Oil bath/Legends

"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. Without treatment, the debris could cause the joints to become difficult to move or lock up altogether, a condition known as dust contamination.

History


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. Due to his memory wipe in 19 BBY, C-3PO was unaware that he had been 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.