Lubricant equivalents
Marine lubricants, matched by specification
Engine oils, hydraulic, gear, compressor and turbine oils, stern tube oils and greases from seven major brands, side by side.
How to use this guide. Products in the same row share the same application and specification (SAE grade and base number for engine oils; type and ISO viscosity range for other oils), according to each manufacturer's published data. That makes them comparable, not automatically interchangeable: always check the engine builder's approvals (MAN ES, WinGD, J-ENG, Wärtsilä…) and the supplier's current data sheet before switching.
Two-stroke cylinder oils
For crosshead (slow-speed, two-stroke) engines. The BN is matched to the fuel's sulphur content: low BN for 0.10% and 0.50% fuels, high BN for HSFO with a scrubber.
| Specification | Shell | ExxonMobil | TotalEnergies | Castrol | Chevron | Gulf Oil Marine | Eni |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BN 25 · SAE 50 0.10% sulphur fuels, LNG | Alexia 25 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| BN 40 · SAE 50 0.10% and 0.50% sulphur fuels (VLSFO, MGO) | Alexia 40 | Mobilgard 540 / 540 AC / 540 X | Talusia LS 40 / HD 40 | Cyltech 40 SX | Taro Ultra 40 | GulfSea Cylcare 5040 / XP 5040 | Punica 540 |
| BN 70 · SAE 50 Corrosive conditions; HSFO with scrubber (older engines) | Alexia 70 | Mobilgard 570 | Talusia HR 70 | Cyltech 70f † | Taro Ultra 70 | GulfSea Cylcare 5070 | Punica 570 |
| BN 100 · SAE 50 HSFO with scrubber; cold corrosion | Alexia 100 | Mobilgard 5100 | Talusia Universal 100 | Cyltech 100f † | Taro Ultra 100 | GulfSea Cylcare XP 50100 | Punica 5100 |
| BN 140–145 HSFO with scrubber; severe cold corrosion | Alexia 140 (SAE 60) | Mobilgard 5145 (BN 145) | Talusia HR 140 | Cyltech 140f † | Taro Ultra 140 | GulfSea Cylcare XP 50140 | – |
Crosshead system oils
Crankcase oil for two-stroke crosshead engines, SAE 30 with a low BN.
| Specification | Shell | ExxonMobil | TotalEnergies | Castrol | Chevron | Gulf Oil Marine | Eni |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAE 30 · BN 5–9 Crankcase of two-stroke crosshead engines | Melina S 30 (BN 5) | Mobilgard 300 C (BN 9) | Atlanta Marine D 3005 (BN 6) | CDX 30 (BN 5) | Veritas 800A Marine 30 | GulfSea SuperBear 3006 (BN 5–6) | Cladium 50 (BN 5) |
Trunk piston engine oils (TPEO)
For medium-speed, four-stroke engines. Choose the SAE grade the engine builder specifies, and the BN that suits the fuel's sulphur content.
| Specification | Shell | ExxonMobil | TotalEnergies | Castrol | Chevron | Gulf Oil Marine | Eni |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAE 30 · BN 20 0.50% and 0.10% sulphur fuels, LNG | Argina S2 30 | Mobilgard M20 Series (SAE 30) | Aurelia TI 3020 | TLX Plus 203 | Taro 20 DP 30 | GulfSea Power MDO 3020 | – |
| SAE 40 · BN 20 0.50% and 0.10% sulphur fuels, LNG | Argina S2 40 | Mobilgard M20 Series (SAE 40) | Aurelia TI 4020 | TLX Plus 204 | Taro 20 DP 40 | GulfSea Power MDO 4020 | – |
| SAE 30 · BN 30 Residual fuel (HFO) | Argina S3 30 | Mobilgard M330 | Aurelia TI 3030 | TLX Plus 303 | Taro 30 DP 30 | GulfSea Power 3030 | Cladium 300 (SAE 30) |
| SAE 40 · BN 30 Residual fuel (HFO) | Argina S3 40 | Mobilgard M430 | Aurelia TI 4030 | TLX Plus 304 | Taro 30 DP 40 | GulfSea Power 4030 | Cladium 300 (SAE 40) |
| SAE 30 · BN 40 Residual fuel, higher sulphur | – | – | Aurelia TI 3040 | TLX Plus 403 | – | GulfSea Power 3040 | Cladium 400 (SAE 30) |
| SAE 40 · BN 40 Residual fuel, higher sulphur | Argina S4 40 | Mobilgard M440 | Aurelia TI 4040 | TLX Plus 404 | Taro 40 XL 40 | GulfSea Power 4040 | Cladium 400 (SAE 40) |
| SAE 40 · BN 50–55 High-sulphur residual fuel, high-output engines | Argina S5 40 (BN 55) | Mobilgard M50 (BN 50) | Aurelia TI 4055 (BN 55) | TLX Plus 504 (BN 50) | Taro 50 XL 40 (BN 50) | GulfSea Power 4055 (BN 55) | – |
Hydraulic oils
Ranges available in several ISO viscosity grades (typically ISO VG 15 to 150): match the grade your equipment specifies.
