STABILITY OF LITHUM SOAP GREASES
A method for improving the shear stability of a multi purpose grease containing (i) a lubricating oil, (ii) a lithium soap of an hydroxy fatty acid, (iii) a polyhydric alcohol having at least three hydroxy groups, and (iv) at least two metal hydrocarbylthiophosphate com pounds in which the metal is different in at least two compounds, is disclosed which comprises incorporating at least a major portion of the polyhydric alcohol into the mix ture of lubricating oil and lithium soap of an hydroxy fatty acid and before the metal hydrocarbylthiophos phate compounds are added during the grease prepara tion process. Preferred ingredients are 12 hydroxys tearic acid, glycerol, antimony dialkyldithiophosphate, and zinc dialkyldithiophosphate.