Regular maintenance and oiling of wire ropes is crucial for ensuring safety and extending their service life. It effectively reduces friction between the wire strands, forms a protective film that insulates against corrosive environments, and absorbs heat generated during high-speed operation.

During the manufacturing process, ropes are lubricated. The type and amount of lubricant used depends on the rope's size, type, and intended use. If the wire rope is stored under proper conditions and during the early stages of its service life, the grease used during production will provide adequate protection for the finished rope for a reasonable period of time.

Relubrication is not always a simple task. Despite the need for professional lubrication, old lubricant, dirt, and other particles can coat the surface of the wire rope, preventing new lubricant from penetrating the interior. In these cases, it may be necessary to thoroughly clean the rope or use a high-pressure lubrication device to force new lubricant into the rope.

Regardless, if a scheduled, regular lubrication schedule is not followed, the service life of the wire rope will be shortened rapidly.

Steel wire ropes are made of a number of moving parts. For example, an 8x19 construction wire rope is formed by 152 wires that are grouped into 8 strands. Both the wires and strands are subjected to tension and bending, which cause wear between them and against sheaves.

All parts of the wire rope should be kept lubricated to avoid excessive heat due to friction. During steel wire ropes manufacturing, wires and strands are lubricated. A new manufactured wire rope contains about 1.2% by weight of lubricant.

As the wire rope in operation rises in number of cycles, it exudes lubricant to its surface. Experimentally, a steel wire rope loses about 0.12% by weight of lubricant every 100,000 cycles. Re-lubrication is necessary to work under optimal conditions and extend the life of the wire ropes and sheaves.

A periodic inspection plan must be performed. A small annual investment in lubricant saves a great expense arising from the anticipated replacement of wire ropes and sheaves.