[drolston]

For the very short motion of the throwout bearing, and the very high force leverage of the clutch pedal against that movement, lubrication for ease of clutch operation is not the issue. The problem is the ability of the retraction spring to pull the throwout bearing away from the pressure plate when the clutch pedal is lifted. If it sticks and leaves the throwout bearing in contact with the pressure plate forks, the bearing will spin constantly and may wear out prematurely. Such sticking may be caused by rust forming on the snout.

I use a very light coating of lithium grease as a rust preventative. Lithium grease is preferred for its' adhesion, water resistance, and heat tolerance.