Originally Posted by
ColnagoC40
Lubrication with DW40 and Tri-Flow will remove friction between nipple and spoke. Riding rough asphalt you will be back to the bike-shop soon with loose spokes.
I lube the threads with motor oil when building. I like the feel it gives me when tensioning and truing. Many, many, many thousands of miles and nary a loose spoke! Go figure!
Barring rim damage, loose spokes result from insufficient tension, not being lubed.