What are the symptoms of shock absorber oil leakage in a car?
3 Answers
Oil leakage in car shock absorbers can cause symptoms such as bumpy rides and shock absorption failure. As one of the most vulnerable components during vehicle use, the performance of shock absorbers directly affects the smoothness of driving and the lifespan of other mechanical parts. Here are methods to check whether the shock absorber is functioning properly: 1. After driving the car for 10 kilometers on rough road conditions, stop and touch the shock absorber housing with your hand. If it's not hot enough, it indicates there's no internal resistance in the shock absorber, meaning it's not working. At this point, you can add appropriate lubricating oil and test again. If the housing becomes hot, it means there's insufficient oil inside the shock absorber; otherwise, it indicates the shock absorber has failed. 2. Press down hard on the bumper and then release it. If the car bounces 2-3 times, it shows the shock absorber is working well. 3. When performing an emergency brake during slow driving, if the car vibrates violently, it indicates there's a problem with the shock absorber.
Last time I was driving, I noticed the car was especially bumpy over speed bumps. After checking, it turned out the shock absorbers were leaking oil. The most obvious feeling was that the car's vibrations became very noticeable, and even small potholes made it sway like a boat. If I took turns too fast, the body roll was particularly severe, making me feel uneasy. When braking, the front end dipped noticeably, and traction was significantly worse in the rain. During one maintenance check, I saw the shock absorber covered in black, greasy dirt, and the mechanic said it was a sign of oil leakage. If not addressed in time, the tires would wear unevenly, and eventually, even the steering system would suffer. Don't ignore such problems—replace the shocks early for safety.
I just experienced this last week. After the shock absorber started leaking oil, I could immediately feel the difference while driving. The most noticeable change was the loud, hard 'thudding' noise from the chassis when driving on rough roads, like metal blocks hitting the ground directly. On smooth roads, the car body swayed significantly, and passengers in the back kept complaining about motion sickness. When turning, the car felt like it was drifting outward, and lane changes at high speeds also felt unstable. After parking, I crouched down to check the shock absorber and saw the cylinder body covered in oily residue and dust. The mechanic said oil leakage would reduce damping effectiveness and drastically decrease handling performance. Now I don't dare to drive over 80 km/h, and I have to be extra careful in rainy weather. This kind of problem needs to be fixed as soon as it's discovered, otherwise, uneven tire wear will lead to additional costs for tire replacement.
