What brand oil and lube do you trust?

[Bream Master]

I'm thinking about getting Abu Garcia Reel Oil and Quantum Hot Sauce lube for my reels.  You guys have any experiene with either?  Do any of these seem to collect residue and small dirt particules? Like/Dislike?

Also, on a side note, I was at a local tackle shop and the guy said I should OIL the worm gear (the peice of metal that the line guide eye moves across to lay your line across that spool on BCs).  I've read some posts and some of you guys say LUBE, not oil.  So, which is it? Lube or oil?

This will be my first time oiling and lubing my reels and I've read some articles and went to ReelMech's page but some of the terminology is different and I just didn't want to mess anything up.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers.

[ABC123]

Lube is short for lubricate, lubrication, lubricant. A word used to describe a substance that helps to reduce friction and/or wear.

The two lubricants used on a reel are grease and oil.

Oil bearings, worm gear ( the gear for the line guide you are asking about), and the shaft for the crank.

Grease gears, bushings, and pinions.

I use Abu grease and oil...works just fine.

[Jeff H]

Would Vaseline be as ok as a reel grease?  Whatever crap they put in them from the factory is not very good stuff, I know that.  That stuff is like wax.

[burleytog]

Mobil 1 and Astroglide.  

[Jimzee]

Mobil 1 and Astroglide.

LOL!!!

[Bream Master]

Mobil 1 and Astroglide.

I don't wanna waste my astroglide!  Hahahahahaa.

[Bream Master]

Hey Mech,

Do you recommend WD-40 for any cleaning on gears, etc? How about leaving it on as lub?

Thanks.

[Sam]

Hey Burley,

So you recommend Astroglide over K-Y??????

Does K-Y get your rod and reel too sticky?

Can you heat up K-Y like you do Astroglide before you apply it to your rod and reel?

Just curious what you do in the mountains of Virginia.

[Micro]

Pheglm is pretty slick.

[FishTank]

For the most part I use what reel comes with, with exception of Hot Sauce.  I bought some of this with my Energy Pti-a  spinning reels and it leaves a plastic like residue behind.  I have started to use Shimano's reel oil instead.

[idiot1]

I just use the stuff that came with my Shimano reels. Works fine for me.

[Raul]

Would Vaseline be as ok as a reel grease? Whatever crap they put in them from the factory is not very good stuff, I know that. That stuff is like wax.

Most definately NOT.

Hey Mech,

Do you recommend WD-40 for any cleaning on gears, etc? How about leaving it on as lub?

Thanks.

Well I ain 't David but he 's going to say the same, NO, WD-40 is an excellent solvent hardly a lubricant and not a very good one for long term use, yes your reel will feel silky smooth immediately, 3 weeks later there 's no WD-40 left to lubricate anything.

Once again:

Good quality low viscosity oil in spool supporting bearins, worm gear should be oiled with a higher viscosity oil and grase for the gearing and any place that has friction.

[Guest avid]

Mobil 1 and Astroglide.  

After many many MANY years of hard reel n rod handling. I find it difficult to argue with the aforementioned recommendation.

Especially when the gears are young and tight.

However as the crank ages one will notice that the worm gear no longer slides into the pawl with the ease and certainly of those tender years.

Yet all is not lost.  Simply turn the reel over and locate the small pucker/pawl hole Reelmech spoke of.

Apply liberal amounts of preparation H.

It works wonders for the chafing so often noted in older models.     8-)

[Bream Master]

Avid,

That is hilarious!! ;D ;D

[michbass]

Mobil 1 and Astroglide.  

After many many MANY years of hard reel n rod handling. I find it difficult to argue with the aforementioned recommendation.

Especially when the gears are young and tight.

However as the crank ages one will notice that the worm gear no longer slides into the pawl with the ease and certainly of those tender years.

Yet all is not lost.  Simply turn the reel over and locate the small pucker/pawl hole Reelmech spoke of.

Apply liberal amounts of preparation H.

