Soap thickened lubricant composition

Abstract

An improved gel-thickened lubricant, useful as a gear oil or as an antileak hydraulic oil, comprises an effective amount of a lithium soap (e.g., 0.1 to 1 percent lithium stearate) or an aluminum soap (e.g., 0.5 to 2 percent aluminum stearate), or mixtures of such soaps, and a base oil having a viscosity in the range of 70 to about 3,000 SUS at 100.degree.F (preferably with an aniline point in the range of 150.degree. to 170.degree.F when the oil is to be in contact with Buna N, etc., rubbers), said base oil comprising at least one hydrorefined naphthenic oil or a hydrocracked paraffinic oil having a viscosity in the range of 40 to 12,000 SUS at 100.degree.F. Preferably, the base oil comprises a major amount of the hydrorefined naphthenic oil and a minor amount of a solvent refined paraffinic lube, or a hydrocracked lube with a paraffinic VGC, or a bright stock, or a mixture of two or more such oils. Preferably, the basic nitrogen content of the base oil is less than 80 ppm, more preferred less than 30 ppm (typically 0 to 10 ppm).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.