Oils, greases and specs — for anyone in the field
Which grade to use, what a number on the pack means, and what the literature is arguing. Written by a working formulator. Consulting pages stay in the back room.
5W-30 vs 5W-40 vs 10W-40
Which engine oil to use. Same SAE language, different cold-start and hot-film behaviour — OEM spec first.
Read the guide
Metalworking fluids: from family selection to field control
Learn why a grinding fluid, severe tapping oil and deep-drawing lubricant solve different physical problems—and how alloy, water, foam, corrosion, residue, filtration and the next production step change the formulation.
Which / when / troubleshoot
Lithium vs lithium complex vs calcium
Which grease family: temperature, water, and why colour is not a spec.
ReadHydraulic ISO 32 vs 46 vs 68
ISO VG at 40 °C, pump windows, and why 46 is the industrial default.
ReadGrease for hubs, motors, wet work
A field picker — lithium complex, polyurea, calcium sulfonate — by job.
ReadWhy oil turns black, milky or thin
Soot vs water vs fuel dilution — what the dipstick is actually saying.
ReadHydraulic oil foaming or milky
Foam is air; milk is water. Fix the system before you change the drum.
ReadFrom patents and journals
Why EV fluid cares about electricity
Copper, conductive deposits, and why ASTM D130 is the wrong question for an e-axle.
ReadCalcium carbonate in grease
Thickener, filler, or EP helper? A public-patent question, not a recipe.
ReadExplained guides
How Lubricants Are Formulated
How a finished lubricant is built from a base oil and an additive package — process and testing.
ReadMetalworking Fluid Formulation
A complete guide to neat, soluble, semi-synthetic and synthetic cutting fluids plus grinding, forming, drawing, sump control and field qualification.
ReadBase Oil Groups I–V
API 1509 Groups I to V — saturates, sulfur and viscosity index, mineral vs PAO vs ester, and how to choose a base stock.
ReadSynthetic vs Mineral Oil
What really differs — oxidation, VI, volatility and cost — the Group III "synthetic" debate, and when each makes sense.
ReadSAE Viscosity Grades
What 5W-30 and 15W-40 really mean — the SAE J300 cold-start (CCS/MRV) and hot (KV100/HTHS) limits behind every grade.
ReadAPI Engine Oil Categories
The S (petrol) and C (diesel) series — SP, CK-4 and FA-4 — what each level protects against, and backward compatibility.
ReadACEA Oil Sequences
Europe’s A/B, C and E classes, the SAPS budget behind DPF-safe oils, and how ACEA differs from API.
ReadEngine Oil Technology
How an engine oil works end to end — SAE grades, API/ACEA specs, multigrade behaviour and mineral vs synthetic base oils.
ReadAPI GL Gear Oil Grades
GL-4 vs GL-5 vs MT-1, extreme-pressure additive levels, and the yellow-metal trap of "upgrading" to GL-5.
ReadLube Oil Blending Process
How a formula becomes a finished product — base-oil selection, additive dosing, heated mixing, QC and filling.
ReadLubricant Additives
Every additive family — detergents, dispersants, ZDDP, VII, PPD, antioxidants — what each does and typical treat rates.
ReadGrease Formulation
Thickener chemistries — lithium, complex, calcium sulfonate, polyurea, clay, PFPE — NLGI grades and how to select a grease.
ReadNLGI Grease Grades
What "#2 grease" means — the 000 to 6 consistency scale, the ASTM D217 penetration numbers, and how to pick a grade.
ReadCalcium Grease
Hydrated cup, anhydrous and calcium sulfonate complex — water resistance, temperature limits and where each fits.
ReadFumed Silica Grease
A non-soap, non-melting grease with no dropping point — for extreme heat, chemicals and water. Properties and TDS.
ReadMolybdenum Disulfide (MoS₂) Grease
How the MoS₂ solid lubricant protects under shock and heavy load, typical specs, and where moly grease belongs.
ReadLubechem formulates these products for manufacturers
If you want to see how a formula is built — base oil, thickener, additive package — start with the pillar guide. Contact is optional.
How a lubricant is built →