maineman

I will be replacing my front struts on my 93 90s fwd this weekend .Do I need to add oil to the strut housing for heat transfer ? If so how much? My ebahn cd says to dump out the old oil if any but doesn't mention putting any back.
Thanks in advance

dtompsett

Well, if you had scrolled down a whopping 5 posts... you would see this has already been answered (mostly) by me...

https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...php?p=23771918


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What kind of struts are you putting in there?

I've heard of people using oil, antifreeze, or nothing at all. Last couple times I've done a non-bilstein, I've use nothing at all. Oil or antifreeze will prevent corrosion and help transfer heat out to the strut body.

If you're putting Bilsteins in, you put nothing at all, since it's an inverted strut... when you install a bilstein, you actually need to drill a small hole in the bottom of your strut housing to allow any water to drain out. Ask me how I know.

Recently pulled a front strut with a bilstein in there... it was full of water. Drilled the other 3 strut bodies with them still on the car... all three had water in them. The wiper seal that is in the Bilstein cap still lets water past.

That issue was discussed last week on the quattroworld forums.

maineman

SORRY I didn't scroll down ......... I don't see an answer in there.

Is there an answer in there somewhere ????? Drill holes in my strut cases is your answer???

dtompsett

The answer is... it depends on the type of strut inserts you're putting in.

If it's a bilstein insert (inverted style strut), then don't put any fluid inside the strut body, and drill a small (1/4") hole in the very bottom of the strut body to allow water to drain out.

If it's a 'normal' strut (kyb, cofap, etc)... then don't drill a hole. Fill with your choice of oil, antifreeze, or nothing at all. Type of oil/antifreeze doesn't matter, unless you're trying to achieve the ultimate level of heat transfer... at which point you're working your struts too hard for their designed application.

I'd probably put oil in.

Then again, the last time I did a standard style strut insert, I didn't put any oil in... and it was fine when I swapped out to my bilstein/coilover setup.

maineman

I'm installing kyb's .I'll measure what comes out and install the same amount.
Thanks

Midniteoyl

Little late, but KYB states on their site that you DO NOT put in oil.

maineman

Yea, No oil went in on the exchange.