It’s no secret that exercise equipment, while having a plethora of benefits, also requires regular maintenance. For instance, ellipticals need to be lubricated every few months or so to avoid wear and damage. Lubrication is also the answer to any flywheel noise, clunking noise, or squeaks in your machine.
When it comes to dealing with a squeaky elliptical, make sure to use the right technique and products. Going with cheap WD-40 or a lithium grease on a machine costing a thousand bucks is financial suicide. You should always use only the best lubricants for elliptical machines to increase their life. This will allow you to reap the benefits of your elliptical, which is even better than a treadmill in terms of fitness benefits.
Listed below are some great silicone gel lubricants that can work well on ellipticals. While primarily sold as treadmill lubes, most brands of ellipticals will respond well to these products.
Best Lubricants for Elliptical Trainers
1. IMPRESA 100% Silicone Gel Lubricant Review
Although mainly marketed as a treadmill lubricant, this silicone gel lubricant by Impresa can work for elliptical maintenance as well.
It comes in the form of a squeezable 4-oz bottle with a precision twist top. It’s quite easy to apply, and the consistency is effective in most cases for making exercise equipment run smoothly.
For ellipticals with a ramp and wheel system, maintenance is pretty straightforward. Use this to grease your machine every 4 to 6 months. Start by cleaning the ramp of any dirt to avoid pitting in the wheels later on. Then you can use this as a lubricant for elliptical rails, and add a drop or two on the wheels as well.
The ramp and wheel area is the most common place where ellipticals tend to squeak. Other than that, this lubricant can be applied elsewhere to increase the durability of your machine and ensure smooth functioning. A drop or two on all pivot points is always a good idea.
This Impresa silicone lube has another advantage of great customer service. Any problems with leakages are dealt with, and there seem to be quite a few. While it may not suit every machine, it can be a great squeaking fix in a wide majority of ellipticals.
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2. Spot On 100% Silicone Belt Lubricant
The Spot On lubricant is purely a non-petroleum silicone gel lubricant marketed as a treadmill maintenance product. However, it can work equally well for ellipticals.
This product comes with two kinds of applicators. One option is to squeeze it out directly after unscrewing its precision twist cap. The other is to use it with the long 8-inch applicator tube extension included in the package. This tube is originally meant for making the lubricant flow properly under treadmill belts.
For ellipticals though, the tube can be used to grease hard-to-reach nooks and crannies as well. This non-toxic, odorless lubricant is packaged in a 4-ounce bottle. A little goes a long way for ellipticals. You can use it for bolts of different joints, and it can work great for elliptical rails as well.
While most customers seem to find this an excellent buy, very few have faced problems. The most common complaints have been of leakage of the product during delivery. Another few did not receive the tube extension with the lubricant. Overall, it’s mostly a popular silicone gel lubricant for noise troubleshooting and increasing durability.
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3. GSM Elliptical Exercise Machine Lube
This lubricant by GSM brand can work great as an elliptical lube and help keep your machine running smoothly. It’s 100% silicone and is available in different quantities. There are 1, 4, and 8-oz bottles available, with each ounce being sufficient for a single application according to the manufacturer.
Being very easy to use in a squeezable bottle, this lube also comes with an extension tube for hard-to-reach areas. It can increase your machine’s life while curing it of any squeaks, clunking noise, and flywheel noise.
With nearly all customer reviews online being in its favor, this lubricant is worth a try. Make sure to avoid dripping any on the stepping surfaces of your elliptical for your own safety. Just like most other silicone lubricants, this one can be used in acrylic painting as well.
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4. Horizon Fitness Silicone Lubricant Oil
Horizon silicone treadmill belt lubricant also works well as elliptical grease. If you have a squeaking elliptical, using this can be expected to relieve the noise. Other than that, it’s always recommended to grease your machine for maintenance every few months anyway.
Just as the packaging claims, the lubricant extends the life of your elliptical motor. It also minimizes any clunking noise on your machine. However, a major issue with this one is that it is not easy to use.
Customers complain that the bottle is quite hard and not easy to squeeze. The opening of the tip is very narrow, which doesn’t allow the lube oil to flow out easily. That is why you should be prepared to cut the tip with a scissor if you need to use this lube.
Other than this considerable inconvenience in making the lube flow out, it works well. Just a little application can work wonders for any noisy elliptical.
Finally, don't let the word Horizon fool you. This lubricant doesn't only work on Horizon ellipticals, but it also works like a charm on other brands like NordicTrack, Schwinn, Proform, Sole Fitness, and so on.
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Conclusion
Whether you are using it for fat loss or you need some lower body strength training, an elliptical is a great option. The issue here is friction and noise that can interrupt your workout while damaging your machine. The best lubricants for elliptical machines can ensure quiet, noiseless and better workouts for you. Just don’t overexert – it’s the commonest cause of landing in the ER due to fitness injuries!