It is not obvious when a pipette needs lubrication because the lubricant is inside the pipette and cannot be seen unless the device is disassembled. Pipettes don’t start to squeak. The only noticeable change might be an abrasive feeling or jerking when pushing the operation button which could be a first hint to control the lubricant on the pipette’s piston.

Re-lubrication is only necessary when cleaning agents such as soap, liquid detergent, or organic solvents have been used and the lubricant was actively removed. After calibration lubrication is not necessary, it does not affect the lubricant. Furthermore, it is important to only use a very small amount of lubricant, almost invisible to the human eye. This thin layer of lubricant should be applied with a fine cotton swab. Another important detail is the spot where to apply the lubricant. Most operating manuals explain where to lubricate the pipette. For our models (Eppendorf Research® plus, Eppendorf Reference® 2 and Eppendorf Xplorer®), when pipettes have a nominal volume greater than 20 µl, lubricate the cylinder in the lower part and for a nominal volume less than 20 µL, lubricate the small piston directly.