The former Shrewsbury and Chester hitman fired an astonishing number of efforts on Keiren Westwood's goal and was rewarded with his third in stoppage time with a superb free-kick.
But earlier his side, who had suffered back-to-back defeats, looked shaky in defence.
Carlisle's top-scorer Karl Hawley missed a one-on-one chance on four minutes when he allowed home keeper Ben Williams to make an easy save.
But Hawley redeemed himself on 24 minutes when he pounced on a Darren Moss mistake.
The full-back tried to clear a cross but scuffed it into Hawley's path and he fired home.
Luke Varney levelled just three minutes before the break when he shot home from Michael O'Connor's cross and Crewe went in at the break in front when Varney swept past Zigor Aranalde and whipped the ball back across the six-yard box for Lowe to fire home.
But the Cumbrians were far from out of it in an open game and Hawley missed a good chance before Peter Murphy went even closer when he grazed the bar with a header.
Crewe went further in front when Lowe produced the best finish of his three to bring Billy Jones' through ball down, flick it over a defender and volley in past Westwood.
Lowe was shooting on sight at this stage and when Westwood parried his shot in the air Varney was on hand for his second.
Lowe then wrapped it up with a fifth at the death from Lowe's magic to complete the rout.