Mining grease guide
Mining grease for heavy equipment: NLGI 2 moly grades compared
For heavy mining equipment such as haul trucks, excavators, rope shovels, draglines and drills, TotalEnergies' answer is an NLGI 2 extreme-pressure grease with molybdenum disulphide (moly): the Multis HP 2 Moly range, which TotalEnergies especially recommends for Liebherr P1, P2, P3 and OHT and Cat/Bucyrus SD 4711, plus Multis Complex XHV 2 Moly for centralised systems and Ceran XM 220 Moly for wet duty. Bulk Lubricants Australia supplies all of them from Perth, with freight Australia-wide.
Published 25 October 2026. Every figure is from the TotalEnergies data sheets listed under Sources.
Top takeaways
- Start with NLGI 2 and moly. The Multis HP 2 Moly greases TotalEnergies lists for dump trucks, excavators, rope shovels, draglines, graders and drills are NLGI 2 with 3% or 5% MoS2.
- 3% moly is enough for the common OEM weld-load test. TotalEnergies says Multis HP 2 Moly and HP 2 Moly Extra pass the OEM figure of 620 kg on ASTM D 2596 with 3% MoS2.
- Go to 5% moly only where the load calls for it. Multis HP 2 Moly HD carries 5% MoS2 to reach a higher four-ball weld load.
- Centralised systems need a grease made to pump. TotalEnergies lists Multis Complex XHV 2 Moly as particularly suitable for centralised lubrication of mining off-road vehicles.
- OEM references here are TotalEnergies' wording. "Especially recommended for" and "suitable for" are not an OEM approval, so check the grease your machine's manual names.
Which moly grease suits which job?
Mobile mining plant works its greased points hard: slow-moving pins and bushes under shock loads, heavily loaded bearings, swing gears, and long runs of auto-lube lines in heat, dust and water. TotalEnergies builds its mining greases for exactly that list. The table compares the five moly grades we supply, as printed on each data sheet.
| Grade | Best for | Thickener | NLGI | MoS2 | Base oil mm²/s at 40 °C | Operating °C | 4-ball weld load kgf | ISO 6743-9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multis HP 2 Moly[1] | One multipurpose grease for pins, bushes and bearings across a mixed mining fleet | Lithium | 2 | 3% | 460 | −30 to 120 | 620 | L-XCCHB2 |
| Multis HP 2 Moly Extra[2] | The same job when you want the range's extra-high base oil viscosity | Lithium | 2 | 3% | 680 | −25 to 120 | 620 | L-XBCHB2 |
| Multis HP 2 Moly HD[1] | Points where the OEM asks for a higher four-ball weld load | Lithium | 2 | 5% | Not separately printed | Not separately printed | Higher than the 3% grades | L-XBCHB2 |
| Multis Complex XHV 2 Moly[3] | Centralised lube systems on off-road mining vehicles, and hotter running points | Lithium-calcium complex | 2 | 3% | 800 | −20 to 160 | > 620 | L-XBEHB2 |
| Ceran XM 220 Moly[4] | Heavily loaded points that see a lot of water, in temperate conditions | Calcium sulfonate complex | 1–2 | 5% | 220 | −30 to 180 | 500 | L-XCFIB 1/2 |
“Best for” is our reading of each data sheet’s applications section. The Multis HP Moly range sheet prints some HD figures across merged columns, so we leave those out rather than guess.
Are these greases approved by Liebherr, Caterpillar or Komatsu?
Not as far as the data sheets show. They list OEM references in TotalEnergies’ own words, which is a manufacturer statement, not a place on an OEM’s approved list. Your operation and maintenance manual decides.
| Grade | What the data sheet says | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Multis HP 2 Moly | Liebherr P1, P2, P3 and OHT; Cat/Bucyrus SD 4711; Cat Multipurpose 3% Moly requirement | Manufacturer-reported suitable; confirm in your manual |
| Multis HP 2 Moly Extra | Liebherr P1, P2, P3 and OHT | Manufacturer-reported suitable; confirm in your manual |
| Multis HP 2 Moly HD | Range data sheet: Liebherr P1, P2, P3 and OHT; Cat/Bucyrus SD 4711 | Manufacturer-reported suitable; confirm in your manual |
| Multis Complex XHV 2 Moly | Suitable for P1, P2, P3 and OHT of Liebherr, Caterpillar, Komatsu, P&H | Manufacturer-reported suitable; confirm in your manual |
| Ceran XM 220 Moly | None listed on the data sheet | Confirm in your manual |
The Multis HP Moly range sheet [1] also names Epiroc, P&H, Sandvik, Komatsu, JCB, Hitachi, Atlas Copco and Volvo equipment as applications.
What do the numbers mean?
- NLGI grade is how firm the grease is, measured by cone penetration (ASTM D 217). NLGI 1 is softer than NLGI 2. Multis HP 1 Moly Extra is the NLGI 1 version of the Extra.
- MoS2 percentage is the solid lubricant content. TotalEnergies says improved additives let its 3% grades pass the 620 kg OEM weld-load figure, and the 5% HD grade goes higher [1].
