Best Grease for RC Cars 2024 | Top 8 List & Expert’s Guide

A proper grade of grease is important for any kind of automobile to function properly. Whether it be your monster truck, your car, or your motorbike, quality grease can help improve the performance by a lot.

Believe it or not, even your RC cars need grease! We all know how expensive RC cars can be. So, to keep them well and running- we need the best grease for RC cars.

Adding a good quality lubricant helps loosen things up for smoother control of the wheels. If you feel like your RC car is not moving freely or is having trouble reading commands from the controller, our recommended picks might be the solution.

Why Grease Is Needed for RC Cars

First, let’s get down to the basics. Lubrication or grease helps reduce the amount of resistance felt between two components or mechanical parts. This can be used on anything. People even use lubricant on their windows to help open and close them easily.

RC cars have electric motors that might need some greasing. But today, motors have very few moving parts, so there isn’t that much friction. This can vary from model to model.  

But moving on to the wheels, there is the spur gear and the meshing pinion gear that need well lubrication.

If not lubricated, the tension created can cause a lot of parts to break and malfunction, which can result in irreparable damage.

Expert’s Guide: How to Select the Best Grease for RC Cars

When buying lubrication for your RC car, you must keep a few factors in mind. These points will ensure the correct purchase for you.

Temperature Stability

You know a lubricant is cheap and made poorly when the oil hardens in cold temperatures. Most of these lubricants have other oils that we use daily added to them. This reduces their performance, and as a result, it hardens in cold temperatures.

For the best result, you need to get a lubricant that will work great at any sort of temperature. The product should not get too runny when it’s hot, and it shouldn’t get hard when it is cold. Quality products should have the right kind of temperature control.

Viscosity

Lubricant that is too runny can be a mess to apply. It also drips when the RC car functions making horrible disarray to clean up later.

So we recommend that you check the viscosity of the lubricant before making the purchase.

A lubricant that is not too viscous can also be too clumpy and thick for an even application.

A perfect balance between the two is what you should be looking for. This way, the lubricant will spear perfectly but will not be runny and unmanageable.

Water Resistance

Even though the RC car does not soak in water, it might still come in contact with pools of mud or puddles. It is mandatory that the lubricant stays on even when the RC car is in contact with liquid.

Otherwise, you will have to reapply the lubricant too frequently.

Lubricant that is not water-resistant might also react with the water and cause more damage than good.  

Performance under Pressure

Go for lubricants that have molybdenum disulfide or graphite in the formula. This will help the lubricant bond better with the metal.

Otherwise, if you apply hard brakes, the lubricant might smear and thin out. They might also corrode with each other. A good quality product will prevent the lubricants from coming in contact with each other.

Ease of Application

Applying grease into a mechanism is never a clean task. But if the product comes in easy-to-use packaging, your job is made much easier.

Go for tubes that have heads attached to them for cleaner application. Tubs that have no form of application other than using your hands can be too sticky and time-consuming to both apply and clean up later on.

Comparison Table of Top 5 Grease for RC Cars

Image	Product	Extreme Pressure Fortified	Temperature Resistance	Waterproof	Price
	Maxima 80916 Waterproof Grease	Yes	-20 F to 560 F	Yes	Check Price
	Valvoline Moly-Fortified Gray Full Synthetic Grease	Yes	-60°F to 425°F	No	Check Price
	Liberty Oil	No	-20 F to 200 F	Yes	Check Price
	Lucas Oil 10301 Heavy Duty Grease	Yes	-50 F to 560 F	Yes	Check Price
	Lucas Oil Red “N” Tacky Grease	Yes	-20 F to 250 F	No	Check Price

Our Top 8 Picks Of Grease for RC Cars

Choosing just one lubricant out of the many available for your RC car can be quite daunting. After all, all cars are different and have different needs. To make things easier for you, we have added this product review list with all the lubricants that we trust.

1. Best for Temperature Resistance: Maxima 80916 Waterproof Grease

Product Specifications

• Waterproof: A
• Ease of Use: C
• Temperature Resistance: A
• Quantity: 16 oz.
• Effectiveness: A

The first product on our list is this one from Maxima. The blue bottle of magic will transform the way your RC car rides.

