Hi,

Lubricant is problem not the best solution for this problem as a cable can fray just before they break.
The Replacement Option is a good dollar spent, at the right moment and time for yourself! Otherwise it won’t work that way!
This is your warning sign!
After that, you get prized with a “I’m stupid” sign! Trust me, they are heavy to carry when you could have avoided it.

There is a lot of force used to pull on a clutch’s diaphragm of steel fingers. If you are ever down under there try pushing on that lever, then, you will know what I mean.
To top that off ... a cable is doing this from around a corner from a cozy chair.

If it was easy there should be short “hand operated” levers, like on motorcycles, down there?
There are paddles for shifting, on a steering wheels but I suspect there is help elsewhere. Electrics and hydraulics.

You might want to test pulling that lever anyway to rule out the diaphragm or the inner disc having an issue developing.
This happened on my wife on our first car that had a stick shift. She was by herself driving the car, so, I had to go to come do a rescue. Bummer for both of us.
I got there and the whole mechanism locked up. I could hardly move the clutch pedal down from the top. Later I found a shock absorbing spring had fell out of the inner friction disc.
It stuck itself in between the assembly. It had to be a rare thing but we were winners!
Just the opposite of a snapped cable.

I had to drive it home, a couple miles, shifting without a clutch and just letting up off the gas to coast the car a bit. Quickly learned rolling along with a gear and shift only purposely.
I timed the stop lights and signs to avoid starting the engine again in gear!

I have carried a spare around for years since but if needed I change them at home.

I have a sister-in-law owns an old VW bug and for her she has needed two in the last few years. I have seen framed pictures hung up on better wires! Those cars are cut to the bone to be cheap.

Oiling gums things up with dirt gritted wire and shards of liner in there already.
1982 ... it could be an original? Nah ... really ... yep, it’s possible!

You have gone to just as much work oiling that one as it takes to exchange in a new one.
Do it!

Phil