i just pulled it apart and it is nearly 100% full of grease from the factory. the grease they use is defiantly the cause of all the drag, but it looks like really nice super high pressure grease. i cleaned out what i could by paper towel but did not use break cleaner on it. then i filled it with the marine grease ive got. maybe it will spool a little faster but the stock grease is best for the winch id say. if you search it looks like we have t-max style gear sets so inherently they will spool a little tougher then other winches since the gears are all moving during free spool