Grease Guide
What is Batata Grease? Yellow Grease Explained
Batata grease is the common Indian name for calcium-based grease: a soft, pale-yellow, water-resistant grease used for low-temperature, wet-duty lubrication. “Batata” means potato, a nickname for its pale yellow colour, and the same product is also called “yellow grease”.
“Batata grease”, “yellow grease” and “calcium grease” all describe the same calcium-soap product. Its strength is water resistance at low cost. Its limit is heat: above roughly 60–70°C it softens and runs out.
What batata grease is made of
Batata grease uses a calcium soap as the thickener, holding a mineral base oil in a soft, buttery matrix. The calcium soap gives it two defining traits: a pale yellow colour and strong resistance to water washout. It is one of the oldest and cheapest grease types, which is why it remains popular for general low-cost lubrication on Indian sites and in workshops.
| Property | Batata (calcium) grease |
|---|---|
| Thickener | Calcium soap |
| Colour | Pale yellow |
| Water resistance | Excellent |
| Dropping point | ~90–110°C |
| Max working temperature | ~60–70°C |
| Relative cost | Low |
What batata grease is good for
Its strength is water resistance at low cost, so it suits points that get wet but do not get hot:
- Water pumps and water-handling equipment
- Chassis points and fittings exposed to rain or washdown
- Agricultural and general low-speed equipment
- Low-cost general greasing where heat is not a factor
Using batata grease on anything that runs warm. Above about 60–70°C calcium grease softens and bleeds oil, then runs out of the bearing. For warm or higher-speed points, use a lithium grease such as MP3 instead.
Where not to use it
The limit is heat. The full trade-off is set out in yellow grease vs lithium grease and calcium vs lithium grease. For applications that see both water and heat, a lithium-complex or lithium-calcium grade bridges the gap.
How to store and apply batata grease
Because calcium grease has a low dropping point, storage temperature matters more than for lithium greases. Keep drums and pails closed, out of direct sun and away from heat sources, since grease that gets hot in storage can start to separate. A light oil layer on top can be stirred back in; heavy separation means the batch has degraded. Decant with a clean scoop, never a dirty site tool, so grit does not contaminate the whole drum.
In use, batata grease suits hand-packing and brush application on exposed, wet points. Reapply on a schedule that matches how wet and dirty the point is. The goal is a continuous film; once you can see bare metal or rust, the interval is too long.
How to buy the right batata grease
Quality varies between batata greases because it is a low-cost product and some are over-extended with filler. Ask for the dropping point (a genuine calcium grease should reach roughly 90–110°C) and check the grease is smooth and uniform, not grainy or weeping oil in the tin. A supplier who can provide a batch test certificate gives you a way to verify what you are buying rather than judging by colour alone.
For ordering, match the pack size to your consumption. Workshops and small fitters usually buy 1kg or 5kg tins; sites and pump-maintenance crews going through grease steadily are most economical on an 18kg pail or a 180kg drum. Because batata grease is heat-sensitive in storage, order quantities you will use within a few months rather than over-stocking a drum that may sit in a hot store through summer. If you run both wet and warm points, ask your supplier to quote batata grease alongside a lithium grade so you can stock each for the duty it suits, instead of compromising with one grease across the whole site.
Why buy from KE
Krish Enterprises manufactures batata/yellow (calcium) grease in Mumbai and supplies across the MMR in pails and drums at roughly ₹60/kg in bulk, with test certificates on request. The product is listed as calcium grease.
Frequently asked questions
What is batata grease?
It is calcium-based grease: a soft, pale-yellow, water-resistant grease for low-temperature, wet-duty lubrication. “Batata” refers to its potato-yellow colour.
Is batata grease the same as yellow grease?
Yes. Both names describe the same calcium-soap grease.
What is batata grease used for?
Water pumps, rain-exposed fittings, agricultural and low-speed equipment, and general low-cost greasing where temperatures stay low.
Can batata grease handle high temperatures?
No. It softens and runs out above about 60–70°C. Use a lithium grease for warm or high-speed points.
Why is it called batata grease?
“Batata” means potato. The name comes from the pale yellow colour of the calcium-soap base.
Related: Calcium Grease · MP3 Grease