Glitch Oil Tumble Weed

Viscosity describes how an oil is. For fishing reels, viscosity has a direct impact on operation, casting distance, component protection, and the durability of lubrication.

Basically:

• Thin oils ensure maximum smoothness and minimal friction
• Thicker oils offer more protection and better withstand heavier loads

The choice of the right viscosity therefore always depends on which component you want to lubricate and how heavily it is loaded.

Our viscosity grades at a glance

To make your choice easier, we have divided our reel oils into five viscosity grades.

Very low viscosity

Extremely thin oil for maximum performance.

Typical applications:

• Reel bearings
• BFS
• light lures

These oils reduce friction in the ball bearing to a minimum and allow a very free rotation of the reel. Especially for baitcaster tuning or finesse fishing with very light lures, an oil with very low viscosity is ideal.

Low viscosity

Light oil for fast bearings with a bit more stability.

Typical applications:

• Reel bearings
• light lures
• all-round

These oils offer a good compromise between strong casting performance and additional bearing protection.

Medium viscosity

The all-round range for many applications in the fishing reel.

Typical applications:

• all-round
• wormshaft
• line roller

The focus here is not on maximum speed, but on a smooth operation and reliable lubrication under normal load.

High viscosity

Thicker oil for components with higher loads.

Typical applications:

• gearbox
• wormshaft
• heavily loaded parts

This oil stays in place longer and offers more wear protection. It is suitable for areas where more pressure, friction, and load occur.

Very high viscosity

Very thick oil for particularly heavily stressed areas.

Typical applications:

• heavily loaded parts
• gearbox
• wormshaft

The focus here is not on speed, but on maximum protection and stable lubrication under high load.

What should you consider when choosing?

1. Component application

Fast-rotating bearings require rather thin reel oil, while more heavily loaded mechanisms benefit from a higher viscosity.

2. Fishing technique and area of use

For BFS fishing or when using light lures, especially thin oils make sense because they allow the reel to run more freely and support performance.

3. Load on the reel

The more a component is loaded, the more important lubrication with some durability becomes. In such areas, an oil with medium, high, or very high viscosity is often the better choice.

4. Less is more

For reel oil, usually a small drop per bearing or component is enough. Too much oil can reduce performance, attract dirt, and unnecessarily hinder operation.

Tip for choosing the right reel oil

If you are unsure which oil suits your fishing reel, your application, or your setup, simply refer to our viscosity filter and the respective application area on the product. This way, you will find the right reel oil for fishing reels faster, whether for reel bearings, line rollers, wormshaft, gearbox, or BFS applications.

Reel oil is mainly used in a fishing reel for fast-rotating or moving components. It ensures smooth operation, reduces friction, and protects sensitive mechanisms from wear.

Unlike reel grease, reel oil is significantly more fluid and is therefore especially suitable for parts that move quickly or need to run smoothly.

The main areas where reel oil is used are:

Spool Bearings (Baitcaster)

The spool bearings are among the most important spots for reel oil. They largely determine the casting performance of a baitcaster reel.

• a small drop of oil per bearing is sufficient
• thin oils ensure maximum spool rotation
• especially important for BFS fishing and light lures

Too much oil can even reduce casting distance, so always use sparingly.

Line Roller (Spinning Reels)

The line roller is constantly in motion and heavily stressed. A drop of reel oil ensures it runs smoothly and guides the line cleanly.

• prevents squeaking noises
• reduces wear
• ensures smooth operation

Wormshaft / Levelwind System

The wormshaft (also called the levelwind system) moves the line guide from left to right and ensures the line is evenly distributed on the spool.

When lubricating this area, the size and load of the reel are very important.

• Light baitcaster reels / BFS reels: A thin reel oil ensures particularly smooth operation.
• Medium to larger reels: Reel grease is often recommended here because the wormshaft is more heavily loaded and grease provides a more stable and durable lubrication.

Oil can make the operation a bit freer in this area, while grease offers more protection and a more stable lubrication under load.

Expert Tip from Baitcaster Tuning

Some anglers and tuners deliberately use reel oil instead of grease on the wormshaft to further reduce friction in the levelwind system.

This allows the line guide to move a bit more freely, which can enable a slightly better spool rotation and casting performance on some reels.

Although this effect is not huge, it can provide a small advantage especially when BFS fishing or using very light lures.

For more heavily loaded reels or when fishing with larger lures, however, reel grease remains the safer choice because it lubricates longer and protects better against wear.

Knobs and Handle Bearings

The bearings in crank knobs (knobs) or the handle shaft also benefit from a small drop of reel oil.

• ensures smooth crank movement
• prevents creaking or stiff operation
• improves the overall feel of the reel

Small Moving Mechanisms

Other small mechanisms can also be oiled occasionally:

• clutch mechanism
• moving levers
• small bearing points

Usually, a very small amount of oil is enough to maintain mobility.

Where Should Reel Oil Not Be Used?

Not all areas of a fishing reel should be lubricated with oil. For heavily loaded gears or gearboxes, reel grease is usually the better choice.

These include, for example:

• main gear
• gears
• heavily loaded drive parts

Reel grease provides more stable lubrication and better protection under load in these areas.

Important Tip

The basic rule for reel oil is: less is more.

Usually, a small drop is enough to optimally lubricate a bearing or component. Too much oil can attract dirt and even worsen the reel’s operation.

When maintaining a fishing reel, two different lubricants are usually used: reel oil and reel grease. Both serve different purposes and are applied to different parts of the reel.

The most important rule is:

• Reel oil for fast-rotating components
• Reel grease for heavily loaded mechanisms

When is reel oil used?

Reel oil is thin and is especially suitable for parts that move quickly or need to run as smoothly as possible.

Typical applications for reel oil are:

• Spool bearings of baitcasting reels
• Line roller on spinning reels
• Wormshaft / levelwind system on light reels
• Bearings of knobs or handles
• Small moving mechanisms

Thin reel oils reduce friction and ensure particularly smooth operation of the parts. Especially in baitcaster tuning, the right reel oil can noticeably improve casting performance.

When is reel grease used?

Reel grease is much thicker than oil and stays in place longer. It is mainly used where parts are under greater stress or more pressure is applied.

Typical applications for reel grease are:

• Main gear of the fishing reel
• Gears
• Heavily loaded mechanisms
• Wormshaft on larger reels
• Brake systems

Grease provides stable lubrication here and reliably protects the parts from wear.

Why both lubricants are important

A well-maintained fishing reel usually uses a combination of reel oil and reel grease. While oil ensures maximum smoothness, grease protects the more heavily loaded parts.

The right combination of both lubricants keeps your fishing reel durable, running smoother, and maintains its performance over many uses.

Practical tip

When it comes to reel oil, the rule is almost always: less is more. A small drop per bearing is usually enough. Too much oil can attract dirt and even reduce the reel’s performance.