This does not leave much space for the oil. Cleaning and oiling valves is easy and fairly inexpensive. If you do not take care of your valves, they can wear prematurely causing leakage. This leakage can cause intonation and resistance problems. If your instrument is equipped with Amado type waterkeys, be sure you lubricate them as well, with either valve oil or good key oil.
Salts occur in natural well water and spring water as well as saliva.
Certain salts dry as a white substance on the pistons and slides. These salts act as abrasives, causing the action to be retarded and are wearing away the walls of the pistons. In certain parts of the country these salts are present in the water in greater quantities than in other parts. Those players who prefer water instead of oil for new piston and rotary valves break-in, should use distilled water in these areas. All slides should work in order to tune the instrument.