Hardened steel pinions

[RC-Monster Mike]

The newer pinions are made from superior material ( your pinion is the same material as most nitro spurs, which is fine, but the new material is stronger and much more wear resistant to begin with). Even the older one that you have hold up extremely well, and I haven't gotten any of these back, either. The new gears are superior, though. And we have 10t all the way to 25t, so you can almost surely find the one you need.

Regarding the "order of operations" - yes, in the future your order is correct, but based on the picture, I would clean it, oil it and then run it.
For future uses, the run, clean and then oil it "order" may apply, though. :)