Which Grease Where? Mobilgrease XHP 222 vs Food-Grade Silicone Paste

Grease, silicone paste and penetrating spray all reduce friction, but each is made for a different job. Using the wrong one can wash out, melt or even damage seals. Here is a simple guide.

Mobilgrease XHP 222: heavy-duty mechanical grease

Mobilgrease XHP 222 (牆油 or 牛油) is a lithium complex grease, NLGI grade 2, made with a mineral base oil. It comes in a 390g cartridge for a grease gun.

• Strong resistance to water washout, useful in Hong Kong's humid and rainy conditions
• Stays stable at high temperatures; recommended up to 140°C
• Protects against wear and rust under heavy and shock loads
• Use for: bearings, hinges on heavy gates, vehicle chassis points, machinery slides, marine equipment, construction plant

Spanjaard Silicone Paste: food grade, for seals and taps

Spanjaard Silicone Paste (矽油膏) is silicone oil thickened into a stable paste that does not melt. It is food grade (NSF H1).

• Safe for incidental contact with food and drinking water
• Kind to rubber seals and O-rings
• Use for: tap cartridges, O-rings, water filter housings, coffee machine and kitchen equipment seals, sliding plastic parts

Mineral-oil greases can damage some rubber seals, such as EPDM, which is why silicone grease is the usual choice for O-rings and plumbing seals.

Penetrating spray: for freeing and protecting, not packing

A spray such as Spanjaard Spark is thin, so it creeps into rusted threads and displaces water. It is ideal for freeing seized parts and light lubrication, but it is not a substitute for grease in bearings or heavily loaded parts. Read our Spark vs WD-40 guide for more.

Quick guide

• Bearings, chassis, machinery, heavy hinges: Mobilgrease XHP 222
• Taps, O-rings, kitchen and water equipment: Spanjaard Silicone Paste
• Rusted bolts, locks, damp electrics: Spanjaard Spark

Avoid silicone products on parts that will be painted or glued later, as silicone residue stops coatings sticking. All three are available in our Fo Tan shop and in our lubricants collection.