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Silicone is recommended as a general purpose mechanical lubricant because it's stable, environmentally friendly, and chemically inert, on top of outperforming almost every other lubricant. Pic related is from some engineering guide on plastic design. It's widely understood as safe in the manufacturing sector and has been used for decades by RC hobbyists. The only reports of damage from silicone come from people using blends with petroleum distillates or other adulterating agents. Pay attention to the labels and avoid aerosol sprays entirely. Shock Oil is a generic term used in real auto parts and scale cars, the important thing to look for is "100% silicone" in the product description or spec sheet. Hell some products like Synco Super Lube are even FDA approved food grade safe. You can buy that in 4oz bottles or up to 55 gallon drums. You'll never need more than a few drops though. You do not need to lube every toy like OP thinks. That's insane. It's a spot treatment for problem joints. In 15 years of collecting and after handling hundreds of import figures, maybe five have needed a tiny dab of oil and only one has needed a second application. Meanwhile, disassembly seems like the nuclear option. Most ham-handed /toy/ soldiers would be more likely to irreversibly damage the toy than fix it if that was their go-to solution to every tight joint.
