I'm probably just asking for abuse.....

[crazee horse]

I recently had a shock cap pop off my much loved and beaten scx10 . When I checked it it was empty. Same as the other 3. Now I'm strictly a never clean and fix when broken guy. I never noticed any difference crawling climbing or thrashing. And this leads me to the question is oil really needed ? Yes for a truck.that jps but for normal driving ? I think not. Go on slate me.

[SCREAMER]

More than half the guys I crawl with let their shocks leak until empty and never bother refilling them. If I ran stockers, I'd let them go dry. With speeds staying below 3 mph I think it makes little difference either way.

[klabeaume]

I'd bet the majority of stock scx10 shocks are dry. They are the most leaking shocks I've seen. Now if you're out just playing and bashing with your buddies. I say you're good, but if you want to start tuning and bettering controlling your rig you'll want to fix or slow the leaks and experiment with different weight oils. You'll notice how much more predictable your rig is and how much more slow and controlled your suspension cycles.

[Rolin Roc]

I have 1 proline shock that leaks used green slime on the seals I'm going to refill it one more time see what happens this is a new build by the way.

[crazee horse]

I have a few trucks of different capabilities and personally I think going that slow you can get away with different spring weights. My quicker trucks however are useless when empty.

[fr8cture]

No oil = bouncy as hell.

[TacoCrawler]

Shock fluid is utilized for damping the weight of the chassis
and to slow that movement down.
A slo mo crawler really don't need very much IMO.

The majority of crawlers that I see...
tend to have excessively thick oil viscosity...
and bounce along like a toy.
So that's not very scale looking IMO

Granted some damping is necessary
for high speed jumping beans/racing/bashing
but not so much on a crawler.

The idea is to minimize (reduce) the oil's viscosity
and it's restriction of movement...
so that the suspension will return to it's neutral static position,
quickly, after it has been compressed or extended.
The selected oil viscosity simply delegates/controls
how fast that action occurs.

That said...
there still needs to be some lubricant
to allow the shock shaft(s) free movement inside the O-ring(s).

Sticking/binding shock shaft's/Orings will bring no joy...
and will likely not return to neutral promptly.
An oil viscosity that is too thick...
could cause similar issue.

It looks silly to see a body flopped over
and rolling along in that position for a bit...
because the oil viscosity will not allow the chassis/susp.
to return quickly to level once the suspension settles.


IMO... try it both ways...
and find out for yourself

[BoilerUp]

Run what you brung!!! Fix it when you can. If it meets your performance needs, who cares???

In all seriousness...yes oil is important. Without oil the dampening capabilities of the shock will be extremely hindered. You can run without oil but performance is very much compromised...

[TacoCrawler]

Originally Posted by BoilerUp

In all seriousness...yes oil is important.
Without oil the dampening capabilities of the shock will be extremely hindered.
You can run without oil but performance is very much compromised...

Not intended as insult... but...

...your generic BS comment explains nothing.
And is simply squawking...
" The sky is falling... and ya can't exist if it does "

" Extremely hindered - Compromised " ?
...in what way ? ...explain

Spring rate/length determines the chassis's static ride height...
the proper spring rate/length is way more critical then the oil's viscosity.
^ ( for a slo mo crawler )

The oil's viscosity need be determined by chassis weight.
Too thick of oil viscosity (valving too) slows down the suspension's response time...
way more then it needs be.

So...
too thick... and the suspension rides like a rock. (toy bounce)
too lite... and the susp. bounces more then what looks real. (bobbles)
So... at slow crawl speeds... the speed of rebound response is critical.

The idea here is to damp (control) the rebound/compression
just enough...
so that the chassis lifts or drops and returns to it's static ride height
immediately... but does not bounce up/down more then once
time during it's initial rebound.

A 1:1 crawler need be soft riding in both compression/extension...
for both the vehicle and it's occupants.
So there is a precise science when selecting what oil viscosity
and piston valving should be utilized.

Damping should be just enough so as to slow the movement slightly...
...but not too much, nor become restricting.

The goal here is to slow the suspension's movement down...
so as to not have multiple suspension bounces during a single rebound.
Not fubar the suspension's response time.

I've crawled without oil in my shocks on many occasion.
It actually works better for some circumstances.

But I will agree with on one thing...
some oil should be in the shocks
to work as an internal lubricant.

Guess you weren't around...
when the only thing available was friction shocks ??

[EeePee]

Why... are you... constantly using... ellipses?

Oil viscosity is very important in my experience. The difference between win or lose in my competition experience. Whether it matters to you or not is your choice.

[TacoCrawler]

Probably just out of bad habit, as I don't use it correctly anyways.
But it isn't any worse then the spelling/grammar seen around here.

Sorry that it bothers you. But quite honestly...
it's your dislike, not mine.
I dislike a lot of things said and done around here as well...
But I usually keep it to myself.

I didn't say that the use of oil has no value.
If the shocks are valved properly and the oil's viscosity
is the correct choice... they work together in harmony.

But if either is wrong... then they don't.

I used to compete in RC as well...
so don't think for a moment that you are the only one.
And that I was born 15 minutes ago

Just realize this...

When I first started competing in RC racing...
oil filled shocks did not exist. (nor the modern day e components)
But serious competitors still had a few tricks to teach,
even tho' they were likely converted toys.

I don't compete any longer...
simply because I choose not to.
Tho' the lack of competition hasn't made me forget what I already know.

I know how to tune my RC's suspensions
as well, my 1:1 rig.
Life has a way of teaching if ya read, listen and pay attention.


btw... the OP of this thread...
does not inquire about racing or competition that I see.
So why is it that competitive enthusiasts always feed their experiences,
rather then simply respond to what the inquiry is regarding ?

[mr.rick]

I would say if you can drive it and noticed no difference then keep driving it maybe just top them off once in awhile... I guess, much like anything else in the rc world it's all driver/builder preference. I had a buddy that liked to run lucas brand gear oil in his shocks.... I personally hated it but he liked how it drove and never had a leak. I think that it was way too thick to leak anyway but whatever. I have run 10wt oil that was so thin I wouldn't get much use out of it. I run a set of shocks now that work well for my set up and I just top them off every couple of runs. Yes they leak but not bad enough to bother me, it doesn't stop me from driving it. I drive a crawler... not a racer that needs the dampening capability. What set up you run also plays a factor, I run a droop set up so the shocks don't have much dampening in them at ride height to begin with. It works for me, shock oil is cheap so just find something that works for you and get out and enjoy the hobby.

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by klabeaume

I'd bet the majority of stock scx10 shocks are dry. They are the most leaking shocks I've seen. Now if you're out just playing and bashing with your buddies. I say you're good, but if you want to start tuning and bettering controlling your rig you'll want to fix or slow the leaks and experiment with different weight oils. You'll notice how much more predictable your rig is and how much more slow and controlled your suspension cycles.

This. I like oil in my shocks even on crawlers it makes a huge difference to me.