A method for producing a lubricant in producing an overbased calcium sulfonate, which is converted from the vaterite form into the calcite form and, finally, a calcium sulfonate grease is produced by heating the mixture. A lubricant may comprise at least one ester composition, calcium carbonate and at least one overbased alkylbenzene sulfonate. The basicity of the mixture is limited during the preparation of the overbased calcium sulfonate to a TBN of at most 550 mg KOH/g and during the conversion of the calcium sulfonate to a TBN of at most 450 mg KOH/g. Both the calcium sulfonate and the grease containing said calcium sulfonate may be produced exclusively on an ester basis, so that the end product does not contain any mineral oil and is therefore easily and completely biodegradable.

A method of making an overbased calcium sulfonate or calcium magnesium sulfonate grease using one or more delay periods between the addition of at least a portion of a facilitating acid, such as DDBSA, and at least a portion of the next subsequently added ingredient. The delay period may be a temperature adjustment delay or a holding delay period. An overbased calcium sulfonate or calcium magnesium sulfonate grease composition comprises 0.5%-5% of a facilitating acid, allows for a reduced amount of overbased calcium sulfonate below 22%, and allows for a reduced amount of calcium hydroxyapatite to provide 10-25% of hydroxide equivalent basicity of the total hydroxide equivalent basicity due to calcium hydroxyapatite and added calcium hydroxide, while maintaining a high dropping point.

A method of making an overbased calcium sulfonate or calcium magnesium sulfonate grease using one or more delay periods between the addition of at least a portion of a facilitating acid, such as DDBSA, and at least a portion of the next subsequently added ingredient. The delay period may be a temperature adjustment delay or a holding delay period. An overbased calcium sulfonate or calcium magnesium sulfonate grease composition comprises 0.5%-5% of a facilitating acid, allows for a reduced amount of overbased calcium sulfonate below 22%, and allows for a reduced amount of calcium hydroxyapatite to provide 10-25% of hydroxide equivalent basicity of the total hydroxide equivalent basicity due to calcium hydroxyapatite and added calcium hydroxide, while maintaining a high dropping point.

An overbased calcium magnesium sulfonate grease composition and method of manufacture comprising both overbased calcium sulfonate and overbased magnesium sulfonate in a ratio range of 60:40 to 100:1. The grease is made according to any known method for making an overbased calcium sulfonate grease by using the overbased magnesium sulfonate in addition to the overbased calcium sulfonate. A portion of the magnesium sulfonate may be added prior to conversion and another portion after conversion, with or without one or more delay periods between the addition of water or other reactive ingredient and the addition of magnesium sulfonate. The grease can be made using calcium hydroxyapatite and/or added calcium carbonate as calcium containing bases for reacting with complexing acids, a non-aqueous converting agent delay method, added alkali metal hydroxide, or any combination thereof. The grease has a high dropping point and reduced thickener yield.

An overbased calcium magnesium sulfonate grease composition and method of manufacture comprising both overbased calcium sulfonate and overbased magnesium sulfonate in a ratio range of 60:40 to 100:1. The grease is made according to any known method for making an overbased calcium sulfonate grease by using the overbased magnesium sulfonate in addition to the overbased calcium sulfonate. A portion of the magnesium sulfonate may be added prior to conversion and another portion after conversion, with or without one or more delay periods between the addition of water or other reactive ingredient and the addition of magnesium sulfonate. The grease can be made using calcium hydroxyapatite and/or added calcium carbonate as calcium containing bases for reacting with complexing acids, a non-aqueous converting agent delay method, added alkali metal hydroxide, or any combination thereof. The grease has a high dropping point and reduced thickener yield.

An overbased sulfonate modified lithium carboxylate grease composition and method of manufacture comprising overbased calcium sulfonate, overbased magnesium sulfonate, or both added to a source of lithium hydroxide, base oil, and optionally one or more acids when a complex grease is desired. When overbased sulfonate is added, the amount of dicarboxylic acid relative monocarboxylic acid may be reduced. Additionally, the amount of lithium hydroxide added may be less than stoichiometrically needed to react with the acids. A sulfonate modified lithium grease with improved thickener yield and dropping point may be made without multiple heating and cooling cycles or using a pressurized kettle.

An overbased sulfonate modified lithium carboxylate grease composition and method of manufacture comprising overbased calcium sulfonate, overbased magnesium sulfonate, or both added to a source of lithium hydroxide, base oil, and optionally one or more acids when a complex grease is desired. When overbased sulfonate is added, the amount of dicarboxylic acid relative monocarboxylic acid may be reduced. Additionally, the amount of lithium hydroxide added may be less than stoichiometrically needed to react with the acids. A sulfonate modified lithium grease with improved thickener yield and dropping point may be made without multiple heating and cooling cycles or using a pressurized kettle.

A lubricating oil composition is provided which comprises (a) greater than 50 wt. % of a base oil of lubricating viscosity; and (b) 0.1 to 40 wt. % of an overbased alkaline earth metal alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic carboxylate, wherein the alkyl substituent is a residue derived from an isomerized alpha-olefin having from 12 to 40 carbon atoms, and having a TBN, on an actives basis, of less than 600 mg KOH/g, as determined by ASTM D 2896; wherein the lubricating oil composition is a monograde lubricating oil composition meeting specifications for SAE J300 revised January 2015 requirements for a SAE 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 monograde engine oil, and has a TBN of 5 to 200 mg KOH/g, as determined by ASTM D2896.

A lubricating oil composition is provided which comprises (a) greater than 50 wt. % of a base oil of lubricating viscosity; and (b) 0.1 to 40 wt. % of an overbased alkaline earth metal alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic carboxylate, wherein the alkyl substituent is a residue derived from an isomerized alpha-olefin having from 12 to 40 carbon atoms, and having a TBN, on an actives basis, of less than 600 mg KOH/g, as determined by ASTM D 2896; wherein the lubricating oil composition is a monograde lubricating oil composition meeting specifications for SAE J300 revised January 2015 requirements for a SAE 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 monograde engine oil, and has a TBN of 5 to 200 mg KOH/g, as determined by ASTM D2896.

The invention provides a method of lubricating a 2-stroke marine diesel cylinder liner with a lubricating composition having a total base number of 10 to 25 mg KOH/g. The invention further provides a lubricating composition for lubricating the 2-stroke marine diesel cylinder liner.