How to lubricate a treadmill deck with silicone lubricant

You lubricate a treadmill so that the belt glides evenly over the deck, without jerking or extra load on the motor. If the treadmill manufacturer allows a silicone-based lubricant, the deck under the belt can be treated with NANOPROTECH Silicone lubricant spray: unplug the treadmill, apply the lubricant to the clean deck under the belt, let the solvent evaporate and wipe off the excess.

What you need

Silicone lubricant

Free of mineral oils

Sizes: 210 ml, 400 ml

Why lubricate the deck and when silicone suits

The belt slides over the deck, the board beneath it. Without lubricant between them, friction grows: the belt jerks and is noisy, and the motor works under extra load. NANOPROTECH Silicone lubricant spray is designed for rubbing mechanisms made of metal, plastic and rubber. Its polymethylsiloxane (silicone) fluid, free of mineral oils and fats, is dissolved in an aliphatic solvent: the solvent helps apply a thin coat and then evaporates, leaving a silicone film on the deck.

First check the treadmill manual:

• if it specifies its own lubricant, use that;
• if it says the deck needs no lubrication or is wax-impregnated, apply no lubricant at all;
• if a silicone-based lubricant is allowed, follow the steps below.

How to lubricate a treadmill with silicone lubricant — step by step

1. Unplug the treadmill. Switch it off and pull the plug: lubricate it only when unplugged.
2. Clean the deck and belt. Remove dust under and around the treadmill and wipe the deck edges and the underside of the belt with a dry cloth: the lubricant goes on a clean surface.
3. Prepare the room and the can. Work at 0 °C to +28 °C in a ventilated room, away from open flames and appliances that are switched on. Shake the can.
4. Get access to the deck. Lift the edge of the belt or loosen its tension as the treadmill manual describes.
5. Apply the lubricant under the belt. Spray a thin coat onto the middle of the deck, where you step, from both sides of the belt. Do not spray the top of the belt, under the motor cover or at the electronics.
6. Let the solvent evaporate. Leave the treadmill unplugged for at least 10–15 minutes and ventilate the room.
7. Remove the excess. Wipe drips off the deck edges, frame and floor with a dry cotton cloth. The top of the belt must stay dry.
8. Spread the lubricant. Restore the belt tension if you loosened it, run the treadmill for a few minutes at low speed with no load, then walk on the belt.

The same lubricant is used on rubber seals, locks and hinges — see how to lubricate car door seals.

Why it may not work

• The deck did not need lubricating. Wax-impregnated decks and decks that the manual says need no lubrication are not treated: the solvent can damage the impregnation.
• The deck was dirty. Dust under the belt mixes with the lubricant, so clean the deck and the underside of the belt first.
• Lubricant got on top of the belt. The running surface becomes slippery. Apply it only under the belt and wipe any splashes on top dry at once.
• The treatment was not repeated. The thin silicone film wears off over time. Repeat the treatment on the schedule in the manual, and lubricate again when the deck under the belt feels dry.

Safety precautions

• Treat the treadmill only when it is switched off and unplugged; switch it on once the solvent has evaporated.
• The can is pressurised and the product is flammable. Do not spray it near open flames or red-hot objects, onto the motor and electronics or onto live electrical equipment.
• Keep the lubricant off the top of the belt, the handrails and the floor: they will become slippery.
• Do not leave the can in the sun or heat it above 50 °C; do not pierce or burn it, even when empty. Work with good ventilation.
• In case of eye contact, rinse with water; on skin, wash with soap and water. Keep out of the reach of children.

Frequently asked questions