How to Oil a Serger: Safe Care and Maintenance
A serger runs at high speed and needs regular cleaning and lubrication, but the interval and lubrication points depend on the model and its use. Follow the manual for your specific machine rather than a generic schedule.
Before maintenance, switch off and unplug the serger, then let it cool.
Cleaning and lubrication
Open only the covers and compartments identified in the manual. Remove lint and thread trimmings with a brush without damaging the parts.
Use only the lubricant recommended by the manufacturer and apply it only at the specified points. Do not flood the mechanism with oil, and do not use kerosene, WD-40, or other products unless the manual expressly permits them for this task.
Gently blot any excess oil from the parts with a soft cloth.
Before sewing
Close the housing and remove any remaining excess oil. Sew a few test seams on scrap fabric first to make sure oil has not transferred to the thread or fabric.
If the machine is damaged, behaves unusually, or the manual is unclear, do not dismantle it further; contact a service centre or qualified technician.
Oiling a serger every 10 hours seems excessive to me. That schedule is probably more relevant to industrial sergers. I oil my home machine roughly once every month or six weeks, which is plenty for my use. I do not run it continuously—at most a couple of hours a day—because I work independently and do not have many orders.