Technical Bulletin | January 2015

NLGI CERTIFICATION MARK

FOR AUTOMOTIVE GREASES
The wide variety of grease specifications by automotive
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) has made it difficult
for marketers and consumers to find appropriate performing
products. In 1992 the industry developed a grease standard
to help ease selection for appropriate grease products.
The efforts of interested committees within SAE, ASTM, and
NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute) have established
the NLGI Certification Mark for Automotive Greases. The NLGI
Certification Mark is similar in concept to the API logo used
on motor oil packages to indicate the API Service classification
of the product. It was used by various car manufacturers in
their 1992 owners manuals to indicate what performance
level of grease is required for that vehicle. Grease marketers
can secure a license from NLGI to use the mark on their
packages to indicate the performance level by submitting the
appropriate forms, affidavits of performance, and fees.

Table I lists those Chevron Greases which have been

NATIONAL
LUBRICATING
licensed to use the Certification Mark.
Product
labels
INSTITUTE
containing the NLGI Certification MarkGREASE
have been
included
with shipments since May 1, 1991.

NLGI

Chassis greases, designated with an L AUTOMOTIVE

prefix, are intended
BEARING
for the service lubrication of ball joints,WHEEL
steering
pivots,
LUBRICANT
universal joints, and other chassis components as designated
by the equipment manufacturer. Those designated with a
G prefix are intended primarily for the service lubrication
of wheel bearings. The performance characteristics of the
categories within the two groups are described in Table II.

GC

The performance levels are described in ASTM D 4950

Standard Classification and Specification for Automotive
The performance requirement acceptance
limits are
NATIONAL LUBRICATING
NATIONAL LUBRICATING
Service Greases. There are two categories for chassisGREASE INSTITUTE
prescribed in ASTM D 4950. A guide to
those INSTITUTE
requirements,
GREASE
grease: LA and LB; and three for wheel bearings: GA, GB,
meant to provide a quick comparison of the properties
and GC. The higher the letter in the alphabet the greater
defined for each category, is shown in Table III.
the performance level of the grease. Since only the highest
AUTOMOTIVE
performance categories are acceptable to the OEMs, onlyAUTOMOTIVE
CHASSIS
WHEEL BEARING
categories LB and GC will be authorized for use with the LUBRICANT
LUBRICANT
mark. Greases which meet both LB and GC can show both.
Here are examples of the three acceptable versions of the
NLGI Certification Mark.

NLGI

NLGI

GC

LB

NATIONAL LUBRICATING
GREASE INSTITUTE

NATIONAL LUBRICATING
GREASE INSTITUTE

NATIONAL LUBRICATING
GREASE INSTITUTE

NLGI

NLGI
AUTOMOTIVE
CHASSIS
LUBRICANT

NLGI

AUTOMOTIVE
WHEEL BEARING & CHASSIS
LUBRICANT

GC

LB

GC-LB

NATIONAL LUBRICATING
GREASE INSTITUTE

NATIONAL LUBRICATING
GREASE INSTITUTE

NLGI

NLGI

AUTOMOTIVE
WHEEL BEARING
LUBRICANT

AUTOMOTIVE
CHASSIS

AUTOMOTIVE
WHEEL BEARING & CHASSIS

Table I
Product Name and
NLGI Consistency Number

Performance Level

NLGI Certification Mark

on Product Label

Wheel Bearing
Greases

Chassis
Greases

Delo Grease ESI

NLGI 2

LB

LB

Delo Grease EP
NLGI 1
NLGI 2

GC
GC

LB
LB

GC-LB
GC-LB

Starplex EP
NLGI 1
NLGI 2

GC
GC

LB
LB

GC-LB
GC-LB

Chevron Black Pearl Grease EP

NLGI 1
NLGI 2

GC
GC

LB
LB

GC-LB
GC-LB

Chevron RPM Arctic Grease

NLGI 1

GC

LB

GC-LB

LB
LB

LB
LB

Multifak EP
NLGI 1
NLGI 2
Notes:

1. Only greases of consistency NLGI 1 or greater can qualify for a wheel bearing or chassis grease performance rating because of the ASTM D 4950 acceptance
limits on consistency.

Table II
Category

Application

Performance Characteristics

NLGI Grade

L Chassis Grease

LA

Chassis components and universal joints

with frequent relubrication (at intervals of
3200 km or 2000 miles or less for
passenger cars)

Resist oxidation and consistency

degradation and protect from corrosion
and wear under lightly loaded conditions.

LB

Chassis components and universal

joints at temperatures as low as 40 C (-40 F) and at temperatures as
high as 120 C (248 F) over prolonged
relubrication intervals (more than 3200 km
or 2000 miles for passenger cars)

Resist oxidation and consistency

degradation while protecting from
corrosion and wear even when aqueous
contamination and heavily loaded
conditions occur.

2*

2*

G Wheel Bearing Grease

GA

Wheel bearings over a limited temperature

range (bearing temperatures of -20 C
(-4oF) to 70 C (158 F)

GB

Wheel bearings over a wide

temperature range (bearing temperatures
down to -40 C (-40 F), with frequent
excursions to 120 C (248 F) and
occasionally to 160 C (320 F)

Resist oxidation, evaporation, and consistency degradation while protecting from

corrosion and wear.

2**

GC

Wheel bearings over a wide temperature

range (bearing temperatures down to
-40 C (-40 F), with frequent excursions
to 160 C (320 F) and occasionally to
200 C (392 F).

Resist oxidation, evaporation, and

consistency degradation while protecting
from corrosion and wear.

2**

* Other grades may also be recommended.

** NLGI grades 1 and 3 may also be recommended.

Table III
Test

Description

LA

LB

GA

GB

GC

D 217

Penetration

D 566*

Dropping point

D 1264

Water washout

D 1742

Oil separation

D 1743

Rust protection

D 2266

Four-Ball wear

D 2596

Four-Ball extreme pressure

D 3527

High temperature life

D 4170

Fretting wear

D 4289

Elastomer compatibility

D 4290

Leakage

D 4693

Low-temperature torque

*ASTM D 2265 may be substituted.

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