Reel oil?

[eyedabassman]

What is a good reel oil? 

[TylerT123]

I’ve heard good things from people about Shimano’s BANTAM oil. But ask @Delaware Valley Tackle.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

For what part of the reel? Spool bearings? If so the bantam or any other light oil will work fine. One small drop at a time. Oust, rem oil even sewing machine oil will work just fine. 

[eyedabassman]

8 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

For what part of the reel? Spool bearings? If so the bantam or any other light oil will work fine. One small drop at a time. Oust, rem oil even sewing machine oil will work just fine. 

What about Lucas oil? $5.99 a bottle?

[The Bassman]

I've been using TSI 321 for a while. Cheap, lasts a long time, and lower viscosity than most give it credit for.

[OnthePotomac]

Lots of high quality bearing oil out there.  I use Yellow Rocket Fuel in spool bearings, ReelX on my worm gears and Xship bearings and drive shaft bearings and handle bearings.  I dip my pinion bearings in TSI301.  I leave the AR bearing alone unless it really needs something and then it is a touch of Yellow Rocket Fuel on a hard QTip wiped around the rollers.  This year I am going to clean and dip my drive shaft bearings in TSI301 also.

[Backroad Angler]

Rem Oil With Teflon Lubricant

[Drew03cmc]

I have Hedgehog Alchemy UL on the bench now.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

12 hours ago, eyedabassman said:

What about Lucas oil? $5.99 a bottle?

They have several different ones. Any light oil will suffice. There's no magic in any of them. In the world of lubricants a reel isn't that demanding or specialized. 

[FrankN209]

4 hours ago, Drew03cmc said:

I have Hedgehog Alchemy UL on the bench now.

Same, i have the L and UL. I also have lightning oil from Boca.

[flyingmonkie]

QUANTUM HOT SAUCE!!! SPICEY!!!

[craww]

"Good" can be subjective. You didnt respond to DVTs question about where. If youre reffering to spool bearings there are trade offs. I run rem oil in spool bearings usually.  Its a very, very light weight lube...Much more than Hot sauce, bantam oil, most if not all the rocket fuels, etc. But you need to service youre bearings more often- I'll do it every 5-6 trips but enjoy it.

A heavier viscocity oil wont be as high maintence, but theyll slow a bearing down a bit more. Which may not be a bad thing, a heavier weight got my Curado k to behave itself. It was TOO free with a drop of rem oil. 

 

Also temp plays a  big role in viscosity. A lighter oil may be better in winter if distance matters.

[iceintheveins]

Quantum Hot Sauce, Shimano Bantam, or Reel Butter Oil from Ardent.

[BobP]

Any type of oil can lubricate a bearing.  Oil viscosity can change significantly according to temperature and some oils change viscosity much more than others.  A lighter oil will be slung out of a bearing much faster than a heavier oil but it will allow a bearing to operate faster.  So you get to choose a heavier oil that will run slower but longer between oiling or a lighter oil that runs faster but has to be oiled more often.  Or you might choose a lighter oil for winter and a heavier oil for summer.  Or you can just go for something mid-range and avoid all the drama.

 

Hot Sauce is fairly light and is more resistant to temperature change than most others. But I dispise its red dye which migrates all over the inside of a reel. I like a mid-viscosity bearing oil that I can use a few times a year and expect it to keep the bearings running smoothly.  For me, Yellow Rocket Fuel or Ardent Bearing Oil fit the bill.  

[eyedabassman]

Thanks for all the input! Guys! I was all ready to pull the trigger on the Lucas reel oil but after that last poast I may learn towards the Ardent! Good info!

Where do you guys buy the teel oils yhat you mentioned?

[Deleted account]

On 3/6/2018 at 11:28 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

For what part of the reel? Spool bearings? If so the bantam or any other light oil will work fine. One small drop at a time. Oust, rem oil even sewing machine oil will work just fine. 

This ^. We sell probably 50 different bicycle lubes, and I've tried pretty much everything at one time or another. The viscosity, and proper lubing technique is more important than the actual lube it self. 

[rippin-lips]

ZPI F0 longcast - $17.99 at Tackle Trap.

 

Daiwa oem red/blue oil works well too. 

[OnthePotomac]

Just don't do what I read on another site from a young angler who reported that his grandpa just dipped his reels in kerosene and it seemed to work.

[johnD.]

I've been using corrosion block reelfast on bearings, it's really thin and fast , plus it protects.

Picked it up a rural king for $3.

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

For best results shift your focus from product to process. How you clean and oil the bearings, and the whole reel for that matter will have greater impact than the most expensive oil. 

[OnthePotomac]

There you go again DVT bursting the bubble of over thinking everything. LOL

[Shimano_1]

I've used lucas reel oil for a cple years.  Got it free at a tournament but will buy more when needed. Used quantum hot sauce for a few years with good results but hated that it made everything red. I'd agree with dvt tho, process is more important than a particular brand.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

7 hours ago, OnthePotomac said:

There you go again DVT bursting the bubble of over thinking everything. LOL

Sorry, I just can't help myself. ?