Oil bath

Luke Skywalker gives C-3PO an oil bath

"Thank the maker! This oil bath is going to feel so good. I've got such a bad case of dust contamination, I can barely move!"

―C-3PO

Oil baths, also known as lubrication baths, were a means of removing such things as dust, dirt, and various other forms of matter that collected in a droid's joints and sockets, similar to a regular water bath for Humans. Without treatment, the debris could cause the joints to become difficult to move or lock up altogether, a condition known as dust contamination.

History

"Did you hear something go 'clank' a moment ago?"
"It was probably just my rusty knee joints."
"You too? I thought I was the only one who suffered from metal fatigue."
"Maybe it's because we're exposed to the elements."

―Two B1-Series battle droids

C-3PO emerging from an oil bath.

Around 21 BBY, R2-D2 enjoyed an oil bath on Coruscant droid spa.

The Great Heep was known to provide such a cleansing, along with other pleasantries, to unassuming droids before consuming them.

Luke Skywalker treated C-3PO to an oil bath on the Lars moisture farm after his uncle Owen Lars purchased the droid from Nebit's Jawa tribe, which delighted him. Due to his memory wipe in 19 BBY, however, C-3PO was unaware that he had been similarly given an oil bath by a restless Padmé Amidala in the Lars garage when she needed a task to take her mind off Anakin's rescue of his mother. The bathing session had been much-needed, as the protocol droid had extensive amounts of sand and dirt lodged in his coverings.

Appearances

Star Wars: The Old Republic (Mentioned only) "Between A Rock And A Hard Place" — Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley Darth Plagueis (Mentioned only) Darth Plagueis audiobook (Mentioned only) "The Adjudicator Special Report: Tools of the Trade" — Knights of the Old Republic 20 (Mentioned only) Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones novelization Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones unabridged audiobook Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Evil Plans" Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Missing in Action" (Mentioned only) "Memory Loss" — Star Wars Comic 13 Star Wars: Droids: The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO — "The Pirates of Tarnoonga" Star Wars: Droids: The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO — "The Great Heep" Star Wars: A New Hope novelization (First appearance) Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope Star Wars: A Storybook R2-D2's Mission: A Little Hero's Journey Star Wars (1977) 12 (Mentioned only) Star Wars (1977) 13 "Traitor's Gambit" Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided Planet of the Mists "The Farrimmer Cafe" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 11 "Bungo n' Rusti Get Carry-Out" — Star Wars Adventure Journal 11 (Mentioned only) "Abregado-Rae Intrigue" — No Disintegrations "Trouble Brewing" — Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook "Debts to Pay" — Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Game Master's Kit The Jewel of Yavin (Mentioned only) Star Wars Missions 13: Prisoner of the Nikto Pirates Star Wars (1977) 47 (as lubrication bath) Star Wars (1977) 52 (as lube bath) Star Wars (1977) 58 (Mentioned only) (as lube bath) X-Wing Rogue Squadron Special (Mentioned only) Fate of the Jedi: Conviction Fate of the Jedi: Conviction audiobook

Sources

• The Star Wars Sourcebook (as lubrication bath)
• The Star Wars Sourcebook, Second Edition (as lubrication bath)
• Galladinium's Fantastic Technology (as lubricant bath)
• Cynabar's Fantastic Technology: Droids
• Hideouts & Strongholds
• "Droid Rights" (original article link) on Wizards.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
• Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game — Agents of Deception (Card: Oil Bath) (backup link)
•  Star Wars: The Card Game — Core Set (Card: C-3PO)
• The Droids Re-Animated, Part 2 on StarWars.com (article) (content now obsolete; backup link)
• Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Beginner Game
• Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook
• Far Horizons