lithium	180°C	-20°C to +130°C
Shell Gadus S3 V220C 2	Lithium complex	240°C	-20°C to +140°C (150°C peak)
Mobilgrease XHP 222	Lithium complex	290°C (ASTM D2265)	High-temperature service

Same NLGI 2 consistency, same VG 220 base oil — the thickener is the only variable. Values from Shell and ExxonMobil datasheets.

MP and EP: reading the name

MP means multipurpose: a general-purpose grease — usually lithium, NLGI 2 — meant to cover bearings, chassis points, and joints with one product. Caltex describes its Marfak Multipurpose line as for use "where specialized products such as EP greases are not required."

EP means extreme pressure. EP additives (classically sulfur–phosphorus chemistry) react with the steel surface under high local heat and pressure to form a sacrificial film that stops welding, scuffing and scoring when the oil film gets squeezed out. Two standard tests quantify it: the 4-ball weld load (ASTM D2596) and the Timken OK load (ASTM D2509) — higher is better. Mobilgrease XHP 222, for example, posts a 315 kgf weld load and 40 lb Timken OK load on its datasheet.

You want EP grease for shock loads, heavy or slow-moving loads, vibration, and start-stop duty — construction plant pins and bushes, heavily loaded plain and rolling bearings. For light, steady duty, a plain MP grease does the job honestly.

One warning: don't mix greases casually

Mixing incompatible thickener systems can soften or harden the blend beyond either grease alone — hardened grease stops flowing and starves the bearing; softened grease runs out. Compatibility can't be reliably predicted from thickener type alone.

When switching products, purge as much of the old grease as possible and shorten re-lube intervals until the changeover is complete. It's unglamorous advice that prevents expensive failures — poor lubrication accounts for over 36% of premature bearing failures, per SKF.

What the 220 means in Gadus S2 V220 and XHP 222

It's the base-oil viscosity: ISO VG 220, i.e. 220 cSt at 40°C — the classic choice for medium-speed, medium-to-heavy-load industrial bearings. The trailing digit is the NLGI grade. So Gadus S2 V220 2, Gadus S3 V220C 2, and Mobilgrease XHP 222 are all VG 220 base-oil, NLGI 2 greases — directly comparable, which is why the thickener table above is a fair fight.

Greases in stock at Lubesouq

Every product below is live and in stock — prices in AED on the product page.

Frequently asked questions

What does NLGI 2 mean on a grease tub?+

It's the consistency grade under ASTM D217 worked penetration: 265–295 tenths of a millimetre. NLGI 2 is the standard, general-purpose stiffness for rolling bearings, chassis points, and grease-gun application.

Is lithium-complex grease better than lithium grease?+

At high temperature, yes: lithium-complex greases hold structure to roughly 240–290°C versus about 180°C for conventional lithium. For light duty at moderate temperatures, a conventional lithium MP grease is the honest, economical choice.

When do I actually need EP grease?+

Shock loads, heavy or slow-moving loads, vibration, and start-stop operation — think construction plant pins, couplings, and heavily loaded bearings. EP additives form a sacrificial anti-weld film when the oil film is squeezed out.

Can I top up one brand of grease with another?+

Not casually. Incompatible thickeners can harden or soften the mix and starve the bearing. If you must switch, purge the old grease as fully as possible and re-lube more frequently during changeover.

Which grease for high-temperature bearings in UAE summer?+

A lithium-complex NLGI 2 grease — such as Mobilgrease XHP 222 or Shell Gadus S3 V220C — gives the temperature margin. Match the base-oil viscosity (VG 220 for typical medium-speed industrial bearings) and check the bearing OEM's recommendation.

Sources

Facts in this guide were cross-checked against the following on 5 July 2026:

Not sure which grade fits your equipment? Message us on WhatsApp — +971 50 296 5485 — with the machine model and we'll answer honestly, even if the answer is "you don't need the expensive one."