"special oil" for Diawa's?

[BassmanDan]

I bought my first Diawa reel from TW...it's a Fuego that they have had on closeout. Fished with it last week and it performed fine, especially for the price. It came with a bottle of oil but now I'm reading the manual and it says this is a special oil to only be used on the left and right spool bearings...after every trip. It also says not to use it on any other parts...and that there's a special lube for the drag washers that you get directly from Diawa.

Any of you Diawa guys know if this is the norm for their reels?... Any help is appreciated.

[Micro]

It's not normal for most reels, but it is for higher end Daiwas. The red oil is a low viscosity oil that works well on spool bearings. But because its rather thin, a single drop on each bearing after a day of use is recommended. It will preserve the long casting ability of the reel. A higher viscosity, thicker, oil, will slow the bearing down. Maybe not much, but some.

On my Abu Revos, I use the same oil on the bearings that I do on other parts of the reel. On my Daiwas, I use the red oil only on the spool bearings, and regular reel oil on other parts - as directed. My Daiwas have remained very high performing reels.

My Daiwas are the only reels I have that I actually use a different spool-bearing oil on.  For other parts of the reel, I use Abu Garcia reel oil, just like on my Revos.   

As far has the grease goes, you don't need Daiwa's special grease (even though I do).  Abu's reel grease will work well, and it's easier to find.  I use the grease on the gears only.  When I clean the drags, i make sure that are clean and dry.  If they need  grease, I apply a tiny bit to my finger tips and massage it on the drag components.  Too much and the drag won't work well.  Not enough and the drag can be a bit jumpy.  It only takes a itty bitty bit (if any) to make it smooth. 

[0119]

My local Bass Pro Shops has started carrying Daiwas bearing oil and Daiwa Blue Grease, perhaps its also available on line.   I think the Blue Grease is the grease they indicate in their paperwork as I used to have to special order it at my local tackle shop.

[RussBert]

I like the Daiwa "special oil" and now use it all my spool bearings in Daiwa, Shimano and ABU reels.

I use Cal's drag grease on the Daiwas (Fuego's) drag washers. You could use Shimano or Daiwa drag grease as well. I would recommend not mixing different types of grease though, just in case there is some funky reaction.

I cleaned the drag washers with citrus cleaner and a toothbrush, rinsed and dried throughly before applying the Cal's

[RussBert]

Also note that Daiwa "Blue Grease" in NOT drag grease. Daiwa does have specific drag grease...DG505 IIRC?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Be sure to use a grease specifically made for drag washers. I like Shimano's drag grease. There are several good brands of light oil available for the bearings, TG's Rocket Fuel, ReelX..... As stated, never mix lubes. Unless the warranty states otherwise, you don't have to use the oil sold by the reel co.

[.RM.]

Daiwa's red oil is almost the same a TG's red oil and the light viscosity is the main reason Daiwa® has changed their owners manual. The Daiwa® Space-Age Blue grease has been around for years (the 25 yrs I have been servicing Daiwa® reels). The new drag grease they came up with when Shimano® started releasing their Teflon drag pad grease for the 90's Curado's pads..

Tight Lines!!!! 

[Raul]

The oil is NOT for the drag washers, it 's for the spool supporting bearings.

[.RM.]

The oil is NOT for the drag washers, it 's for the spool supporting bearings.

Yup!

Oil for bearings!

Grease for drive gears!

Special drag grease's for drag pads only!

Tight Lines !!!   

[BassmanDan]

Thanks for all the good info!

[Paul Roberts]

Man! Almost makes me want to go buy an Ugly Stick and a pushbutton!