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3D Printer Lubricant: Grease & Oil for Rails and Lead Screws

3D printer lubricant reduces friction and wear on linear rails, smooth rods, bearings and lead screws. Super Lube does not sell a printer-specific product, so this page gathers small sizes of Super Lube lubricants whose published applications match printer motion parts: the PTFE Multi-Purpose Synthetic Grease (bearings, cams and slides), the Multi-Use Synthetic Oil and its 7 mL precision oiler (bearings and machine ways), 52004 lightweight oil (bearings and horizontal slideways) and 92003 silicone grease for plastic gears and bushings. Your printer maker's maintenance guide comes first.

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How to choose a 3D printer lubricant

Printer partSuggested productWhy
Linear rail carriages and ball bearingsSuper Lube 21030, 3 oz or 21010, ½ ozNLGI 2 PTFE grease that Super Lube lists for ball and roller bearings, cams and slides
Lead screws and threaded rods21010 or 21030A grease film stays on slow-moving, vertical threads; contains no silicone
Smooth rods with linear bearings51010 precision oiler, 7 mL or 51004, 4 ozISO 100 synthetic oil with PTFE; Super Lube lists bearings and machine ways
Light-load rods and small bearings52004 lightweight oil, 4 ozISO 68 synthetic oil; Super Lube lists bearings, horizontal slideways and sensitive instruments
Plastic bushings and gears, metal-to-plastic sliding92003 silicone grease, 3 ozSuper Lube lists plastic parts and gears, bushings, sleeves and plain bearings

Where to lubricate on a printer

  • Linear rail carriages and guide blocks
  • Z-axis lead screws and their nuts
  • Smooth rods and linear bearings on the bed and gantry axes
  • Keep every lubricant off belts, the extruder drive gears and the build surface

How to apply

  1. Turn the printer off and let it cool.
  2. Wipe old lubricant and dust from the rail, rod or screw with a lint-free cloth.
  3. Apply a small amount: a thin bead of grease along a lead screw or into a rail carriage, or a few drops of oil along a rod.
  4. Move the axis through its full travel to spread it, then wipe off the excess.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use grease or oil on a 3D printer?

Grease for lead screws and rail carriages, where it has to stay in place, and light oil for smooth rods and bushings, where a thin film spreads better. Many printer makers specify one or the other, so check their guide first.

Is Super Lube safe on plastic printer parts?

Super Lube says its Multi-Use Synthetic Oil is safe on metal, plastic, wood, leather, painted surfaces and most rubbers, and that its silicone grease is compatible with the majority of rubber and plastic compounds. Test on unusual plastics first.

How often should I lubricate 3D printer rails?

Follow your printer maker's schedule. Super Lube does not publish a printer-specific interval, so re-lubricate when an axis starts to sound rough or the old film looks dry or dirty.

Does grease on the build plate matter?

Yes. Keep any lubricant, silicone or not, off the build surface, because residue there can spoil first-layer adhesion. Clean the plate if grease reaches it.

Related: Super Lube oil guide, including 51004 vs 52004, Super Lube grease guide and all greases and oils.

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