Lithium vs lithium complex vs calcium grease
Pick by temperature and water, not by colour. Simple lithium is the everyday multi-purpose grease. Lithium complex raises the dropping point for hotter bearings. Calcium (soap or sulfonate) is the water-resistant family. NLGI grade is stiffness only — two greases can both be “#2” and still be the wrong chemistry.
What the thickener decides
Grease is oil held in a thickener sponge. The sponge chemistry sets dropping point, water washout and, often, inherent EP. Stiffness is a separate NLGI grade.
| Family | Dropping point (typical) | Water | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium 12-HSA | ~180–200 °C | Fair | General MP, chassis, light industrial |
| Lithium complex | >260 °C | Good | Wheel hubs, motors, hotter bearings |
| Hydrated calcium | ~80–100 °C | Excellent | Wet, cool duty only — water pumps, chassis spray |
| Calcium sulfonate complex | Very high / no true drop | Excellent | Marine, mining, wet high-load pins |
A simple picker
Dry, moderate heat
Simple lithium NLGI 2. The default unless the OEM names a complex or a food-grade.
Hot bearing or wheel hub
Lithium complex, often NLGI 2, GC-LB where listed. Simple lithium will bleed and dry.
Water, wash, monsoon
Calcium sulfonate complex, or a dedicated marine calcium grease. Hydrated calcium cup grease only if the temperature stays low.
Food plant
None of these by default — look for NSF H1. Aluminium complex and some calcium sulfonates can be built H1; lithium usually is not.
Application detail — hubs, motors, wet pins — is in what grease for wheel bearings, motors and wet work.
Lithium / complex / calcium FAQ
Can I put lithium complex on top of simple lithium?
Often they are more compatible than lithium and calcium, but compatibility is never guaranteed. For a critical bearing, purge or relubricate from empty.
Is red grease better?
Colour is dye. Performance is thickener, base-oil viscosity and additives — not the pigment.
Why did my calcium grease melt?
Hydrated calcium soap loses its water of hydration around 100 °C and the structure collapses. That is a temperature limit, not a fake product.
Lubechem formulates lithium, lithium-complex and calcium greases for manufacturers
If you want to see how a thickener is chosen and proved — dropping point, penetration, water washout — start with the grease formulation guide.
See how a grease is built →