RC Maintenance Series-Episode 5 RC Shock Oil Weights Explained

On this episode we explain what shock oils you should be using in your RC cars and trucks, and which oils suit your style of RC'ing
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[@oldgeezer3324]

By Golly, when in doubt about any kind of performance, ask an Aussie. Well done my friend. You gave me information here I have been wondering about for quite some time. Thumbs up here. I also subscribed.

[@SouthpawBluesman]

😂🤣😂🤣 well, I'm English through and through, but thank you my friend 😁👍

[@stohelpsupport7615]

​@@SouthpawBluesman LOL Any advice on Nitro Touring cars for the track? Something like Crystal Palace? I was going to go for a 7000 weight or 5000 weight for diffs but not to sure for the shocks? Been trying to find some videos for advice but everything seems geared towards offroaders or electric touring cars but nothing for nitro and even the electric touring car advice is pretty vague?

[@SouthpawBluesman]

I would definitely use hard oils for speed racing, especially on the front, you need the heavier oils to provide responsive steering, maybe a bit softer on the rear so that you don't get too much wheel spin. It would depend on your personal setup and for the rest of the car; the weight of the car, stiffness of the chassis etc, and how heavy handed you are on the throttle, but the faster the car the heavier/harder the oil is a good basis to work from👍

[@rambleon1727]

I'm an Aussie and don't know if I should laugh or be offended!🤣😂Really helpful video - thanks👍

[@DaddyDaughterRC-sw2zb]

These are old i know but some of the best maintenance tutorials i have seen. Your explanation and video is great. Some things are still very relevant but especially in crawlers there are gearboxs/ portal diffs etc etc that confuses many out there. Would love if you did a new version if you are still into RC. There are many out there that have the experience but lack poorly in showing and teaching ability that you have in spades. 👍

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Thank you I appreciate that 🙏

[@brianvogelsong754]

Good stuff

[@atacticalrat6433]

holy shit, 3 years later this video earned you a sub, well done.

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Lol thanks very much 😁 hope it helps 😊

[@YuckFou502]

Brilliantly straight forward and informative. Good stuff! Thanks

[@SouthpawBluesman]

You're welcome my friend 😁

[@baddatfpv8803]

Gone in 60 Mah! PMSL. Made my day. Great info thanks

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it bud, thanks for the support ✌️😎

[@Nayf27]

Perfect vid, just got back into the RC world my front shocks are dryer than the sahara

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Lol not a good situation 😂 welcome to the channel my friend 😁👍👍😷

[@jessegames6714]

Thanks

[@TonysRcTechboom]

Wow great video mate , fantastic info for everyone to learn from including me lol😂 great video brother and thanks for sharing 👍😎👍

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Hey Tony, great to hear from you, so glad you enjoyed the info, hope it helps out the community. Thanks very much for the support my friend 😁👍👍

[@CKone41]

Great video mate my favourite so far in the series

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Thanks so much buddy, that is great to hear, so glad you enjoyed it 😁✌️✌️🐾

[@davesrcvideos8031]

Awesome, great info, pitched perfect, im so naughty ive never changed any of my shock oil, I only ever oil my dampeners on the GT12 maybe once every 2 months. It is surprising though the difference that can be made to the handling of the car when changing shock oils.

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Lol bad Dave, bad Dave, 😁 get that shock oil changed 😀 I was actually really surprised the difference it makes to the handling changing the weight of oil, it can really sort out dodgy handling 😎👍 thanks for watching Dave, we'll have to do a meet up when the weather gets sunny 🙄😬😁👍

[@RM-iy7xx]

Great info Southpaw, thanks for sharing

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Not a problem my friend, hope you found it useful ✌️😎🐾

[@jasonng9676]

Yes im back for another awesome video love it keep them coming and this definitely deserve the thumbs up

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Thanks for stopping by buddy, and your kind words, yep I'm planning the next episode as we speak 😀✌️✌️

[@idworkhard]

Appreciate the breakdown....I'm trail crawler type guy, so 30 weight is prolly better for me.

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Yep nice and loose for the off-road stuff 😁 thanks for watching buddy 😎

[@jd1659]

Very informative for us noobs. Thanks, Southpaw.

