Essential RC Greases, Oils & Lubricants – What to Use and Where
A complete guide to the greases, oils and lubricants used in RC cars — and exactly where each one should be applied for smooth, reliable performance.
🔍 Quick Summary
🛢️ Why Lubricants Matter in RC
- What it is: A guide to RC greases, oils and lubricants
- Who it’s for: RC beginners, builders and anyone maintaining Tamiya, Kamtec or 1/10 RC cars
- Why it matters: Correct lubrication improves durability, smoothness, efficiency and handling
- Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
RC cars rely on a mix of greases and oils to keep:
- Gears running smoothly
- Bearings spinning freely
- Shocks consistent
- Drivetrains efficient
- Metal parts protected
Using the wrong lubricant can cause:
- Cracked plastics
- Swollen gears
- Leaks
- Binding
- Premature wear
Using the right lubricant transforms how your RC car feels and performs.
🧰 Essential RC Greases & Oils (and Where to Use Them)
These are the core lubricants used across Tamiya, Kamtec and 1/10 RC platforms.
⚙️ 1. Ceramic Grease (Tamiya White Grease)
Best for:
- Plastic gears
- Spur/pinion interfaces
- Gearboxes in Tamiya kits
- Steering racks
Why it’s essential: Safe on plastics, smooth, long‑lasting, and included in most Tamiya kits.
🛠️ 2. Molybdenum Grease (Moly Grease)
Best for:
- Metal‑to‑metal gears
- Dogbones and outdrives
- Diff joints
- High‑load contact points
Why it’s essential: High pressure resistance, perfect for metal drivetrain parts.
Warning: Not suitable for plastic gears.
🧴 3. Shock Oil (Silicone Oil)
Best for:
- Oil‑filled shocks
- Dampers on Tamiya, Kamtec and 1/10 touring cars
Common weights: 300–600 cSt for general use 700–900 cSt for bangers and heavy shells
Why it’s essential: Controls damping, rebound and handling balance.
🔧 4. Bearing Oil / Light Machine Oil
Best for:
- Shielded bearings
- Open bearings
- Motor bearings
- Steering posts
Why it’s essential: Reduces friction, improves efficiency and extends bearing life.
🧼 5. Dry PTFE Lubricant
Best for:
- Plastic gears
- Sliding surfaces
- Areas where grease would attract dirt
Why it’s essential: Leaves a dry film — perfect for dusty environments.
🧵 6. Anti‑Wear Grease (AW Grease)
Best for:
- Tamiya gear diffs
- Tightening diff action
- Increasing resistance
Why it’s essential: Thick, sticky grease that adds limited‑slip behaviour to gear diffs.
🧽 7. Silicone Grease
Best for:
- O‑rings
- Shock seals
- Waterproofing servo cases
- Protecting rubber parts
Why it’s essential: Safe on rubber and prevents swelling.
❌ Lubricants You Should NEVER Use on RC Cars
Avoid these completely:
- WD‑40 (swells plastics, removes grease)
- Automotive grease (too thick, melts plastics)
- Lithium grease (attacks ABS and Lexan)
- Petroleum oils (damage rubber seals)
- Bike chain lube (too sticky, attracts dirt)
These products can cause long‑term damage.
⚠️ Safety Tips for Using RC Lubricants
- Use sparingly — too much grease attracts dirt
- Keep lubricants away from tyres and belts
- Never mix different shock oils
- Clean old grease before applying new
- Avoid petroleum‑based products on plastics
🛠️ Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
- Over‑greasing gearboxes
- Using moly grease on plastic gears
- Forgetting to oil bearings
- Mixing shock oil weights
- Using WD‑40 as a lubricant
- Not cleaning parts before reassembly
Avoid these and your RC car will run smoother and last longer.
💡 Pro Tip
- For the smoothest drivetrain: Use ceramic grease on plastic gears + a single drop of bearing oil on each bearing.
- This reduces drag and increases runtime.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Lubrication is one of the simplest — yet most important — parts of RC maintenance. Using the correct greases and oils gives you:
- Smoother drivetrains
- Longer‑lasting bearings
- Better shock performance
- Reduced wear
- More consistent handling
Whether you’re building a Tamiya kit, maintaining a Kamtec banger, or tuning a 1/10 touring car, the right lubricants make a huge difference.
Add these essentials to your RC toolbox and your cars will run better than ever.