As marketed, this truly is one of the best waterproof lubricants out there. The layer protects corrosion and helps keep the gears and moving parts clean and running. Even with prolonged use in water or any kind of liquid, the layer of lubricant does not move.

Next, we come to the main attraction of the lubricant; the temperature resistance. Added high-density polymer in the formula helps the lubricant to perform in extreme temperatures. You can use the lubricant in temperatures ranging from -20 F to 560 F. this rating falls under a few of the highest ones.

Even with regular use, the lubricant does not wash out. Therefore you can use this in summer without any worries of reapplication. The same goes for colder temperatures; the lubricant will not freeze or dry up. It can handle a cooler climate just as well as the heat.

The high-temperature lithium complex lubricant can also be used on tools that are exposed to saltwater environments. It’s a multi-purpose grease that can be used on most automotive moving parts.

Thanks to the extreme pressure additives that are also non-leaded, you can use the lubricant in shock loading conditions even with high load. Not only does the grease help improve the performance of the RC car it also helps protect it.

One thing that we have to mention is that the product does not include any application tools. You take out the lubricant from the pot using your hands. You could use a plastic spoon to do this for convenience. But even then, it’s quite a messy application.

Highlighted Benefits

• The waterproof layer added non-corrosive capabilities
• High-temperature resistance of -20 F to 560F prevents thinning
• Can be used on saltwater equipment
• Does not wash out easily; great for regular use even in summer
• Pressure additives added for protection in shock loading conditions

Potential Flaws

• Does not come with any application tool; messy

2. Best for Corrosion Resistance: Valvoline Moly-Fortified Gray Full Synthetic Grease

Product Specifications

• Versatility: A
• Temperature Protection: b+
• Quantity: 14.1 oz
• Pressure Fortification: A
• Corrosion Resistance: A

Lubricants are added to make sure that the movement between the moving parts is smooth. If there is rust in your RC car’s system, making the car run smoothly becomes tough. It’s important to prevent this.

That is why we recommend getting the Valvoline Synthetic grease. It has corrosion-resistant capabilities that prevent rust from forming in between the moving parts. As the surface is clean and polished, it’s easier to reduce friction.  

Synthetic grease is great for RC cars. You can use this lubricant on ball joints or for shock absorption. In short, the formula is a lithium-based complex that has been thickened using oil. It is completely safe for any sort of vehicle, especially RC cars.

If you live in a cooler area, you might get a great benefit from using this grease. As it has a temperature resistance of -60 F to 425 F, the product does not freeze in the winter.

You might not want to keep this with you for a long time, though, as it does not keep well. Once opened, the product should be finished in about 3 to 5 months. If stored for longer, the oil might separate.

Keeping this in mind, the product comes in a manageable quantity and an adjusted price. But having to buy the lubricant frequently might be annoying for some people.

Because the lubricant is also moly fortified, the thing can handle a lot of loads. You can use this on cars that are used regularly without worrying about thinning.

Use the product on any kind of Japanese or European vehicle to get better gear movement.

The best thing is that you can get the grease on without having to use your hands. Squeeze the material out of the tube directly onto the parts for a mess-free application.

Highlighted Benefits

• Keeps parts smooth and rust-free for better movement
• Significantly reduces friction to improve wheel performance
• Does not freeze in winter
• Moly fortified; can handle heavy loads
• Easy to use; mess-free application

Potential Flaws

• Does not keep well, separated if stored for too long once opened

3. Best for Ease of Application: Liberty Oil, Synthetic Oil

Product Specifications

• Ease of Application: A
• Quantity: 1 oz.
• Temperature resistance: C
• Oil Type: Synthetic 
• Buildup Prevention: A 

When it comes to lubrication, the one thing that all of us struggle with, no matter the oil type, is application. Lubricants can be quite hard to get off of surfaces, especially your hands. As most of them are waterproof, they do not wash off so easily.

A handy product like this Liberty oil can be of great use at a time as such. This product comes with a long 18 gauge, 1.5-inch nozzle. The pharmaceutical grade applicator is slim and can get into place easily, making it the perfect lubricant for small RC cars.

There is no need for you to use your hands. Reach all the nooks and crevices that even your fingers can’t get into.