| Specification | Shell | ExxonMobil | TotalEnergies | Castrol | Chevron | Gulf Oil Marine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-wear, mineral (ISO HM) General hydraulic systems, deck machinery | Tellus S3 M | Mobil DTE 20 Ultra Series | – | Hyspin AWS | – | – |
| High viscosity index (ISO HV) Wide temperature range, exposed deck equipment, cold climates | Tellus S2 VX | Mobil DTE 10 Excel Series | Visga | Hyspin AWH-M | Rando HDZ | GulfSea Hydraulic HVI Plus |
| Biodegradable (EAL) Where VGP / EAL rules apply: stabilisers, CPP, thrusters, deck gear | PANOLIN S2 Hydraulic EAL / S4 HLP Synth EAL | Mobil SHC Aware H Series | Biohydran TMP | – | Clarity Synthetic EA Hydraulic Oil | GulfSea BD Hydraulic Oil |
Gear oils
Enclosed gears, reduction gears and deck machinery. Ranges come in ISO VG 68 to 460 or more: match the grade the gear builder specifies.
| Specification | Shell | ExxonMobil | TotalEnergies | Castrol | Chevron | Gulf Oil Marine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme pressure, mineral (CKC) Reduction gears, winches, windlasses, cranes | Omala S2 GX | Mobilgear 600 XP Series | Epona Z | Alpha SP | Meropa | GulfSea Gear Oil |
| Synthetic High temperatures, long drain, thrusters | – | Mobil SHC 600 Series / SHC Gear | Epona SA | – | Meropa EliteSyn XM | GulfSea Synth Gear Oil |
Compressor oils
Air and refrigeration compressors. Check the compressor maker's recommendation and, for refrigeration, the refrigerant gas.
| Specification | Shell | ExxonMobil | TotalEnergies | Castrol | Chevron | Gulf Oil Marine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air, reciprocating (mineral) Main and emergency starting-air compressors | Corena S2 P | Mobil Rarus 400 Series | Dacnis | Aircol PD | – | GulfSea Compressor Oil |
| Air, synthetic Rotary screw and vane compressors, severe duty | Corena S4 R / S4 P | Mobil Rarus SHC 1020 Series | Barelf SM | – | Cetus DE 100 | GulfSea Synth Compressor Oil |
| Refrigeration: mineral / alkylbenzene HCFC (e.g. R22) and ammonia systems | Refrigeration Oil S4 FR-V | Gargoyle Arctic Oil Series | Lunaria FR | – | Capella A 68 | GulfSea N Cooloil 68 |
| Refrigeration: polyol ester (POE) HFC refrigerants (e.g. R134a, R404A) | Refrigeration Oil S4 FR-F | Mobil EAL Arctic Series | Planetelf ACD | – | Capella HFC | GulfSea PE Cooloil |
Turbine, stern tube, grease and heat transfer
Other common on-board needs. For stern tubes, always follow the seal manufacturer's approval list.
| Specification | Shell | ExxonMobil | TotalEnergies | Castrol | Chevron | Gulf Oil Marine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbine oil Steam turbines, turbochargers, turbo pumps | Turbo T | Mobil DTE Named Series | Preslia | Perfecto T | Regal R&O | GulfSea Turbine Oil |
| Stern tube oil, biodegradable (EAL) Oil-lubricated stern tubes where EAL rules apply | Naturelle S4 Stern Tube Fluid 100 | Mobil SHC Aware ST Series | Bioneptan | – | – | GulfSea BD Sterntube Oil |
| Multipurpose EP grease, NLGI 2 General greasing, bearings, deck machinery | – | Mobilux EP 2 | Multis EP 2 | – | Multifak EP 2 | GulfSea Hyperbar CS 2 (calcium sulfonate) |
| Heat transfer oil Thermal oil heating systems | – | Mobiltherm Series | Seriola 32 | – | Texatherm 32 / 46 | GulfSea HT Oil 32 |
No product matches. Ask us: we'll find the equivalent for you.
Notes
- "–" means the brand has no product at that exact specification in its current published range; a neighbouring BN may still suit, so ask us.
- † Castrol Cyltech 70f, 100f and 140f were launched in 2025 and are named by BN; Cyltech 140f approvals were pending at launch. Check the current data sheet for full specifications.
- For hydraulic, gear, compressor and turbine oils, the table compares product ranges: each range comes in several ISO viscosity grades, so pick the same grade as the oil you are replacing.
- Names and ranges change: brands rename, merge or withdraw products. This guide reflects the manufacturers' published information as checked in October 2026.
- LUKOIL (Navigo) products are not listed: LUKOIL has been subject to US and UK sanctions since October 2025.
- All product names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the products.
Sources
- Shell: Shell Alexia portfolio (2019); Shell Marine lubricants pages for engine oils, hydraulic systems, gears, air and refrigeration compressors, turbines and EALs (2025); Shell Melina S 30 technical data sheet. www.shell.com/business-customers/marine/marine-lubricants.html
- ExxonMobil: ExxonMobil Marine Lubricants quick reference chart (September 2023) and Mobilgard product data sheets. www.exxonmobil.com/en/marine
- TotalEnergies: TotalEnergies Lubmarine product range and product pages. lubmarine.totalenergies.com/products/marine-lubricants
- Castrol: Castrol product data sheets (Cyltech 40 SX, CDX 30, TLX Plus, Hyspin AWS and AWH-M, Alpha SP, Aircol PD, Perfecto T) and Cyltech range launch (March 2025). www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/products/marine.html
- Chevron: Chevron Marine Products range (2026) and product data sheets: Taro Ultra (July 2024), Taro DP and XL series (January 2024). www.chevronmarineproducts.com/en_mp/home/products/lubricant_products/product_category.html
- Gulf Oil Marine: Gulf Oil Marine product range brochure (October 2025). marine.gulfoilltd.com/products/main-lubricants
- Eni: Eni product data sheets: Punica 540, 570 and 5100 SAE 50, Cladium 50 SAE 30, Cladium 300 and 400 SAE 30 / 40. oilproducts.eni.com/en_GB/products/marine-lubricants/engine-oils
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