Strut oil

[tanny]

I've researched this site but could find no consensus on adding oil to the strut housing when you put in new strut cartridges. Any opinions or facts? If oil is added, what weight and how much? KYB instructions just said to empty the oil out of the strut. Thanks, Victor.

[Bambikiller240]

Any oil would be fine. It's only there to displace air so that heat build-up in the cartridge will transfer to the metal strut housing quicker, and to keep the cartridge from rusting to the tube. Add only enough so that it does not spill out the top of the strut housing when cartridge is in place and the housing is installed in the car. A few ounces will do it. Some folks claim that anti-freeze will work just as well as the oil, but I've never used it.

[TKR514]

Yea, I heard that oil was not realy "needed", but I used some motor oil to fill em up a few weeks ago when I was re-assembling my struts. My idea was that it never hurt to put it in there and cost nothing to add it.... so I added it like my service manual said to do.

I would NOT dissasemble the struts just to add oil....

[Victor Laury]

The oil is needed. It creates a thermal connection between the strut-tube and the strut cartridge. Without the oil, the strut cooks in it's own heat. I have a quart of 10 weight I use for SU dampeners and stuff like this.

[tanny]

Thanks guys. I'll stick some in. Victor.

[TKR514]

Since NO OTHER car that I know of adds oil to their struts for "thermal protection", I can assume that it will work just fine without it. Maybe this was an old "trick" to prolong the life in early struts back in the late 60's when they were "new" and built from poor materials?

Since new manufactures do not recommend it AND that the Z suspension is not special, New struts will last as long regardless of oil or not. Personally I don't really care since I have a lifetime warranty on my set ;-)

[tanny]

Now you've gone and put doubts in my pea brain. I think I'll send a question to KYB Corp. support.

[2ManyZs]

There are 3 reasons to put a little oil in the strut housing.....

1. It does to serve as a heat sink in a small way.

2. It prevents the bottom of the strut cartridge rusting fast to the inside of the strut housing as water can and will find it's way into the strut housing over time.

3. It serves to work as a cushion for the strut cartridge inside the housing. Some of the aftermarket cartridges are a bit loose when installed in the strut housing and can move around inside the housing. I have seen a strut cartridge that were an "el-cheapo" replacement that had so much empty space around the body of the cartridge that the bottom of the strut cartridge moved and the piston actually seized in place due to the fact it was wearing a slot in the gland nut.

Remember, the Z's were not delivered with sealed strut cartridges.

[Bambikiller240]

If you drive you car like an old lady and never give the strut catridges a "hardcore workout" you probably wouldn't "need" to add the oil. On the other hand, if you drive your car hard occasionally, I believe that you do risk overheating the cartridges, and perhaps causing some damage.

For the MINIMAL expense and MINOR hassle of adding a few ounces of oil to the strut tubes, I'd just do it and not waste my energy worrying whether it's "necessary" or not. You'll probably only know for sure if it was necessary if/when you have to purchase and replace blown out cartridges.

Why take chances? Adding oil has been done by almost everyone who does this job and no one complains about it causing any problems. Of course, it's your money and your labor.

I know what I'd do. ( I did and will continue to do so.)

Carl

[TKR514]

Arg, just superstitions.

I'd like to hear what KYB says since they know shocks.

[Bambikiller240]

Let's get out the Ouija board and ask John Denver!

Notice that the only one telling you it's not needed, DIDN'T follow his own belief and DID add oil to his struts. However he encourages you to test HIS belief on YOUR car.:stupid:

[tanny]

Yeah, I am suffering from the very thing I rail against, OCD(obsessive/compulsive disorder). The crappy little devil that tells you you'd better do it RIGHT or you'll REGRET it some day 10,000 years in the future. I do like the Ouija board reference. I don't know if I'd ask Johnny though, he was way more of a risk taker than me and look where he is. Let's see, he had a ton of money, all the women loved him and his hokey songs, was able to play with lots of toys. Maybe I'd better contact him. Unfortunately, most times it takes forever to get an answer to an email to a corp. unless you're going to buy something, so I'm not going to wait for an answer from KYB. I will post what they say though if I do get an answer. I'll just have to make this life changing decision on my own. To oil, or not to oil? Thanks for the opinions and unfortunately I can see the logic on both sides of this one. Victor.