Even the bottle that the product comes in is made out of plastic that you can squeeze easily to get the grease out.

It is a mild lubricant that can be used for hobbies. As the grease is not too potent, you can also use the thing on plastic parts without the fear of anything melting.  

Made of two friction modifiers, the lubricant is a great addition to any form of vehicle. It acts as a ball bearing to bring down friction in the parts. Thanks to the well-engineered formula, the product can adhere well to steel parts.

The other thing that the liquid does is prevent buildup. It does not let dust and debris compile onto the surface of the pats. Even the oil spreads out evenly and does not clump up in one place. Therefore the interior is cleaner, and so it moves effortlessly.

Highlighted Benefits

• 1.5 inch 18 gauge applicator for ease of application
• Squeeze bottle for fast and easy spreading
• Great for beginners
• Adheres well to steel parts and acts as ball bearing to reduce resistance
• Mild lubricant that can be used on plastic parts

Potential Flaws

• A small amount; kind of like a onetime use thing
• Great for hobby uses but cannot be used on RC cars used for competing

4. Best For Fast Gears: Lucas Oil 10301 Heavy Duty Grease

Product Specifications

• Longevity: A
• Temperature Resistance: A
• For Bearing Type: Fast Bearing
• Ease Of Use: A
• Item Weight: 14.1 oz. 

We all love collecting faster and high-power RC cars. We often tend to spend quite a lot of money on them as well. But soon after, we realize that they need great care to perform well. The right kind of lubricant is a must in this care-taking process.

So if you want to keep your expensive RC car running well, you need to get a hold of this Lucas oil. It is specially made to be used on fast gears.

As faster gears work more than normal speed ones, the lubricant in them tends to thin out quicker. There is also more heat generated due to the fast movement. This leaves a possibility of the oil evaporates.

The special formula of Lucas oil prevents all this from happening. With the right viscosity, the product stays on the metal parts for a long time. It has special bonding capabilities that prevent thinning out and evaporating.

So you don’t have to keep on reapplying the lubricant on and on again. Users found the lubricant to last 4 times longer than the other grease found in the market.

To stay on for even longer, the product is also waterproof. So contact with water or any liquid won’t move the lubricant.

You can store the product for a long time, even after opening the cap. Although technically, you should throw it out after 6 to 8 months for the safety of your RC car.

Use the oil in both cold and hot regions; the thing is protected from a wide range of temperatures. It won’t curdle in the system if it gets too cold, and it will not spread out when it is too hot!

We must say this is a great grease for people who want a product for RC cars that are used rough and regularly.

Highlighted Benefits

• Can be stored for a long time, even after opening
• Great or high-speed gears- won’t spread out
• Does not curdle in cooler temperature and does not evaporate in the heat
• Great for RC cars that are used for competitions
• Stays on 4 times longer than any other lubricant  

Potential Flaws

• Easy to over grease components with this one, you need to be careful about how much you put on

5. Best For Agricultural Automotive: Lucas Oil Red “N” Tacky Grease

Product Specifications

• Grease Grade: 2
• Ease of Application: C
• Tackiness: A
• Ability to Reduce Friction: A
• Product Quantity: 16 ounces 

We trust Lucas when it comes to car oils and lubrication. So here is another one from the brand.

This one from Lucas is probably one of the tackiest greases in the market. While the thing might be a nightmare to apply to your automotive, it does have its benefits.

As the product is quite thick in texture, once applied, it might look like something is wrong. But when the car rides, the lubricant melts and gets into the right consistency.

But it does have protection from heat. After getting to the right consistency, it stays put. So even if due to the weather or fast running, there is more heat than expected, the oil will not evaporate.

Users have mentioned how the thing stays right where you put it. It does not move at all.

Because of the tackiness, the thing is great for using on agricultural automotive. So you can safely use the lubricant on RC cars that are used regularly on uneven terrain.  

Unfortunately, the product is quite a mess when it comes to application. Because the thing is so thick, you have to work quite hard to get it out of the box. Also, spreading the thing evenly is quite a task. It does not come in a tube, so you have to use your hands or some other type of tool.

Rust inhibitors prevent all kinds of corrosion and oxidation. So you can use the lubricant for RC cars that go through water at times.

