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I'm looking to lubricate some nylon gears in a servo motor, and online sources tell me silicone lubricants are one of the best ways to go.

However, when I opened up the servo, I found that it already has lubrication in place, most probably a mineral oil-based one. It looks dry though, and I'm inclined to re-lubricate it anyway.

Would having the two types of lubricant in there be a cause for concern? Should I exert effort to clean it out first?

Conversely, would there be any issues if I apply a mineral oil-based lubricant to gears that are known to have silicone oil?

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  • $\begingroup$ So, either (1) clean the motor and regrease, or (2) determine from the data sheet what kind of lubricant they specify. $\endgroup$
    – Jon Custer
    Jan 8, 2021 at 15:58
  • $\begingroup$ Different types of oil might not mix well. They might not be unsafe to mix, but the result might be worse lubrication. $\endgroup$
    – matt_black
    Jan 8, 2021 at 19:45
  • $\begingroup$ I've erred on the side of caution and used multi-purpose synthetic lubricant. Their compatibility chart says that basically all plastics in my house are compatible. I've verified that the existing lube isn't silicone. I still wonder about the question though; please feel free to answer. $\endgroup$
    – Aloha
    Jan 21, 2021 at 9:53

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