Lubricants: The Complete List

In workshops, vehicles and industrial plants, the right lubrication keeps parts moving smoothly, reduces friction and prevents premature wear. Whether you’re doing a quick home repair or scheduling shop maintenance, knowing which product fits which task saves time and money.

There are 34 Lubricants, ranging from Aluminum complex grease to White lithium spray. For each entry the data are organized as Base fluid,Viscosity (cSt @40°C),Typical applications to help you compare chemistry, thickness and intended use — you’ll find below.

How do I choose the right lubricant for my equipment?

Match viscosity to operating temperature and load, check base fluid compatibility with seals and metals, and consider intended application (e.g., gear oil vs. grease). Use the Base fluid,Viscosity (cSt @40°C),Typical applications info below to compare candidates and follow any OEM recommendations.

How often should lubricants be inspected or replaced?

Inspect regularly for contamination, changes in viscosity or color, and listen for unusual noise or heat; replace on the schedule recommended by the equipment maker or sooner in dirty, wet, or high-load conditions to avoid premature failure.

Lubricants

Images and Descriptions

Mineral motor oil

Common mineral-based motor oil formulated for passenger cars and light trucks to lubricate engine bearings, pistons, and camshafts. Moderate viscosity, good wear protection and affordability; requires regular changes and blends poorly with some synthetics.

PAO synthetic motor oil

PAO synthetic motor oil gives superior thermal stability, cold-flow performance and longer drain intervals versus mineral oils. Engineered for modern engines, resists oxidation and shear, and often blended with additives for detergency and wear control in demanding use.

Ester synthetic oil

Ester-based lubricants offer excellent solvency, high-temperature stability, and boundary lubrication; commonly used in aviation, high-performance engines and compressors. Natural esters can be biodegradable while synthetic esters improve film strength and reduce varnishing under severe conditions.

EP gear oil (gear oil)

Extreme-pressure gear oils protect gears under heavy loads and shock conditions. High viscosity promotes film strength and prevents metal-to-metal contact in differentials, manual transmissions, and industrial gearboxes, with additives to resist wear and scoring.

Automatic transmission fluid (ATF)

Automatic transmission fluid lubricates planetary gears, clutches, valves and torque converters while providing hydraulic control and friction characteristics. Lower viscosity than engine oils for smooth shifting; formulations vary by manufacturer and can be mineral or synthetic based.

Hydraulic oil (mineral)

Mineral hydraulic fluids provide reliable power transmission and lubrication in mobile and industrial hydraulic systems. Available in ISO viscosity grades, they resist wear and foam, supplying consistent lubrication to pumps, valves and actuators under moderate temperatures.

Vegetable hydraulic oil (rapeseed)

Biodegradable vegetable-oil hydraulic fluids, often rapeseed or soybean based, offer environmental safety for sensitive sites. They provide lubricity comparable to mineral oils but require careful temperature management and may have shorter oxidative life.

Compressor oil (rotary/reciprocating)

Compressor oils for rotary screw and reciprocating compressors prioritize air release, foam control and thermal stability. Synthetic variants extend service life and reduce varnish; common in HVAC, industrial and medical compressors where oil quality affects performance.

Turbine oil

Turbine oils are light, high-oxidation-stability lubricants for steam and gas turbines, generators and bearings. Formulated for long drain intervals and cleanliness, they minimize deposits and protect bearings during continuous high-temperature, continuous-duty operation.

Refrigeration POE oil

Polyol ester (POE) refrigeration oils are synthetic lubricants compatible with modern HFC refrigerants and compressor materials. They provide good low-temperature flow and lubricity for hermetic compressors but are hygroscopic, requiring careful moisture control during service.

Silicone oil (PDMS)

Polydimethylsiloxane (silicone) oils are polymeric lubricants with stable viscosity over wide temperatures, excellent dielectric properties, and water resistance. Used in bearings, seals, medical devices and cosmetics where inertness, low surface tension and temperature tolerance are needed.

PFPE (perfluoropolyether) oil

Perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricants are chemically inert polymer oils for extreme environments: vacuum, high temperature, and aggressive chemicals. They maintain film strength and oxidation resistance where conventional oils fail, common in aerospace and semiconductor uses.

Lithium soap grease

Lithium soap greases are versatile, general-purpose greases with good water resistance and mechanical stability. Based on mineral oil and lithium stearate thickener, they lubricate wheel bearings, chassis points and household mechanisms across a wide temperature range.

Lithium complex grease

Lithium complex greases use modified lithium thickeners for higher dropping points and load capacity than simple lithium soaps. They suit automotive wheel bearings, electric motors and industrial bearings where higher temperature performance and durability are required.

Calcium sulfonate complex grease

Calcium sulfonate complex greases offer exceptional water resistance, corrosion protection and inherent EP performance without many additives. Heavy-duty marine, offshore and wet-service bearings benefit from their stability and extended lubrication intervals in harsh conditions.

