Drag Washer Grease

[RuddyDuck]

What Brand of grease do you use for your drag washers? I know it has to be special drag grease and
not gear grease.

Can I use Hot Sauce grease for these?

Thanks. 

[LgMouthGambler]

Do not use a regular grease. Cals drag grease, or Shimano star drag grease. Both also work great for main and pinion gear grease.

[Mike Cork]

I use Shimano Star Drag grease, but I've heard great things from Cals.

[socal399]

Do not use a regular grease. Cals drag grease, or Shimano star drag grease. Both also work great for main and pinion gear grease.

X2!!! Can't beat Cals!!!!!!!

[cortman]

I use Cal's too. Never had a problem.

[FloridaFishinFool]

I would recommend to use only recommended drag grease because using the wrong grease can damage certain types of drag washers.

For example, Shimano has now issued a second type of drag grease for exclusive use on specific reels with a new type of drag washers. Using the wrong Shimano grease- or even alternative greases like Cal's- can cause the drag washers to come apart.

Some grease is petroleum based and can possibly dissolve some drag washers. So use only drag grease recommended for your reels. Using a petroleum grease can cause some washer materials to get sticky and gooey ruining good drag characteristics.

Also, sometimes using the wrong grease on a reel during the warranty period can void the warranty all together.

Shimano and Cal's grease have different lubricity properties, different breakdown temperature ratings, and slightly different viscosity. To this day I will only use Shimano drag grease on Shimano reels. Cal's might work, might work better, might work worse, might cause problems. I see no reason to take any chances with my reels so I just stick with trying to use the right grease on the right reels.

But to each their own... do as you choose but just be aware of certain issues that may give cause to pause...