- Base oil viscosity is the oil inside the grease, in mm²/s at 40 °C. A higher number means a thicker oil.
- Four-ball weld load (ASTM D 2596) is the lab load at which the test balls weld together. Higher means more extreme-pressure capacity.
- Operating range is the data sheet’s stated temperature window. Ceran XM 220 Moly reaches 180 °C and Multis Complex XHV 2 Moly 160 °C; the HP 2 Moly grades stop at 120 °C [1–4].
How do I choose?
- Read the manual. Note the grease specification, NLGI grade and moly content it names for each point.
- Check the auto-lube system. If points are fed by a centralised system, use a grease its maker accepts. Multis Complex XHV 2 Moly is made for this job [3].
- Look at heat and water. For hot points look at the higher operating ranges; for points that sit in water, TotalEnergies says Ceran XM 220 Moly keeps its consistency even with a lot of water, and lists it for temperate environments [4].
- Cut the number of greases on site. TotalEnergies positions the Multis HP Moly range as one grease for many points, so fewer products are stored and mixed up [1].
- Request a price for the grade and pack you need.
Our view
Our opinion: for most WA mobile fleets, start with Multis HP 2 Moly as the site grease, use Multis Complex XHV 2 Moly where an auto-lube system or high temperature calls for it, and keep the 5% HD grade for points where the OEM asks for a higher weld load. Whatever you pick, the manual wins.
Common questions
- What is the best grease for heavy mining equipment in Australia?
- There is no single best grease: match the one your equipment manual names. For most mobile mining plant that is an NLGI 2 extreme-pressure grease with moly. In the TotalEnergies range, Multis HP 2 Moly is the multipurpose choice for pins, bushes and bearings; Multis Complex XHV 2 Moly is made for centralised systems and hotter points; Ceran XM 220 Moly is for points that see a lot of water.
- Why do mining greases contain moly?
- Molybdenum disulphide is a solid lubricant. TotalEnergies formulates the Multis HP Moly range with MoS2 and friction modifiers for slow-moving, heavily loaded parts subject to shock loads, and says its 3% grades pass the OEM requirement of 620 kg on the ASTM D 2596 four-ball weld load test.
- Is Multis HP 2 Moly approved by Liebherr or Caterpillar?
- TotalEnergies' data sheet says the Multis HP Moly range is especially recommended for Liebherr specifications P1, P2, P3 and OHT, Cat/Bucyrus SD 4711 and the Cat Multipurpose 3% Moly requirement. That is TotalEnergies' statement, not an OEM approval list, so confirm against your machine's operation and maintenance manual.
- What is the difference between Multis HP 2 Moly and HP 2 Moly Extra?
- Both are lithium NLGI 2 greases with 3% MoS2 and a 620 kgf four-ball weld load. The Extra uses a higher base oil viscosity: 680 mm²/s at 40 °C against 460 for HP 2 Moly. Their data sheets give operating ranges of −25 to 120 °C for the Extra and −30 to 120 °C for HP 2 Moly.
- Which grease suits an auto-lube (centralised) system?
- TotalEnergies lists Multis Complex XHV 2 Moly as particularly suitable for centralised lubrication of off-road vehicles in mining, with a data sheet operating range of −20 to 160 °C. The Multis HP Moly range is also described as having excellent pumpability. Check the grease and NLGI grade your system maker specifies.
- Can I mix these with my current grease?
- TotalEnergies says the Multis HP Moly range is compatible with its other greases (Ceran, Multis and Multis Complex), and that Multis Complex XHV 2 Moly is compatible with most conventional greases. When changing from another brand, ask the equipment or lube-system maker how to change over.
- What about open gears on shovels and draglines?
- TotalEnergies lists the Multis HP Moly range for swing gears as well as bearings. For large open girth gears, use the lubricant your OEM manual names; our Grease & Open Gears range includes TotalEnergies open-gear lubricants such as Multis Mine OGL 1 and Copal OGL 2.
- Can I buy mining grease in Perth?
- Yes. Collect from the TotalEnergies Perth warehouse at 22 Wildfire Road, Maddington WA 6109, or Bulk Lubricants Australia freights to site anywhere in Australia. Price, pack and freight are confirmed on the quote, and the TotalEnergies technical and safety data sheets are available on request.
Request a quote
Tell us the grade, pack size, quantity and site. Bulk Lubricants Australia confirms price, pack and freight on the quote. Collect from the TotalEnergies Perth warehouse in Maddington, or we freight to site anywhere in Australia.
Sources
- TotalEnergies technical data sheet: Multis HP Moly range (10/2023)
- TotalEnergies technical data sheet: Multis HP 2 Moly Extra (V.01/2023)
- TotalEnergies technical data sheet: Multis Complex XHV 2 Moly (V.01/2023)
- TotalEnergies technical data sheet: Ceran XM 220 Moly (V.01/2023)
How we checked: each figure was read from the TotalEnergies data sheet on 25 October 2026. Spot an error? Call us or use the quote form and we will correct it.