Mechanical stability also helps keep the lubricant on the metal for a long time. This also prevents any kind of excessive spreading, melting, or thinning out.

Highlighted Benefits

• Tacky grease that stays on for a long time
• Stays where you put in; does not move
• Rust inhibitors prevent water damage and oxidization
• Mechanical stability offers great service on cars used for a prolonged time
• Atomically gets into the perfect consistency

Potential Flaws

• Very hard to apply
• Does not come in a tube

6. Best Bulk Water Resistant Purchase: Valvoline General Purpose Amber Grease

Product Specifications

• Water resistance: A
• Grease Type: Lithium 12 Hydroxystearate EP
• Application Type: No tube, hand application
• Product Weight: 35 Lb
• Product longevity: B

If you have a lot of RC cars that you want to grease up all at once, you could try and buy this huge tub of lubricant. The whopping 35 Lb bucket of grease will be a great investment if you want to buy lubricant in bulk.

Now the main thing that has made us put this on our list besides the huge amount you get is how water resistant the formula is. Based on its performance, we can easily state that this is one of the best water-resistant products on our list.

That is why we highly recommend this one if you run your RC cars on wet roads. Water-resistant products as such will help increase the longevity of your RC car by a lot.

Even with washing and scrubbing, the lubricant is quite hard to get off. So you might want to keep this in mind when applying the product.

You do not get any tools that will help you apply the product, so you might need to be extra cautious. Try and use plastic spoons or wooden Popsicle sticks as a spreader for the grease. This will at least keep the grease out of your hands.

Lithium 12 Hydroxystearate EP formula helps the product to grab onto the metal parts. This gives you some extra time in between reapplications.

The formula is also great because it has the perfect viscosity. It’s not too runny and does not make a mess, and it is not too thick and hard to spread. With some proper planning on the application section, you can easily get this lubricant onto your car parts.

You might need to keep in mind that because this is such a large bucket of lubricant, you have to use it up soon. Storing opened lubricant for more than 8 months is never recommended. So only buy this product if you have too many RC cars to deal with.

Highlighted Benefits

• Comes in a huge 35Lb bucket
• Gives amazing water resistance in any kind of temperature
• Lithium 12 Hydroxystearate EP formula for best viscosity
• No need to reapply frequently

Potential Flaws

• Too large amount’ needs to be used up quickly

7. Best Multi-purpose Grease: White Lithium Grease

Product Specifications

• Versatility: A
• Bottle type: Squeeze type with sharp nozzle
• Product weight: 8 ounce
• Viscosity: Thick
• Noise Cancelling ability: A

At first glance, you might not want to buy this grease because it is so thick. But don’t worry, when applied right, all things work out in the end with this one.

It comes out like white toothpaste; the product is that thick. But don’t worry, the thing is not that hard to apply. It’s because the bottle has a sharp and pointy nozzle you can easily reach into tight places and add the grease.

You can squeeze the bottle to get the product out. So there is no other tool that you need when applying this product.

This also prevents the product from getting onto your clothes and hands. So no need to worry about clean up afterward.

Because of its texture, you can use this on all kinds of objects. Use it on automotive to even doors and windows. When added to windows, it can lower the noise by a lot. So if any part of your RC car is making noise, you can add this to get rid of the sound.

With thick lubricants such as this one, you need to be careful not to add too much. It’s quite easy to get distracted and over grease parts with this product.

Other features of the product include being waterproof and also rust-resistant.

It works well in hotter temperatures. Even if you leave your RC cars out in the sun, the grease will not spread or evaporate. You might not want to use this one in cooler temperatures, though. It freezes and jams too easily below -15 F.

Highlighted Benefits

• Can be used on agricultural vehicles, RC cars, windows, doors, and lots of other objects
• Gets rid of creaking noise
• Nozzle and squeeze bottle makes application a lot easier
• Only a small amount of product needed because of the thick viscosity

Potential Flaws

• Adding too much of this product might cause harm to the gear, so remember not to over grease
• Not a good option for cooler regions

8. Best Multi-Vehicle: Valvoline High Temperature Red Grease

Product Specifications

• Product Amount: Different sizes available
• Pressure protection: A
• Working Temperatures: -5 F to 250F
• Application process: Both Tube and Tub options available
• Vehicle Type: Multi-Vehicle

We always say that using lubricant with an applicator is better because it is less messy and faster. But if you have a different opinion on that, you might want to check this one out.

