Grease
Grease Extreme Pressure
Grease Extreme Pressure is a group of 11 IMPA-coded items (codes 450161–450177) under Grease in the Petroleum Products section (IMPA 45). They are priced per can (8) and per kilogram (3).
Buying guide
Extreme-pressure grease carries additives that protect heavily loaded, slow or shock-loaded contacts: winch and windlass gears and bearings, crane slewing rings, hatch-cover rollers, steering gear and wire-rope sheaves. The IMPA group lists branded EP greases by the 16–18 kg can in NLGI grades 0, 1 and 2, and generic EP grease by the kilogram in NLGI 0, 1 and 3.
The chief engineer raises it against the lubrication chart, and the chief officer for deck machinery; it is usually bought in cans with the regular lube-oil order.
How to specify it
Always state the NLGI grade. It classifies a grease by its worked cone penetration under ASTM D217, from 000 (fluid) to 6 (solid); common greases fall in grades 1 to 3, with 2 the typical "normal" grease. Use the grade on the machinery maker’s lubrication chart.[1]
Where the machinery maker gives a DIN 51502 code, quote it: for example KP2K-20 means a rolling- and plain-bearing grease (K) with EP additives (P), NLGI 2, rated to +120 °C (K) and down to –20 °C. Giving the code lets suppliers offer an equivalent brand that genuinely matches.[2]
If the ship is on one oil company’s products, name the brand and product (the IMPA list includes Shell, Esso and Mobil EP greases). When asking for an equivalent, give the thickener type of the grease in use (for example lithium) as well as the grade, so the replacement is compatible with what is already in the bearings.
Questions buyers ask
- What does "EP" mean in a grease code?
- Extreme-pressure additives. In the DIN 51502 code they are shown by the letter P after the application letter, e.g. KP2K: a bearing grease with EP additives, NLGI 2.
- NLGI 1 or NLGI 2?
- NLGI 1 is softer (worked penetration 310–340 tenths of a millimetre) than NLGI 2 (265–295), the common general-purpose grade. Use the grade given on the machinery lubrication chart.
Published by Sherif Awad, founder of GeoMarineHub — in ship supply since 1990, a family business since 1981 (45 years). Last checked .
At a glance
Part of Petroleum Products (IMPA section 45): Lubricating oils and greases, hydraulic fluids, solvents and the drums and cans they come in.
It is one of 17 groups under Grease; the others include Anticorrosive Grease Ferryl, Asphalt Compounds, Automatic Grease and Oil Dispensers, Bearing Grease, Coal Tar and 11 more.
Post the ones you need as a requirement and verified suppliers activated at your port bid on them — sealed, so nobody sees another bid.
- Items
- 11
- IMPA codes
- 450161–450177
- Priced
- per can · per kilogram
Items
Also under Grease
Most requested sections