Polyurea grease

Polyurea-thickened greases provide excellent high-temperature stability, long life, and oxidation resistance for electric motor bearings, wheel bearings and enclosed gearboxes. Often used in sealed-for-life applications, they resist mechanical breakdown and maintain consistent film strength.

Aluminum complex grease

Aluminum complex greases combine aluminum soap thickeners with high-viscosity base oils for strong water washout resistance and good EP behavior. They are common in marine, wheel and general industrial lubrication where moisture and moderate loads are present.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) powder

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a solid layered crystal used as a dry powder or blended into greases and pastes for extreme-pressure and boundary lubrication. It reduces friction in slow-moving, heavily loaded contacts and high-temperature sliding interfaces.

Graphite powder

Graphite is a classic dry lubricant with a layered structure that slides easily between planes. Used in locks, open gears, and high-temperature bearings, it performs well in vacuum and at temperatures too high for many oils.

PTFE powder/paste (Teflon)

PTFE powders and pastes provide very low friction, chemical inertness and broad temperature tolerance. Applied as dry films, pastes or infused into greases, PTFE reduces stick-slip and is common in food, textile and precision instruments.

PTFE dry-film coating

PTFE dry-film coatings form thin, low-friction layers on moving parts, fasteners and sliding surfaces. They provide long-lasting lubrication with low pickup of dirt and work well where wet oils attract contaminants or cannot be tolerated.

Copper anti-seize compound

Copper-based anti-seize compounds combine metal particles in a greasy carrier to prevent galling and corrosion on threaded joints and flanges. They lubricate and are electrically conductive, useful for high-temperature engine bolts and fasteners exposed to seizing.

White lithium spray

Aerosol white lithium grease sprays are convenient mineral-oil greases for door hinges, cables, and exposed mechanisms. They offer tacky, water-resistant lubrication, protect against rust and reduce squeaks in consumer and light industrial applications.

Silicone grease (sealant/O-ring)

Silicone grease for seals is a polymer-thickened lubricant that conditions rubber and plastic O-rings while reducing friction and preventing leaks. It’s stable across wide temperatures, non-reactive with many elastomers, and used in plumbing, automotive and medical devices.

Food-grade H1 lubricant

H1 food-grade lubricants are formulated from white mineral oils or approved synthetics with NSF-certified additives for incidental food contact. Used in food processing equipment, bearings and conveyors to meet hygiene regulations while providing safe, effective lubrication.

Chain oil (roller chain)

Chain oils are formulated to cling to roller and conveyor chains, resisting fling-off under centrifugal forces. They contain tackifiers and EP components, used in bicycles, motorcycles, conveyors and industrial drive chains to reduce wear and extend life.

Molybdenum assembly paste (moly paste)

Moly paste assembly lubricants are thick, metal-powder-containing greases used during assembly to prevent galling and ease torque application on splines, threads and bearings. They provide boundary lubrication for shock-loaded or high-pressure interfaces.

MoS2 solid-film coating (sputtered)

Sputtered or sprayed MoS2 solid films create dry, adherent lubricating layers for vacuum, aerospace and high-temperature applications. They offer low friction and wear resistance without wet oils, ideal where contamination or outgassing is a concern.

Wax-based dry lubricant

Wax-based dry lubricants use paraffin or polymer waxes to form thin, clean films that reduce friction and do not attract dust. Common on locks, sliding plastics and textile machinery where a temporary, low-residue lubricant is preferred.

Boron nitride (hBN) powder

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a solid lubricant similar to graphite but electrically insulating and thermally stable. It’s applied as a powder, additive or coating in high-temperature, high-load situations where conductivity of graphite is problematic.

Calcium soap grease

Calcium soap greases are simple mineral-oil greases with good water resistance used in automotive chassis, agricultural fittings and general-purpose lubrication. They’re economical, resist washout, and serve basic bearing protection in lower-temperature environments.

PFPE-based fluorinated grease

PFPE-based fluorinated greases combine inert PFPE base fluids with thickening agents to create stable, long-life lubricants for extreme temperatures, chemical exposure and vacuum. They resist solvent attack and are common in aerospace and high-purity manufacturing.

Gun oil (CLP firearms lubricant)

Firearm-specific lubricants are formulated to clean, lubricate, and protect metal parts under intermittent use and fouling. Typically light mineral or synthetic oils with corrosion inhibitors and detergents; applied sparingly to slides, bolts and barrels to reduce wear.

Way oil (slideway lubricant)

Way oils are adhesive lubricants for machine-tool slideways, dovetails and lead screws. High-viscosity, additive-rich mineral or synthetic oils stick to vertical surfaces to prevent stick-slip and maintain smooth, accurate motion under heavy loads and low speeds.