If you want to reduce your treadmill maintenance costs and at the same time increase its lifespan, then it is highly advised to lubricate your treadmill whenever required.
Frequent Lubrication is also one of the most important treadmill maintenance routines to ensure smooth and noise-free running experience.
However, since not everyone is aware of how and when often to lubricate the treadmill, we have come up with a detailed step-by-step guide for your easy understanding.
Why Should You Lubricate Your Treadmill?
In order for the treadmill belt to move freely without making any noise, the manufacturers use the lubrication oil as it reduces the friction between the motor and the belt.
And, if you don’t know already, replacing a treadmill belt wholly is a very expensive affair.
So, it is better to prevent it beforehand rather to incur the huge repair costs.
How Often Should You Lubricate Treadmill Belt?
It entirely depends on how often you use your treadmill machine.
But, what if you use your treadmill occationally?
In that case, you should aim for lubricating your treadmill once every 6 months.
Which Oil to Use as a Lubricant for Treadmill?
All treadmill manufacturers provide a free lubricant oil bottle along with your purchase. It is highly recommended use only those oils that come with your purchase.
In case if the bottle goes empty, you can order it again from the manufacturer’s website.
You can also refer to your treadmill user manual to find the lubricant oil types that are recommended by your manufacturer.
How to Lubricate Treadmill Belt at Home?
All the Treadmills come with a user manual that describes how to assemble/dissemble your treadmill step-by-step.
It usually varies from one brand to another. So, follow the instructions in your user manual carefully.
Once you’re done with dissembling your treadmill, follow the below steps to oil your treadmill easily.
Tools Required:
- Silicone Lubricant Oil/Spray
- Waste Towel/Cloth
- Screwdriver
Treadmill Lubrication Procedure:
Total Time: 3 minutes
1. Prepare Your Treadmill for Lubrication
First of all, turn of your treadmill, unplug it as it ensures the power does not pass through the machine while you are applying the lubricant.
2. Spread the Towels Across the Treadmill Edges
While applying the lubricant, there are chances that the oil may get spilled on the machine and even on the floor.
So, to stop it from happening, you should lay down the towels across all the edges of the treadmill and even underneath the machine beforehand.
3. Unscrew the Bolts
Use the screwdriver to loosen the bolts towards the end of the treadmill deck (both sides) as it makes it easy to apply the lubricant underneath the treadmill belt.
4. Spray the Lubricant Oil
Now it’s time to slightly lift the treadmill belt and apply/spray the lubricant oil/gel underneath the deck.
Also, use the spare napkins to wipe-off any oil that falls on the belt or else it could make the belt more slippery, which is extremely dangerous.
If possible, mark the sections which are already lubricated so that you don’t over lubricate it.
Remember that your treadmill requires just about 1 to 1.5 ounces of a good silicone lubricant gel in order to function normally. Anything in excess should be cleaned off immediately.
5. Clean Off Excess Lubricant
Once done, clean off any excess oil on the belt and treadmill edges so that the machine is clean and safe to run.
6. Fix the Screws Back
Now, tighten the bolts and reassemble the treadmill back to normal condition. Go through the user manual for the right instructions.
7. Turn-on the Machine
Lastly, plug-in the treadmill to the power socket and run the machine to ensure the treadmill is working properly.
As a final measure, you can run on the treadmill for 5 to 6 minutes at 3MPH speed so that the lubricant oil is distributed evenly across the inner surface of the belt.
Once done, turn-off your treadmill and clean it again to ensure there is no excess oil on the sides of the belt.
That’s the exact lubrication procedure followed by many fitness centers to keep their treadmills running smooth and noise-free.
Treadmill Lubrication FAQs
Is It Necessary to Lubricate a Brand New Treadmill?
Most treadmill machines come with proper lubrication by default. However, there are some cheap treadmill brands that do not offer proper lubrication, which can be easily spotted by just turning on the machine.
If the running belt is smooth and doesn’t make any noise due to friction, then it is good to use, else if you find anything missing in these factors, then you should definitely need to lubricate the treadmill whether it is a brand new or used treadmill.
Can I use WD 40 as a Lubricant for My Treadmill?
No! You should never use the household oils, petroleum based oils as they can spoil the treadmill parts. It is only suggested to use the Silicone Lubricant Oil for better functioning of the treadmill.
What Happens if the Treadmill is not Lubricated?
Without lubrication, the treadmill belt becomes hard to run or move and also makes noise while using the machine, which is usually caused due to the friction between the running belt and the motor.
Lubrication also ensures the belt does not become brittle and break suddenly while running, which could be fatal.
How Do I Know If My Treadmill Belt Needs Lubrication?
If you use your treadmill for more than 180 hours (run time), then it is time to lubricate it immediately.
As a thumb rule, you should oil your treadmill once every 3 months.
You can also lubricate the machine whenever the treadmill belt is getting stuck frequently while running or making too much noise.
How Long Do Treadmill Belts Last?
Typically, a home use treadmill comes with 1-ply running belt, which could last for 3 to 5 years (or) 300 to 500 hours of running time. Whereas the Commercial treadmill belts that you see in the gyms usually last for 5 to 10 years.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Treadmill Belt in India?
A good branded treadmill belt costs anywhere from Rs.2500 to Rs.5000 in India. You can order it from your manufacturer’s official website.
Is It Worth Replacing the Treadmill Belt?
If you’re an athlete or a sportsperson who runs on the treadmill almost everyday, then it is highly recommended to replace the treadmill belt once every year.
However, if you’re an average user who runs on the treadmill just to improve your health, then you should change your running belt once every 2 to 3 years. Meanwhile, you can just lubricate your machine every 3 months to keep it running smooth.
Do Treadmill Belts Come in Universal Size?
No! Treadmill belts are not universal and the sizes can differ from one treadmill model to another.
So, always order the treadmill belt for your particular model from the manufacturer’s website.
So, that comes to end of our guide on how to lubricate your treadmill belt easily without any technician help. Hope, this guide has cleared all your guides about treadmill lubrication.
In case if you’re still having any doubts regarding the treadmills, please do comment below.