You can get a lot of sizes on this product. So there is an option available in a tub and a tube. Whatever you feel comfortable in. this is also great as you can choose the amount of product you want to buy.

The product works just as well on a truck or car as it does on an RC car. This is a lubricant that you can use on any kind of vehicle.

We suggest you get this product if you live in a cooler region. It can work well in temperatures as low as -5 F. Therefore, your car’s gear won’t seize up in winter. But this is not the best option to go for if you live in a hotter region.

Users have found that the grease spreads out easily in hotter temperatures. So it’s better to stay away from this one if you want to avoid a messy oily mess in summer.  

Added extreme pressure protection helps this lubricant perform well even under a lot of weight.

Just a light coat is all you need with this. Apply a single light layer for the perfect lubrication. Avoid over greasing for better performance.

Because this has just the right consistency, you can get through the application process in just a few minutes.

Other features of this product include intense water-resistance capabilities and rust resistance. It also clings on to the metal quite well and stays put.

Highlighted Benefits

• Can be used on any kind of vehicle for use on all kinds of terrain
• Multiple size options available with multiple application processes as well
• Pressure protection for use with a heavy load
• Can provide lubrication even in temperature as cool at 5 F

Potential Flaws

• Might slide in high temperatures

Our Verdict of the Best

Our top pick is the Maxima 80916 Waterproof Grease. It’s so waterproof it can be used on saltwater vehicles as well! Not to mention the product also performs great under high and low temperatures.

That being said, our second option, the Valvoline Moly-Fortified Gray Full Synthetic Grease, also puts up quite the competition. It keeps gears and moving parts corrosion-free for smoother performance. At the end of the day, the insides of your RC car are clean and polished.

If we had to choose one, we would surely go with the Maxima 80916 Waterproof Grease. Although the lubricant is harder to get onto the car parts, we believe the messy application is worth going through if you want incredible results.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long can you store grease after opening the bottle?

Although this depends from manufacturer to manufacturer, we recommend that you store a lubricant for no more than 8 months. After that, the formula becomes different and can cause damage to the insides of your RC car.

• Can I mix two types of grease?

This is never a good idea. The mixture will either harden or become too soft for application. Also, the result gives no lubrication when added to a gear.

• What is a multi-purpose grease?

This kind of grease can be reused for a lot of stuff. So after adding it to your RC car, you can then add it to your motorbike, car, or even your door hinges.

• What kind of shock oil should I buy for my RC?

Any good quality silicone oil will do just fine. This has the ideal components to work well with the car parts. If a good coating is applied, you will be good to go.

• How to oil an RC motor brush?

The best method is to use a spray kind of lubrication. This will ensure that there is an even layer and will also prevent greasing.

• How often do you need to lubricate your car?

As often as you feel like the RC car needs this, it is best to wait for at least two weeks in between lubrication sessions.

• Is RC grease different than normal car Grease?

You can get lubricant that is specifically made for RC cars. But the components are more or less the same. So you can go with normal car lubrication for your RC car as well.

• What happens if you don’t grease your RC car?

The inner mechanical parts that move collide with each other and can cause corrosion. This is because of the increased resistance and friction in the system.

• Can you use Vaseline as grease?

We’ve seen this trend going around for a while, and we highly discourage this. Vaseline is too thick of a substance to use as lubrication and can clog the insides of your RC car.

• Can you over grease a joint?

Ball joints can easily be over greased. So if you see some swelling, you know it’s time to stop with the lubrication!

Wrapping Up

With the best grease for RC cars, you will see a difference in movement from the first use. Without proper lubrication, you may cause great harm to this priced possession. Adding good quality lubricant is a part of maintaining these model cars.

Valvoline Moly-Fortified Gray Full Synthetic Grease is a great option if you are dealing with a lot of rust. And Liberty Oil is good for preventing buildup.

But Maxima 80916 Waterproof Grease is our ultimate choice when it comes to effectiveness. The lubricant makes a significant difference from the first application.