The prolonged operation of the motor in the all-electric aircraft can cause the fragmentation and shortening of grease thickener fibers, ultimately resulting in the lubricating grease becoming ineffective. In order to avoid grease failure causing motor winding burnout, this paper uses a four-ball friction testing machine to test the tribological properties of six composite greases containing candle soot with different concentrations, and analyzes the changes in friction coefficient and wear diameter. In addition, by building a test platform for motor vibration and noise, this paper studies the influence of lithium complex grease on vibration and noise characteristics of aviation electrical machine at different propeller speeds. The results show that the addition of 0.04 wt% candle soot lithium grease has the best tribological properties and vibration inhibition properties, because the candle soot in the oil film changes the sliding friction into rolling friction in the contact area of some friction pair. The temperature rise test of aviation electrical machine shows that the lithium complex grease plays an active role in the heat dissipation performance of the high-speed rotating motor. •A new type of lithium complex grease with high wear resistance, excellent vibration damping was prepared.•The anti-wear and friction-reducing mechanism of the lithium complex grease was clarified.•The influence of lithium complex grease on motor vibration under different working conditions was clarified.•The vibration suppression mechanism of lithium complex grease was revealed.•The effect of lithium complex grease on the thermal stability of motor was investigated.