Exxon/Mobil has discontinued it's line of AW greases and substituted the XHP series grease. Has anyone used the XHP grease in applications where AW was privously used? Exxon/Mobil assures users that they are 100% compatible but I haven't done any testing or used the newer grease. Any input/comments would be appreciated.

if ExxonMobil assures that they are 100% compatible, it might be so. grease incompatibility comes from the thickener type, and I would guess that the thickener and the oil are the same, ant that the XHP grease might have a better performing AW, there should not be any incompatibility. Call ExxonMobil and ask for a certification for compatibility, or for instructions on how to make the change. That will quiet your doubts.

What a lot of people don't know is that Exxon Mobil have a Canadian division, Imperial Oil, or Esso. There have been many duplications of product from both divisions and they have streamlined that by pulling a better product from one or the other divisions and getting rid of the other. XHP is probably one of those products that is made by Imperial Oil in Canada.

The same thing has been happening up here in that some products that we have been buying are no longer available and have been subbed by one that has been sold in the US.

Hello Dean,

I am very interested, do you have exact products which fall into the category you mentioned.

Sorry Gerald, I don't have that info but can put you in touch with an Esso rep up here.

Dean.

We have made the transition from Mobil AW to XHP... I recall the replacement was first announced over five years ago. ExxonMobil is starting to be more aggressive with consolidating the Exxon and Mobil products. You might already know that the Mobilgear products are being phased out and being replaced by the Exxon Spartan product line.

In any event, both are lithium based and are comparable when comparing their product data sheets.

ExxonMobil has a fairly good site if you need to find product the data sheets. Expect many more changes from the ExxonMobil giant.

The XHP is a lithium complex and is completely compatible with the AW line. It has a base oil that is an ISO 220. It has some additional improvements for shear stability and load.

Also, the Mobilgear line has not been phased out, but improved. It is now called Mobilgear 600 XP

I sell Exxon Mobil lubricants.

600 XP? I need to call my vendor and inquire more about this... looks like I have been mislead.

Can you define improved?

AW is the last generation litium complex, XHP is the next generation. They are compatible, based on the ExxonMobil internal method. The base oil vis is higher, which means it's not a straight swap if you need to compy with GM's absurd LS2 requirements. If you have to comply the LS2, the direct replacement is Ronex MP, otherwise you'll be at least as happy with XHP as with AW.
Grease compatibility is primarily a function of soap type, but even that is getting fuzzy. As the complexing of soaps gets better, some of the historic "don'ts" are going out the window. Especially the Li-complexes - they seem to go with everything, Al-complex, polyurea, clay, incompatible results seem very rare, but what would I know?

The biggest new claim for M'gear XP vs the old line is an improvement in micropitting resistance. The Spartans, which were the premium line in the old Exxon/Esso are now the fighting-grade product, pretty similar technology to the old Mobilgears.
ExxonMobil Lubes seems to be losing the Exxon Brand, Spartan is or will be Mobil Spartan.