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Official Q&A: VEX V5 Robotics Competition 2025-2026: Push Back
2990: Clarification on whether the presence of factory-applied lubricant in a new V5 Smart Motor cartridge under <R17> affects the interpretation of <R20b>
When motor cartridges are purchased from the VEX Robotics website, they contained oil (see photo). As the cartridges are used, the oil wears out making new cartridges perform better than used ones.
<R17> Robots are built from the VEX V5 system. Robots may be built ONLY using official VEX V5 components, unless otherwise specifically noted within these rules. Product pages on the VEX Robotics website should be used as the official definitive source for determining if a product is a “V5 component.”
<R20b> Any non-aerosol-based grease or lubricating compound, when used in extreme moderation on surfaces and locations that do NOT contact the playing Field walls, foam Field tiles, Blocks, or other Robots. Grease or lubricant applied directly to V5 Smart Motors or Smart Motor cartridges is prohibited.
Given that new V5 Smart Motor cartridges come pre-lubricated from the factory. Per R17, does this make lubricated cartridges legal and does this have precedence over the conflicting rule R20b which prohibits lubricating them? Is it legal for teams to restore them to their factory state?
Thank you for your time to consider this clarification.
![[Example Image]](https://events.vex.com/storage/markdown/uploads/tVPTHqz96ae3E6Vlvp3nIRbYL0jkfkKd1x93Jws4.png)
Grease or lubricant applied directly to V5 Smart Motors or Smart Motor Cartridges is prohibited. This is not superseded by the fact that motor cartridges contain grease when purchased new, and is intended to prevent Teams from applying their own lubricants to the motor cartridges.