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Dashpot oil consumption

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yon_pie_eater

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During the last month or so I have noticed an increase in the dashpot oil consumption in both of my HD8's to the point where I now check and put in around 10-15ml on every fuel fill-up. I use 20-50 engine oil. Apart from this oil consumption, the car runs as sweet as a nut. Any ideas anyone - Am I heading for a rebuild?. Thanks, Andy.
 
Hello Andy,

I suspect that you are putting too much oil in them, they don't need to be filled at all, because what happens as the piston rises it blows any excess oil out of the little breather hole in the top of the damper.
As long as the oil covers the damper piston at rest that is sufficient.

Alec
 
Hi Andy, don't know whether in France it's as hot as here in Germany (around 35 deg centigrade), but maybe the oil gets so thin with that heat that it disappears through the carbs and gets burnt.

Just an idea...
 
I think that Alec is correct as usual. The instructions say to fill the inner chamber to a little below the top of the hollow piston rod. This is the inner rod/tube that is quite a bit below the top of the carb. There is enough oil if when you insert the top cap/damper, you can feel some hydraulic resistance as the damper goes down into position. There should be a noticeable difference in resistance between inserting the damper & withdrawing it due to the one way action of the damper valve.
D
 
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