Oiling your grill grates on a regular basis is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your grill’s condition for optimal taste and performance. You'll be able to flip food more easily and create those cross-hatched grill marks that make grilled food so appealing. Not only does oiling your grates prevent food from sticking, it also protects your grates from rusting. Just a few simple steps will prevent rust from forming by protecting the metal from exposure to the corrosive combination of oxygen and moisture.