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Glad to help buddy 😎✌️✌️

[@kennyforgot83]

just rebuilding my trx 4 shocks as i'm not happy with them from standard and this is the only video i could find that explained the difference on the shock oils between application and gave you an understanding behind the logic of them, good vid

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Thanks very much my friend, glad it helped, let me know how your rebuild goes 😁👍👍

[@kama8880]

Thanks mate. That was super helpful 👍

[@jdquad]

Great video Steve, agree with everything you said in this video. It shocking (pun) to see how many people dont change their oil before taking their truck offroad/on road. Also love the Xmaxx pic too ;-)

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Thanks JD, yep I'm trying to find out what oil the Absima came with so I can upgrade the shocks, and a lot of basic traxxas trucks come with only 30wt in the which is too low for bashing a big truck. Always best to know what oil you're running 😁✌️

[@jdquad]

Yes always a good idea to find out matey, luckily the traxxas manuals usually tell you.

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Ah, they really do take care of you ay? Mate, just popped round to see an old friend and they gave me an esc for the Bugsta! If I can sort the motor mounts she might be running tomorrow.... 😁😁👍👍🎉🎈

[@RC1oNeTV]

What a great video my friend~!! Nice~!!👍👍👍

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Thanks buddy

[@RC1oNeTV]

@@SouthpawBluesman You're welcome my friend~!!👍👍👍

[@SejinTsume]

Thank you for the information!

[@SouthpawBluesman]

You're welcome my friend 😁

[@asadosmani]

Excellent video!!!

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Cheers matey 😎👍👍😷

[@EdenValleyAdventuresUK]

Loved your video I found it very interesting.

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Why thank you sir, I appreciate that,, just trying to help out the community 🙂✌️✌️

[@ArmourEmpire]

Well explained. Thanks mate

[@SouthpawBluesman]

No worries, glad I could help 😁👍

[@jesselopezdrones4396]

Nice bro 👍👍

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Thanks buddy 😁🐾

[@MX-CO]

What should you run on 1/10 scale 2wd car a high grip clay off road track with big jumps?

[@MyGTisxHUNTER07x]

What wight should be used for 24 scale K5 blazer 😎

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Hey buddy, I would start with 25 wt and go down from there😎👍👍

[@Jonathan-dj6ls]

What oil should I use for jato blacktop driving in shocks

[@AMAZINGRC]

Good stuff.! 👍

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Thanks very much my friend 😁👍👍

[@JUNXRCZ]

Well explained sir

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Ah thanks very much my friend 😁 glad to help 😁👍👍😷

[@MyGTisxHUNTER07x]

What about24 scale? What what should I be using (if I need to)

[@HomeDronen]

Nice info SPD!!!

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Thanks buddy, I appreciate your time my friend 👍

[@sprather84]

Great vid very informative

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Thanks man, glad to help 😎✌️✌️

[@DerTarchinPro]

Hi! I'm planning on getting back into RC. I have a modded slash 4x4 with a heavy motor and heavy 4s lipo- the car may well weigh 6-10lbs. I remember it would bottom out frequently when landing jumps from almost any height. I don't know what weight oil is in it (it's been years) but what would you recommend for a car this heavy for basic back yard bashing? (Max 4 ft drops, general grass and asphalt play)? Would 70 be too high even for a heavy car? And I haven't yet researched into springs (strength and style, like progressive)

[@SouthpawBluesman]

I would start with 50 on both and go from there, but yes you might have to go higher especially in the rear 😎 Have fun buddy 😁👍

[@samuelgentry4125]

Any suggestion on oil scale for 1/18 scale. I got a rc latrax And honestly i have no idea when i need to replace the oil for the shocks Im newer to to hobby as this technecally is my first hobby grade vehicle

[@SouthpawBluesman]

1:18 scale, for general bashing/off road stuff I would use 20wt or maybe less, if you are jumping high, I might go to 30wt, as it will stop it bottoming out on high jumps and damaging the shock mounts 😎 if you're trail running and want realistic movement go for 15 or 10wt🤙

[@ElEnanoAr]

A 1/16 jumping on a skatepark should use 25-30? I'm learning a lot with your videos, my car will arrive next week.

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Hey buddy, thanks for watching 😊 glad to help 😎 Yes skate parks can be death for RC cars in so many ways, lots of sharp angles at the edges that snap off whole wheels and their mounts, so drive carefully when you're approaching the ramps 😁 Yes I would say for a hard surface like that and the heights you might get too on jumps that 30 would be good, if it seems to bounce back up on landing, or the car isn't sinking into the landing nicely, then drop it down by 5 or 10 wt👍👍 have funa and enjoy dude!

[@ElEnanoAr]

@@SouthpawBluesman Woow! That was a fast response! Thanks for those extra tips. I've bough the cheapest decent rc car available in my country, the REMO 1621. If it breaks it will hurt, but not as much as breaking a traxxas 😁

[@thisIsRC]

Very good video man! One thing I'm trying to understand is why do a lot of people seem to recommend thicker oil in the back than in the front?

