When did you last undertake maintenance for your fishing reels? How frequently should you clean and grease your fishing reels? what type of grease for fishing reel you should use? Are you sure you did it properly? what to use to lubricate fishing reel? If you have been wondering about these and more questions, you are at the right place.
The condition of fishing reels is crucial to your fishing experience.
It is a component with moving parts, so every little maintenance you can get in goes a long way in preventing damage and poor performance.
This guide seeks to answer the most vital questions on taking care of your fishing reels.
There are instructions to follow when lubricating spinning reels and the kind of fishing grease and oil to use, among other things. We also give you tips on how to pick the right fishing reel oil and grease depending on your reel ad drag washers.
If you are in A hurry! check the below Best grease for fishing reels review & top picks
Quick Comparison
How Often Do You Clean Your Reels?
The first step before lubricating is cleaning the reels. How often you clean the reels comes down to the kind of water you fish in and how often you do it. If you fish in saltwater, you have no option but to clean your reel after every trip.
Even when you are using a saltwater fishing reel, you should clean it up once you are back from fishing.
If you fish in freshwater, you have more room and may have to clean once after every five trips.
The reason for this is the harm saltwater has on your reels. It is more corrosive on different parts of the reel and affects the ball bearings too. If you leave the salt water to create a residue, it also causes the reel to lose smoothness and consistency.
Can you use any grease on fishing reels?
No, you cannot use any grease for your fishing reels. First, do not use silicone-based grease. silicone grease for fishing reels, while being excellent for highly corrosive environments, lacks the film strength of a lubricating grease suitable for fishing reels.
It is also not wise to invest in TFE-fortified grease. They are expensive without offering any extra advantage and instead can cause gumming complications.
You should not mix different greases since it will have a negative effect as they will react and harden up while corroding the metal. Wherever possible, it is a good idea to use the grease a fishing reel came with.
What is the Best Grease for Fishing Reels?
What grease for fishing reel is the best? Grease consists of oil and soap. The oil is what does the lubricating while the soap keeps the oil in position. When picking the right grease, consider the environment the grease will be working in and observe the following factors;
- Excellent lubricating properties. With the oil in the grease being responsible for lubrication, the best grease will have a soap that can hold more oil percentage per ml of grease.
- It should have low oil and soap separation rates; otherwise, the grease will bleed out, leaving the soil sitting without use and thus hardening. Old lithium greases had this problem.
- Consider the viscosity. Lighter grease will easily travel to all components and can get into hard-to-reach areas. Gears, on the other hand, need heavier grease, which requires infrequent replacement.
- The grease should also have excellent corrosion-inhibiting properties, especially if you are fishing in saltwater. Synthetic greases are excellent in preventing rust.
- The grease should have excellent water-resistant abilities. While all greases have a level of water resistance, the best one can stay in place longer, protecting your reel.
- Thermal stability is essential, primarily if you work in cold environments. Greases with excellent thermal stability will stay liquefied and facilitate the smooth running of your reels.
- You may also have to choose the color of the grease. It does not impact performance, but some prefer to have bright-colored grease to indicate where they have already applied grease. Others prefer clear greases since they do not stain clothes.
10 Best Grease for Fishing Reels Review
- COMBO | This Fishing Reel Oil and Grease Kit Includes a 1 oz....
- NEEDLE OILER | Precisely Delivers Fishing Reel Oil, Perfect for...
- PUMP SPRAYER | Ensures Full Coverage for Comprehensive Fishing...
- FISHING REEL GREASE | Provides Accurate Application of Reel...
- Longer Reel Life: Oil effectively curbs bearing wear, promising...
- Silent & Steady: Grease ensures reduced operational noise and...
- This kit has good waterproof and anti-rust effect on fishing reel
- Suitable for spinning reel, low-profile reel
- 3 IN 1 | Cleaner, lubricant, and rust preventative all in one!...
- DO NO HARM | Safe for fishing line, foam/cork handles, and all...
- ALL CONDITIONS | Repels debris and stays slick without getting...
- ALL-AMERICAN BRAND | Veteran Founded & Veteran Owned, Clenzoil...
- The SEASIR Reel Oil comes with One-drop design and allows you to...
- Multi-use: The SEASIR Fishing Reel oil Grease could be used in...
- Lasting Protection: The SEASIR Fishing Reel Oil makes the bearing...
- Pocket Design: The SEASIR Reel Oil Grease is easy to store, can...
- Top-notch Lubricant: ReelX is a hi-tech, extreme-pressure...
- Advanced Grease: ReelX Grease is a synthetic, extreme-pressure...
- Precision Applicator Tips: Kit includes 1 each of ReelX 1 oz....
- Improved Reel Performance: This ultimate reel lube kit is perfect...
- LONG-LASTING PROTECTION - Easily penetrates into tight spaces,...
- WIDELY APPLICABLE - Universal clear lubricant for all freshwater...
- EASY TO CARRY - Small size design, easy to store in a small...
- PREMIUM LIGHT FISHING REEL OIL - High-quality fishing reel oils...
- 3 IN 1 | Marine grade cleaner, lubricant and rust protection!...
- DO NO HARM | Safe on all fishing line, electrical contacts, and...
- ALL CONDITIONS | Repels debris and will not get "gummy" or...
- ALL-AMERICAN BRAND | Veteran Founded & Veteran Owned, Clenzoil is...
- The oil can decrease the abrasion of bearing to lengthen the...
