mot advisory on my polo - light misting of oil on near shock absorber

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Recently on my car I had an advisory put on:
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)



Halford have said this is fine and nothing to worry about.
So what does this exactly mean and where is the oil coming from?










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    up vote
    2
    down vote

    favorite












    Recently on my car I had an advisory put on:
    Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)



    Halford have said this is fine and nothing to worry about.
    So what does this exactly mean and where is the oil coming from?










    share|improve this question























      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite











      Recently on my car I had an advisory put on:
      Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)



      Halford have said this is fine and nothing to worry about.
      So what does this exactly mean and where is the oil coming from?










      share|improve this question













      Recently on my car I had an advisory put on:
      Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)



      Halford have said this is fine and nothing to worry about.
      So what does this exactly mean and where is the oil coming from?







      polo






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      asked 2 hours ago









      Ageis

      208210




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          The shock absorber is a device which dampens the effect of hitting bumps and ruts in the road. Without it, you'd find the ride very bouncy as you'd be relying only on the suspension springs.



          In order to provide this dampening effect, a rod sits within a tube which can move in and out. One end is attached to the wheel assembly and the other, the body of the car. This tube is filled with oil (some performance shock absorbers may be filled with a gas insert). At the top of the tube is a seal to keep the oil within the tube. As the shock absorber gets older and more worn, this seal will become less effective and you may see a very small amount of oil drawn out by the action of the rod moving up and down.



          The light misting of oil that has been observed by your MOT tester is just evidence that a very small amount of oil may have escaped from the shock absorber. Clearly the unit is still providing effective damping so he is right to say that it isn't anything to worry about.



          When the time comes to replace your damper (which may be several years into the future), I'd strongly suggest replacing it as a pair. So replace both front shock absorbers so that you have an even damping effect across the axle.






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            1 Answer
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            1 Answer
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            active

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            up vote
            2
            down vote













            The shock absorber is a device which dampens the effect of hitting bumps and ruts in the road. Without it, you'd find the ride very bouncy as you'd be relying only on the suspension springs.



            In order to provide this dampening effect, a rod sits within a tube which can move in and out. One end is attached to the wheel assembly and the other, the body of the car. This tube is filled with oil (some performance shock absorbers may be filled with a gas insert). At the top of the tube is a seal to keep the oil within the tube. As the shock absorber gets older and more worn, this seal will become less effective and you may see a very small amount of oil drawn out by the action of the rod moving up and down.



            The light misting of oil that has been observed by your MOT tester is just evidence that a very small amount of oil may have escaped from the shock absorber. Clearly the unit is still providing effective damping so he is right to say that it isn't anything to worry about.



            When the time comes to replace your damper (which may be several years into the future), I'd strongly suggest replacing it as a pair. So replace both front shock absorbers so that you have an even damping effect across the axle.






            share|improve this answer
























              up vote
              2
              down vote













              The shock absorber is a device which dampens the effect of hitting bumps and ruts in the road. Without it, you'd find the ride very bouncy as you'd be relying only on the suspension springs.



              In order to provide this dampening effect, a rod sits within a tube which can move in and out. One end is attached to the wheel assembly and the other, the body of the car. This tube is filled with oil (some performance shock absorbers may be filled with a gas insert). At the top of the tube is a seal to keep the oil within the tube. As the shock absorber gets older and more worn, this seal will become less effective and you may see a very small amount of oil drawn out by the action of the rod moving up and down.



              The light misting of oil that has been observed by your MOT tester is just evidence that a very small amount of oil may have escaped from the shock absorber. Clearly the unit is still providing effective damping so he is right to say that it isn't anything to worry about.



              When the time comes to replace your damper (which may be several years into the future), I'd strongly suggest replacing it as a pair. So replace both front shock absorbers so that you have an even damping effect across the axle.






              share|improve this answer






















                up vote
                2
                down vote










                up vote
                2
                down vote









                The shock absorber is a device which dampens the effect of hitting bumps and ruts in the road. Without it, you'd find the ride very bouncy as you'd be relying only on the suspension springs.



                In order to provide this dampening effect, a rod sits within a tube which can move in and out. One end is attached to the wheel assembly and the other, the body of the car. This tube is filled with oil (some performance shock absorbers may be filled with a gas insert). At the top of the tube is a seal to keep the oil within the tube. As the shock absorber gets older and more worn, this seal will become less effective and you may see a very small amount of oil drawn out by the action of the rod moving up and down.



                The light misting of oil that has been observed by your MOT tester is just evidence that a very small amount of oil may have escaped from the shock absorber. Clearly the unit is still providing effective damping so he is right to say that it isn't anything to worry about.



                When the time comes to replace your damper (which may be several years into the future), I'd strongly suggest replacing it as a pair. So replace both front shock absorbers so that you have an even damping effect across the axle.






                share|improve this answer












                The shock absorber is a device which dampens the effect of hitting bumps and ruts in the road. Without it, you'd find the ride very bouncy as you'd be relying only on the suspension springs.



                In order to provide this dampening effect, a rod sits within a tube which can move in and out. One end is attached to the wheel assembly and the other, the body of the car. This tube is filled with oil (some performance shock absorbers may be filled with a gas insert). At the top of the tube is a seal to keep the oil within the tube. As the shock absorber gets older and more worn, this seal will become less effective and you may see a very small amount of oil drawn out by the action of the rod moving up and down.



                The light misting of oil that has been observed by your MOT tester is just evidence that a very small amount of oil may have escaped from the shock absorber. Clearly the unit is still providing effective damping so he is right to say that it isn't anything to worry about.



                When the time comes to replace your damper (which may be several years into the future), I'd strongly suggest replacing it as a pair. So replace both front shock absorbers so that you have an even damping effect across the axle.







                share|improve this answer












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                answered 1 hour ago









                Steve Matthews

                18.5k22967




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