It works wonders for the chafing so often noted in older models.     8-)

 Sure is alot of astroglide talk going on. It your set up is smooooooth like myself it never needs a lubricate.  

[lubina]

Shimano grease and oil work OK for me. I like TG Rocket Fuel for the spool support bearings. I don't like Hot Sauce. Daiwa oil is pretty good. Abu lube products have a good reputation and are cheap.

I read from some reel mechanics about greasing the worm shaft. Personally I don't put grease in any parts exposed to the environment.

[mayassa]

I picked up some penn oil last night ran out of the shimano,  I use grease with Teflon in it I think its made for paintball

[Infidel.]

I like the Hot Sauce oil for Bearings and Ardent Reel Butter Grease for the rest.

[roadwarrior]

Com'on David...

It's news for guys that haven't asked this question.

[.RM.]

While there are tons of different lubrications out there....

I trust Shimano Drag Grease, and my oil and grease. The oil is from the same manufacturer that bottles Shimano' bearing oil. The grease is a Gold Lithium based gear grease whose viscosity never changes in hot or cold climates, and changes colors to deep gold when time for change.

RW,

Com'on David...

It's news for guys that haven't asked this question.

Yea what question would that be.....   :-?

[.ghoti.]

Glad this came up. I intended to post about this, and forgot.

I've been using Daiwa oil. I have several tubes of it; enough to last for a few more years. And I've been using el cheapo Zebco grease. The stuff that comes in a small accordian looking tube. I also bought Hot Sauce oil and grease for the PT reels that I own.

I was out of the cheap grease, and while at BPS I picked up some Reel Butter grease, and decided what the heck, and got the oil too. Took it home and promptly forgot I had it.

On my last trip to Trophy Country, ( I need to put up a post about that trip; it was awesome ) all my most used reels sat out in the rain all one day, and part of the next. I decided to clean and re-lube after their soaking, and remembered the Reel Butter.

I don't know if the Reel Butter oil is any better than the Daiwa or Hot Sauce oils. No real difference in casting. I can't feel any difference, and there hasn't been enough use on the reels to tell about longevity. But the grease; wow. The Reel Butter grease is so much better than what I've been using that it's hard to believe. Every reel I've used this in has turned out much smoother than before. My Millionaire reels are much smoother cranking. The Johnny Morris reel is much smoother cranking.  And yes, even the PT reels that used to have Hot Sauce in them are smoother, just not as much difference.

That little tube of grease was, I think about 8 bucks. A little pricy, but it should last quite a while. A little goes a long way.

I'm impressed with the grease. Check it out, you may be also.

Cheers,

GK

[roadwarrior]

While there are tons of different lubrications out there....

I trust Shimano Drag Grease, and my oil and grease. The oil is from the same manufacturer that bottles Shimano' bearing oil. The grease is a Gold Lithium based gear grease whose viscosity never changes in hot or cold climates, and changes colors to deep gold when time for change.

RW,

Com'on David...

It's news for guys that haven't asked this question.

Yea what question would that be..... :-?

I guess, all of them?   :

And thank you for your response. Most of us HIGHLY respect your input, especially dealing with reel maintainance.

[.RM.]

roadwarrior,

I guess, all of them?  

And thank you for your response.

The way this thread went I saw no reel reason to respond (Phlegm, Astroglide, K-Y, Mobil 1, Vaseline, preparation H, W-D40).

[roadwarrior]

I'm thinking about getting Abu Garcia Reel Oil and Quantum Hot Sauce lube for my reels. You guys have any experiene with either? Do any of these seem to collect residue and small dirt particules? Like/Dislike?

Also, on a side note, I was at a local tackle shop and the guy said I should OIL the worm gear (the peice of metal that the line guide eye moves across to lay your line across that spool on BCs). I've read some posts and some of you guys say LUBE, not oil. So, which is it? Lube or oil?

This will be my first time oiling and lubing my reels and I've read some articles and went to ReelMech's page but some of the terminology is different and I just didn't want to mess anything up.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers.

I see your point, but thanks for answering the original question.