[defrost]

By Oxford English Dictionary literal definition, not all lubricants are fluids.

  Etiquette is a mere lubricant of the order of society. 

OED entry "lubricant" (B.noun)

  Fine music‥has a sensible effect in‥animating and as it were, lubricating my inventive faculty.

OED entry "lubricate" (2.a verb)

Lube also used for cash - greasing palms, etc.

[throwaway27448]

Using the a non-lube to lubricate is still metaphorical.

But, I just ignore the word literally and english still works just fine

[defrost]

Ignoring literally is A-Ok in my book (and forum comments) but I would point out that a "non lube" used to ease a transition, smooth an action, or remove friction is <cough>literally</cough> a lubricant (by definition and hundreds of years of common usage).