Learn how industrial high-temperature grease for bearings protects against heat and water. Explore Pal Lithcom 3 applications and contact PALCO today.
PAL Lithcom 3 Grease from PALCO is a lithium complex high-temperature grease for bearings exposed to heat, water and heavy loads. Explore its key properties, performance benefits and applications in steel plants, paper mills, cement plants and other demanding industrial environments.
The same double trouble shows up in paper mills that run through the humid monsoon months, in chemical plants, on offshore marine equipment and in cement works. Heat makes grease soften and bleed. Water tries to wash it away. Put the two together, and an ordinary grease can disappear from a bearing surprisingly fast.
Pal Lithcom 3 Grease from PALCO is a lithium complex high-temperature grease for bearings operating under severe industrial conditions. Designed for applications involving high loads, heat, and water exposure, this article explains how it works, its key benefits, and where it fits best.
What Is Pal Lithcom 3 Lithium Complex Grease?
Pal Lithcom 3 is a high-performance lithium complex industrial grease made by Paras Lubricants Limited under the PALCO brand. It is red in appearance and is formulated for severe-duty applications under high loads and high temperatures.
Its performance comes from a carefully balanced recipe:
- A specifically complexed thickener, which helps the grease keep its structure under heat, high speed, and vibration
- EP and anti-wear (AW) additives, which work together to give excellent load-bearing properties
- Strong adhesion, which helps the grease cling to metal and resist water washout and spray-off
- Rust protection, which guards bearing surfaces against moisture
The result is a grease designed to extend the service life of bearings in hot, wet, and heavily loaded conditions.
Pal Lithcom 3 is an NLGI 3 grade grease. Its key published characteristics are:
How This Lithium Complex Grease Works
A lithium complex grease looks much like any other grease in the tub. The difference shows up when the temperature climbs. Here is how Pal Lithcom 3 does its job, without the jargon.
Lithium vs. Lithium Complex, in One Line
A lithium complex grease uses a modified lithium thickener that holds together at much higher temperatures than a simple lithium soap.
That is why lithium complex greases are often chosen where bearings run hot. In Pal Lithcom 3, Palco describes the thickener as a special complex designed to retain its structure even at high speeds and under vibration.
What ‘Drop Point’ Means, in One Line
The drop point is the temperature at which a grease turns liquid enough to drip in a lab test, and it is not the same as the safe working temperature.
Pal Lithcom 3 has a minimum drop point of 260°C. Its published operating temperature range is -20 to 180°C, and that working range is the figure to plan around.
Washout vs. Spray-Off, in One Line
Washout resistance is about grease surviving water flowing over it, while spray-off resistance is about surviving direct jets of water.
Pal Lithcom 3 is designed to resist both. In the standard water washout test, it loses no more than 3.6% of its weight.
Channelling, in One Line
A channelling grease is pushed aside by the rolling elements and stays parked at the sides of the bearing, feeding oil slowly instead of being churned endlessly.
Palco states that the special complex technology in Pal Lithcom 3 provides good channelling characteristics. Less churning generally means less heat build-up inside the bearing.
Key Features and Benefits of Pal Lithcom 3
High-Temperature Grease for Bearings That Face Extreme Heat
Pal Lithcom 3 is designed to sustain higher temperatures thanks to its thermal and mechanical shear stability. Shear stability, in one line, is a grease’s ability to keep its consistency when moving parts work on it constantly.
For plants where bearings sit next to hot metal, kilns, or process lines, that stability is the whole point.
Resistance to Water Spray and Washout
Excellent adhesion, good water washout resistance, and water spray-off resistance help Pal Lithcom 3 stay inside bearings that face water ingress every day. That makes it a strong fit for casters, paper machines and marine settings.
Consistency Under Speed and Vibration
The complexed thickener helps the grease retain its structure in high-speed, high-vibration bearings. In lab testing, its consistency changes by only +18 points after 10,000 strokes of prolonged working.
