Moly or EP2? Which Grease for Tractors, Plant and Bearings

Loader pins wearing fast, a tractor bearing running hot, or a shelf of EP2, moly and lithium complex tubs with no idea which goes where?

A lithium EP2 handles general bearing work, moly suits heavily loaded pins, and two greases should never be mixed blind. PartsForMachines lists more than 55 greases from Shell, Q8, Castrol, Fuchs and Draper in its Grease range, from 390g cartridges to 50kg kegs.

Is Moly Grease Better Than Plain EP2 for Pins and Bushes?

On heavily loaded pins, bushes and kingpins, moly can give extra wear protection over plain EP2. Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) is a solid lubricant, so it keeps protecting where shock loads squeeze out or wipe away the oil film. The Q8 Rembrandt Moly 12.5kg keg, for example, is a lithium EP2 with MoS2 added for sliding and oscillating joints.

For ball and roller bearings and universal joints, a plain lithium EP2 such as the Renolit EP 2 UK suits the job. If the handbook names a grease for the pins, though, follow it.

What Do NLGI 2, EP and GC-LB Mean on a Grease?

They describe different things, so one grease can carry all three. NLGI 2 is the consistency: the standard grade for bearings. NLGI 3 is stiffer, while 0 and 00 are semi-fluid. EP means extreme-pressure additives that protect under shock loads and high contact pressure. A grease sold as EP 2, such as Rembrandt EP 2, is both.

GC-LB comes from the ASTM D4950 automotive classification: LB covers chassis parts and GC covers wheel bearings, so a GC-LB grease is suitable for both. The Shell Gadus S3 V220C 2 18kg keg is one. Check the grade, additives and classification your handbook names, not just the brand.

Can I Mix Two Different Greases?

Only when their thickeners are compatible. Incompatible thickeners can make grease soften, harden or separate in service, and two greases sold for the same job will not necessarily mix. Polyurea greases, for example, can be incompatible with lithium types, so find out what is already in the machine before topping up or changing brand.

Our own range includes lithium, lithium complex, lithium/calcium, calcium and polyurea greases, so check both labels. If you cannot identify the old grease, ask the equipment or grease maker, or purge out as much of it as you can before switching.

How Often Should I Grease Pins and Bearings?

Start with the regreasing schedule in the handbook, then grease more often when the work is wet, muddy or dusty. On pins and bushes, pump until fresh grease starts to show at the joint: it pushes the old grease out, and the dirt with it.

Rolling bearings are the exception: give them the amount the handbook states, as too much does harm. For hot bearings that are awkward to reach, consider a lithium complex grease such as the Spheerol EPLX 200-2: its long service-life potential above 100°C suits machines where frequent regreasing is difficult.

What Should I Check Before I Buy Grease?

• The NLGI grade in the handbook: usually 2, or a softer 0 or 00 where a central lubrication system calls for it.
• The thickener already in the machine, so the new grease is compatible.
• Whether EP, moly or solid additives are specified for any point.
• The working temperature, and how much water or mud the machine sees.
• Any classification named, such as GC-LB or DIN 51825 KP2K-30.

Not sure which suits your machine? Contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with the make, model and what you are greasing, or browse the Grease range.

Pack sizes, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which grease should I use for wheel bearings and trailer hubs?

Look for a GC or GC-LB rating on the label, which marks a grease as suitable for wheel bearings. The lithium Gadus S1 V160 2 suits automotive wheel bearings; for a boat trailer, the anti-corrosion Gadus S2 V220AC 2 suits water-exposed bearings and marine equipment.

Which grease suits hot-running bearings?

Often a lithium complex grease: the Gadus S3 V220C 2 has a 240°C dropping point against 190°C for the lithium Spheerol EPL 2. The Spheerol EPLX 200-2 covers -20°C to 150°C, or short spells at 180°C in bearings built for it, with more frequent regreasing.

Which grease stands up best to water and mud?

A water-resistant grease suited to the load and temperature. The Shell Gadus S2 V220AD 2 18kg keg adds solid lubricants for shock-loaded heavy-duty bearings in damp, hostile off-highway work. The calcium-based Gadus S2 A320 2 suits outdoor kit exposed to water at moderate temperatures.

Which grease suits a central lubrication system?

The grade the system maker specifies. The Castrol Spheerol EPL 00 15kg keg is a semi-fluid NLGI 00 for central systems and sealed gearboxes, and the NLGI 0 Gadus S2 V220 0 suits pumping through small-diameter lines. Many systems take NLGI 2.

Can one grease do the whole machine?

It can, as long as nothing in the handbook needs a special grade. The Fuchs Renolit LX EP 2 390g cartridges are a lithium complex EP2 that can replace several grease types in a heavy industrial workshop. Keep any moly-specified pins or central-system grade separate.

How do I purge the old grease when changing type?

Make sure the old grease has a way out, such as an open drain or relief plug. Then pump the new grease in slowly until what comes out changes colour or texture and fresh grease appears. Refit the plug afterwards.

Can you over-grease a bearing?

Yes. Too much grease in a rolling bearing can churn and make it run hot, and the pressure can push past or damage the seals. On a sealed bearing, stop before grease pours out, and pump slowly rather than in quick strokes.

Cartridges or a bulk keg: which should I buy?

Cartridges suit most grease-gun work: 390g and 400g cartridges fit standard hand and pneumatic guns without decanting, and come in cases of 12 or 30. Kegs from 12.5kg to 50kg suit workshops that use grease in bulk.

How should I store grease, and is an old tub still usable?

Keep it sealed in the original tub or cartridge, out of direct sunlight and at a moderate temperature, to preserve its consistency and additives. If an old tub has hardened, separated badly or picked up dirt, check with the grease maker before using it.

My handbook says Retinax or Alvania: what is that now?

Those Shell names now sit in the Gadus range. Retinax EP 2 and Alvania Grease EP(LF) 2 became Gadus S2 V220 2, Retinax LX 2 became Gadus S3 V220C 2, and Retinax HDX became Gadus S2 V220AD 2.