Oil And Grease For Shimano Reels

[chromedog]

I need to get some oil and grease to do the winter cleaning on some reels. Can you use hot sauce or reel butter products on shimano reels without doing damage? Is one better than the other?

Thanks in advance.

[nwibass]

It's not going to hurt it, all reels are basically made the same therefore most components interchange. I use "quantum" grease on my shimanos, works fine, just dont use alot or it will bog it down. Goodluck!

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

yes you can use both.

I like Hot Sauce oil, because it maintains the most consistent viscosity through a wide temperature range.

I use Cal's drag grease for all points that need grease, Typically, I'll grease the drag system, even if delivered from the factory dry.

[J Francho]

Be careful....I've heard stories of voided warranties. Why not just call Shimano, and get the right stuff? Permalub and Bantam Oil is what to ask for. 1-888-577-0600

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

Be careful....I've heard stories of voided warranties. Why not just call Shimano, and get the right stuff? Permalub and Bantam Oil is what to ask for. 1-888-577-0600

Your online sarcasm usually goes over my head, so I've got to ask, are you serious?

[J Francho]

There was absolutely ZERO sarcasm in that reply.

[0119]

Bantam discussed this over and over when this board choose to have a shimano page. Quantum hot sauce will void your warranty. It is highly not recommended by shimano. On a side note dont ever use it in a pinch on your firearms either!

[chromedog]

OK, thanx for the information. I had gotten a lot of conflicting info and wanted to make sure to use what was best for my reels. I will give shimano a call this afternoon.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Shimano's drag grease can be used for drags as well as gears. If you have already have Rem Oil, 3 in 1 or even sewing machine oil oil along with Yahmaha Blue marine or Superlube grease you can lube all but the drags. Drag washers require a specific drag grease to function properly.

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

Shimano's drag grease can be used for drags as well as gears. If you have already have Rem Oil, 3 in 1 or even sewing machine oil oil along with Yahmaha Blue marine or Superlube grease you can lube all but the drags. Drag washers require a specific drag grease to function properly.

You use that stuff for lubing bearings???

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

No. I was not not clear when I said all but the drags. The oils I listed are suitable for bearings. The grease would go on gear teeth. To service the drag you will need Cals or Shimano drag grease. FWIW Crankshaft and handle knob bearings can be grease packed if you prefer that feel. I personally do not.

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

No. I was not not clear when I said all but the drags. The oils I listed are suitable for bearings. The grease would go on gear teeth. To service the drag you will need Cals or Shimano drag grease. FWIW Crankshaft and handle knob bearings can be grease packed if you prefer that feel. I personally do not.

You don't think those oils are VERY heavy for spool bearings?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I picked this up somewhere along the way. My choice in the shop is Yellow Rocket Fuel. The suggestions above are options if you don't want or have specialty lubes.

Lube.............................Viscosity@78F (cP)

Mobil-1 0W-30 (syn)..................400

Superlube w/PTFE..................... 245

Zebco Needle Oiler.................... 206

Quicksilver Storage Seal............ 203

Abu Silicoat Reel Oil..................176

Browning Midas Gun Oil (syn)... 140

Quicksilver PS and Trim Oil........136

BSB Speed Bearing...................114

Red RF (hc)...............................93

PMI Paintball Gun Lube...............90

Power Steering Fluid................. .90

Diawa Std Needle Oiler............ ...84

Reel-X.......................................74

ATF Dextron III...........................62

Shimano Std. (hc).......................60

Yellow RF (hc)............................59

3-In-1 Oil...................................40

-

Reel Butter..................................28

Quantum Hot Sauce......................25

X+1R..........................................21

Diawa TDZ lube (syn)...................18

Diawa/Liberto Pixy Lube (syn)........18

Whale Spit (hc)............................14

Abu Black Max .............................14

WD 40........................................6

Tournament RF (hc)......................4

Friction Zero Lub (hc/syn )............4

Rem Oil (hc)................................3

Reference: DI water.....................1

-------------------------------------------

Lube....Viscosity (cP) @ .....38F...........@78F.........@ 98F (cP)

Yellow RF ........................285..............59....... .......35

3-In-1 Oil.........................161....... ......40...............20

Quantum Hot Sauce...........100..............25............... 16

[Goose52]

RemOil has an extremely low viscosity of only 3. I use RemOil on spool bearings, and use Abu Silicote (viscosity 176) on crankshaft and knob bearings and on the wormshaft. The RemOil is so thin that you need more frequent applications than some of the other standard reel lubes.