Load-Bearing Performance
The combined effect of EP and anti-wear additives gives excellent load-bearing properties. Pal Lithcom 3 has a published weld load of 315 kg in the four-ball test, which measures how much load the grease can take before steel test balls weld together.
Oil Separation Resistance and Pumpability
Oil separation, in one line, is oil bleeding out of a grease, and too much of it can leave hard deposits that block grease lines.
Pal Lithcom 3 offers exceptional resistance to oil separation under pressure, which supports good pumpability through lubrication systems.
Rust Protection and Bearing Life
The grease offers excellent rust protection and a 1b copper corrosion rating, meaning only very slight tarnish on a copper strip in the test. Palco states that it is oxidation- and corrosion-resistant and helps extend the service life of bearings.
Where Pal Lithcom 3 Works Best
Steel Plants: Continuous Caster Machines
Continuous caster machines are a key application for high-temperature grease, as their roller bearings face high temperatures and heavy water ingress. Choosing the right industrial grease for steel plants helps maintenance teams address demanding operating conditions and protect critical equipment.
Paper Mills: Work Roll Bearings
Pal Lithcom 3 is recommended for work roll bearings in the paper industry, where warm, wet running conditions are part of daily life.
Cement and Chemical Plants
The cement and chemical industries are both listed applications. Palco states that the grease works in hostile chemical environments, a useful quality for chemical processing equipment.
Offshore, Mining and Axle Boxes
Offshore marine applications, where salt water and spray are constant, are also on the list. Palco recommends it for mining where high water ingress and temperature are involved, for axle boxes, which house axle bearings, and for automotive applications.
Why Choose Palco?
Paras Lubricants Limited was incorporated in 1985 and brings more than 41 years of experience in lubricants. Its head office is in Delhi; it has a western office in Mumbai, and its lubricants are manufactured at its plant in Daman.
Today, Palco offers more than 1,500 products across automotive oils, industrial oils, greases, and auto care and exports to more than 25 countries. Its manufacturing follows ISO 9001-certified quality management systems, and every batch is checked in Palco’s in-house R&D lab before dispatch.
Pal Lithcom 3 is available in 180 kg, 18 kg, and 1 kg packs, covering everything from a large plant’s central stores to a small maintenance kit. Palco’s engineers can also recommend the right grade and pack size for a specific application.
Practical Tips for Using High-Temperature Grease
These general tips help any high-temperature grease deliver its full value. The equipment maker’s recommendations should always come first.
Choosing the right grease
Start with the equipment manual, then look honestly at the working conditions: bearing temperature, speed, load, and how much water reaches the bearing. A firm NLGI 3 grade suits many applications, but not every centralised system. When in doubt, sharing the details with Palco’s technical team is a sensible step.
When comparing grease formulations, consider the thickener type, operating temperature, load, and water exposure. You can also explore other lithium complex grease options from the PALCO Store while checking each product’s specifications against your equipment requirements.
Applying it correctly
- Check compatibility before switching from another thickener type, and purge out as much of the old grease as practical.
- Clean fittings first, so scale, dust and water are not pushed into the bearing.
- Do not overfill. Overfilling cancels out the benefit of good channelling and causes heat build-up.
- Make sure seals and covers are in good shape, since even a water-resistant grease works best when water is kept out.
Storing Grease Properly
Keep containers tightly closed and store them in a cool, dry, covered place, well away from hot process areas. Wipe the lid before opening, use a clean scoop or pump, and use older stock first.
Monitoring Bearing Condition
During routine checks, watch for bearings running hotter than usual, grease that looks milky or very soft, which can point to water ingress, and leaks at the seals. Adjust greasing intervals to the real heat and water exposure.
Conclusion: High-Temperature Grease for Bearings
Choosing the right high-temperature grease for bearings helps protect industrial equipment exposed to heat, water ingress, and heavy loads. PALCO Pal Lithcom 3 combines lithium complex thickener technology, NLGI 3 consistency, EP and anti-wear additives, and water resistance for demanding industrial applications. Explore the technical specifications and applications on the Pal Lithcom 3 product page.
