They use fumed silica as the thickener in the standard grease. It does have PTFE as an additive. Fumed Silica is a common thickener for clear greases and it is a non melt thickener so high temp as well.
I had a 2011 Dodge Dakota that kept giving me this code and acted very much like what your describing, and it was due to a small crack after the pre catalytic converter O2 sensor. So I would look for leaks.