3-in-1 oil shows a viscosity of 40 at 78 degrees - but it gets real thick (160) at 38 degrees.

I have a chart of reel lube viscosities that I copied from somewhere on the web but I don't want to post here as I can't remember where I got it and whether it was copyrighted. A web search on viscosity of reel lubricants might turn up some charts on this topic...

EDIT - while I was typing - DVT posted! I think we have the same data.

[J Francho]

3-in-1 oil shows a viscosity of 40 at 78 degrees - but it gets real thick (160) at 38 degrees.

As you noted, there is much more to the picture than just viscosity specs.

[LgMouthGambler]

Whatever brand you decide to use, make sure you thoroughly clean all the old oil and grease off all the components as to avoid a chemical reaction between the old and new lubricants. Once that has been done, its more of a smooth sail from there on. Dropping the bearings in eaches own Acitone cup over night will help to ensure a thorough cleaning of the bearings. Some scrubbing of gears and such, for the removal of grease, with a toothbrush helps for a good cleaning as well. If your not sure of yourself, you could hand it over to a professional (like DVT) to make sure its done properly.Good luck, fish on!

[Goose52]

As you noted, there is much more to the picture than just viscosity specs.

You bet! I wouldn't have paid much attention to that 38 degree viscosity temp when I lived in SoFla or SoCal ... but I sure pay attention to it now! I was fishing in 33 air temps the other day and didn't notice any loss of casting distance with the RemOil - but perhaps I might have with another lube. I've fished sub-freezing with the RemOil and still been OK (the rod guides and reel line guide ice up before I have any lube problems... ).

[Hi Salenity]

I guess it's time to switch to winter oil. lol

On a side note I have an unopened new bottle of Hot Sauce oil I'd sell . I'm scared to use it after some of the stuff I've read...

[J Francho]

I use Oust Metol in sub freezing conditions.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Bantam discussed this over and over when this board choose to have a shimano page. Quantum hot sauce will void your warranty. It is highly not recommended by shimano. On a side note dont ever use it in a pinch on your firearms either!

Obviously there is a story to go along with not using on firearms. Please do tell.

[J Francho]

I guess it's time to switch to winter oil. lol

On a side note I have an unopened new bottle of Hot Sauce oil I'd sell . I'm scared to use it after some of the stuff I've read...

The oil is not nearly as obnoxious as their grease.

[Glenn]

Bantam discussed this over and over when this board choose to have a shimano page.

And then Shimano chose not to have it anymore. We didn't give them the boot.

Just wanted to make that clear.

[SirSnookalot]

Be careful....I've heard stories of voided warranties. Why not just call Shimano, and get the right stuff? Permalub and Bantam Oil is what to ask for. 1-888-577-0600

Fact, not fiction. I'm one of the people that had their warranty voided. Sent my spheros 4000 in for repair and they did void my warranty for not using their oil. I had an issue with one of my stradics, ordered a part from Shimano and when the part never showed, I called and they had no record of the order ever being placed. I avoid Shimano service, will only use them as a last result.

[Dave T.]

I need to get some oil and grease to do the winter cleaning on some reels. Can you use hot sauce or reel butter products on shimano reels without doing damage? Is one better than the other?

Thanks in advance.

I use the Shimano oil, their Permalube, and Drag Grease on all my Shimano reels. Seems to work fine. Plus, if I have a warranty issue, there won't be any questioned asked. On my non-Shimano reels, I like the Ardent Reel Butter products, and at some point will probably use it on the Shimano's when they are out of warranty.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

In the 80's there were auto manufacturers trying to force the use of a certain brand of motor oil to avoid warranty claims. I can vouch thay it is almost impossible to pin a mechanical failure on a brand of lube. A misapplication is another story. It boils down to how much you want to fight about it. A $200 reel is a different story than a $20,000 car.

A legitimate warranty claim issue should be apparent before the first service on a new reel in most cases. Fish it like you stole it right out of the box and once you're satisfied all is well, have it cleaned and lubed for max performance.