- The grease can lubricating gears and linings to reduce noise and...
- This kit has good waterproof and anti-rust effect on fishing...
- Suitable for spinning reel, low-profile reel.
- 3 IN 1 | Cleaner, lubricant, and rust preventative in one! Make...
- DO NO HARM | will not damage fishing line, foam/cork handles, or...
- ALL CONDITIONS | repels debris and will not get "gummy" Or...
- ALL-AMERICAN BRAND | Veteran Founded & Veteran Owned, Clenzoil is...
- 【Enhanced Reel Lifespan】The application of oil on bearings...
- 【Noise and Shock Reduction】By using fishing reel grease and...
- 【Superior Waterproof】This fishing reel repair tool kit offers...
- 【Versatile Compatibility】Designed to accommodate spinning...
How to Grease a Fishing Reel?
How to oil a fishing reel? Greasing a fishing reel is a straightforward process. You only need screwdrivers, a penknife, and pliers. Follow these steps.
1. Remove the line spool from the reel since certain lubricants may damage the monofilament.
2. Follow the instructions in your user manual to disassemble the reel. You can disassemble most reels by removing the reel cover followed by the crank using anti-clockwise turns.
3. Apply the fishing reel lubricants “best reel oil” in small droplets from the gear drag mechanism to the ball bearings and crank assembly. Little is more when it comes to greasing reels.
4. Reassemble the reel following a reversed order of how you did the initial disassembly.
5. Attach the spool line back and then test for the fluidity of the movement.
Should You Grease Drag Washers?
The general wisdom has been to leave drag washers dry for fear of damaging them. Presently though, that is not a blanket rule.
There are several drag washers that manufacturers have designed to work with grease or oil. So currently, the answer on whether to lube or not depends on the make of drag washers.
Generally, though, leave all non-carbon washers should dry unless their kit states differently. As for carbon kits, there are few products in the market that are specialized in carbon kits. Be careful not to use grease where the instructions call for oil.
Fishing Reel Lubricant Alternatives
In several sections and even usual talk, you will hear of fishing reel lubricant alternatives. These are basically substances you can use in place of specifically formulated grease for reels.
This fishing reel lube includes WD40, 3-in-1 oil, common machine oils, and even petroleum jelly. All these alternatives are nothing beyond last resort options.
This best lube for fishing reels offers minimal protection and does not have the characteristics of greases tailored for use in fishing conditions. Continuous use will only cause irreversible damage to your fishing reels.
Best Fishing Reel Grease and Oil in 2023
So, what fishing reel grease should you be going for? Here is an overview of the best reel grease & best oil for fishing reels in the market.
· Shimano reel grease
Shimano reel grease is one of the premium names in the reel grease niche. The brand has several products, including both oils and greases and suiting different kinds of open-face fishing reels.
The best reel grease is the Shimano Dura-Ace reel grease. It has the right viscosity to sick in place but is easy to apply.
This fishing reel oil and grease offers waterproofing properties to your reel parts while preventing build-up or rust and corrosion.
The Shimano grease comes with a thin finish, which is convenient for the smooth running of the reel. It is available in different sizes and works with most fishing reels, even saltwater ones. The only letdown for this best reel oil may be its price.
· Penn Fishing Reel Grease
The Penn fishing reel grease is another reputable brand, and it comes in a generous one-pound bottle.
Its formula allows it to be both a fishing reel lubricant and a corrosion inhibitor. It is resistant to water, rust, and dirt and offers protection against wearing.
You can use the Penn grease fishing reel lube on all parts of the reel, including the principal and crank gears and bushings. This best fishing reel grease and oil also has a high load-carrying capacity while having high thermal and oxidation resistance.
· Daiwa Reel Grease
Daiwa Reel Grease offers an excellent way to protect the various parts of your reels on a budget.
You can use it on most parts of the reel, including bearings, washers, and gears. It comes in a compact-size applicator that can fit a fishing kit easily.
It also has a narrow nozzle for easy application.
The grease itself has excellent thermal stability that allows it to work in all climates. It will not thicken in the cold or bleed in hot temperatures. It offers noise reduction, and it is impervious to corrosion.
The fishing reel lubricant serves both salt and freshwater fishing reels.
· Lithium Grease for fishing reels
Several guides warn against using lithium grease mainly because lithium is a thickener, and this kind of grease and fishing reel lubricants can solidify, affecting the moving parts of the reel.
However, if you go for white lithium grease, especially those meant for fishing reels, there are several advantages.
In this case, you want white lithium grease from a tube, or a container, not in an aerosol or spray can. The latter options contain acetone or aerosol, which is harmful to your reel.
The tube white lithium top grease for fishing reels offers the same advantages as most premium reel greases. It has the advantage of providing better protection against oxidization, especially in salty waters.
It has a low separation rate sticking where you apply it. It is, however, not suitable for spool bearings as it will slow the free spooling.
· Fishing reel grease Vaseline
Reel grease Vaseline is quite a contentious topic among most fishermen who have different experiences. Whether or not to use Vaseline as grease is answered by its characteristics. It is quite thick yet has a low thermal resistance.
It does not offer protection against salt, and it will quickly melt when in outdoor use. Vaseline, like other reel grease alternatives, should only be used as a last option.
However, Vaseline works well if you plan to store your reel indoors for a long time. It will preserve the reel parts in good soft conditions. It is also a good option for drag washers keeping them soft and pliable.
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