Hmmmmm... I guess I'm hearing here some of the contradictions that have me confused. I own several Shimano Straics (great reels by the way). Shimano has, I've heard, recently started selling a grease which they say "must" be used on Stradic drags. I like the notion of working a little grease into the fiber washers and leaving the rest alone. Unless someone tells me better, that's what I'll do. Cheers.