RA......Yes I have tried many many many different brands/type of lubes over the years and I have tried all the fad lubes too.
Red Rocket
Yellow Rocket
Reel Speed
Shimano
Whale and frog spit
Boca
Hot Sauce (Total JUNK)
Etc, Etc, Etc.
But the reel oil that has always proformed the best for my customers and me has been the Penn Synthetic reel oil. Its not crazy expensive and it has very good performance qualities for today reels. It just plain works for any of the higher speed bearings.
I also use the Ardent reel butter for areas that need a slightly heavier oil for things like the main shaft bearing and the level wind pawl. These are both low speed areas that work better with a heavier oil.
Grease........Grease=Gears. Yes I have tried about all of them too and like you I have come to like and use
I've had a lil tub of blue reel grease from Penn and that combo has worked really well for me.
Only I buy it by the 1pnd tub. This is a great grease and works very well.
..................................................................................................
Here is a simple chart that was posted on the interwebz many years ago that has helped a lot of people and their choice of oils
newbielink:http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/Fishface1911/media/reels/oilviscosity_zps79be4aa0.jpg.html
[nonactive]One more tip you folks using Quantum Hot Sauce..........STOP NOW!!! The crap is junk. It will gunk up your reel and bearings and turn to a hard grease like stuff that really degrades the performance of your reel and bearings.