[@SouthpawBluesman]

The harder oil in the rear gives you wheel spin and a more responsive rear end, a lot of people like that , myself, I prefer a softer rear oil to provide better traction and stability, it depends what you like your car to do. Also a harder rear setting means it won't bottom out on landing from a high drop or jump, where a softer oil might mean your belly pan will hit the deck on landing when jumping. Depends if you do a lot of high jumps or not 😎👍👍

[@thisIsRC]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@bestbattle]

How do you correlate what you call "weight" to cSt?

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Hey there, well I have always used weight for oils, simply because most outlets sell the weight ranges more readily, so I went with them. I believe there's a chart you can Google that has a direct comparison of the wt Vs cst so you can see which ones are the same strength of oil 😎👍

[@gravityracergt]

What about for a No Prep Drag car? I see a lot of people recommend 60-80 wt for the rears

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Yes a higher weight would give you the extra stiffness for instant throttle transfer, 80 sounds high, but maybe it's right for a dragster. I would start with 60 and work up. Be aware that if it hits a bump with that stuff an oil the car will leave the road cos the suspension won't have time to react 👍

[@sotorc1448]

So I got a losi db pro. I have my own track. 8 ft wide. 40 second lap time. It has a quad, 3 other jumps, whoops. Not massive jumps but good size. Its hard ground but with kinda loose surface kinda dusty. It's pretty smooth but it goes by some trees so there is some roots sticking out a bit sometimes so not all perfectly smooth. Please help. I don't know what weight to use.

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Hey buddy, do sorry for the late reply, I would try 30 wt on the front and 30-40 wt on the rears, and go from there. The heavier the truck, the more wt you may need 👍 if it's too bouncy on the rear, drop the weight and try again. Clean all the old wt out before you refill 👍

[@woutervanwijk4369]

So if I understand correctly, if I want to have nice plush suspension for my 1/12 short course truck I need a lighter weight oil?

[@SouthpawBluesman]

In general, yes, if it's rebounding the wheels off the ground when it lands, it could benefit from a lighter oil weight. A 1:12 basher I would probably use 25-35 depending on the track😎👍

[@tinkukuty1232]

What about 1:14 scale? I have got a more beginner RC car wltoys 144001

[@SouthpawBluesman]

The smaller the car the lighter the weight, so 25 wt would be a good place to start experimenting 😎

[@tinkukuty1232]

@@SouthpawBluesman wow, thanks a lot! Didn't think you'd respond. That's very kind of you 🙂

[@SouthpawBluesman]

No worries buddy 😎

[@fouriejosh]

Hi. Can you give some advice on large scale 1:5 Baja car shock oil weights?

[@TheInvisibleOrange26]

Go heavy as it gets

[@SouthpawBluesman]

Pretty much as the. Comment suggested, a 1:5 needs real heavy weight oil 50wt upwards 😎🤙

[@musicman6887]

I run a 1-15 rustler xl-5 only in the winter and heavy snow packs up on the frame making it sag what kind of oil should I use? I'm considering a heavier oil than the recommanded wt30 to reduce the sagging but idk i'd like your opinion on it

[@SouthpawBluesman]

The sagging won't go away with a heavier oil my friend, you need stiffer springs, as the springs determine the ride height, check out some firm spring upgrades, traxxas do loads 😎👍👍 or if you have adjustable shocks, preload them by tightening down the dial at the top of the shock👍

[@musicman6887]

@@SouthpawBluesman ok thanks a lot!

[@mace2gorc872]

Hi, some bottles has the cst number and no weight number. So what weight is a shock oil of 400cst?

[@SouthpawBluesman]

I have no idea, just search for the weight you want rather than the cst and you'll be good. CST is the older way of identifying the oils and not really used any more 👍👍

[@mace2gorc872]

@@SouthpawBluesman thanks.

[@kermittkerrr7071]

whats the difference when an oil labels 40W for example and not 40Wt? ive got a Baja 5b and i cant decide what oils to get for rear and front

[@SouthpawBluesman]

W and Wt are the same 😎 for something the size of a Baja I would go for a firmer oil on the front and a bit softer on the rear to keep the rear from spinning up and also to prevent it bottoming out over high jumps 😎👍

[@kermittkerrr7071]

@@SouthpawBluesman i saw on a site that W refers to "Winter"

[@SouthpawBluesman]

@@kermittkerrr7071 lol I'm afraid unless you live in the depths of Canada you are unlikely to notice any difference in your shock oils at temperature, unless it's below-10C the regular oil would be fine 😎👍

[@kermittkerrr7071]

@@SouthpawBluesman or it must be oil that goes to the engines and temprature there plays a role