Matt Koch wrote:
You are correct in your assumption that the toilet has never been
lubricated. I'm embarassed to ask but how do you go about lubrucating
a toilet?

Many people just wait till the toilet starts to squeak and become hard
to pump, then pour some mineral oil or vegetable oil down it. That’s ok
in an emergency, till you can get home and do it right, but it’s not the
way to maintain the toilet. Not only is this very hard on the toilet,
but it’s a never-ending job because anything thin enough to be poured
down the toilet is also so thin that it washes out in just a few flushes.

Why is it hard on the toilet? Because a toilet doesn’t squeak unless it
needs lubrication; that squeaking is the sound of seals rubbing against
the inside of the housing, being worn away. Waiting till it squeaks to
lubricate it is like waiting till an engine starts to smoke to add oil.

Ever wondered why a new toilet doesn’t need any lubrication for at least
a year? It’s because every toilet leaves the factory slathered with
thick synthetic Teflon grease that takes a full season or more to be
flushed out. Replacing it just once a year is all it takes to keep a
toilet pumping smoothly. And it’s only a 15 minute job—just open up the
top of the pump and put a healthy squirt of it into it…pump the toilet a
few times to get it all through the pump, and you’re “good to go” for
the entire season. And, by keeping the pump lubricated this way, you
extend the life of the seals and valves, reducing the need for rebuilds.

The best time to lubricate a toilet is in the fall, as part of
winterizing. The Teflon grease protects the rubber parts in the toilet
from drying out, which also extends their life.

I think you'll find the link in my signature useful.

--
Peggie
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Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://69.20.93.241/store/customer/p...40&cat=&page=1