RC Shock Oil Guide: Baselines by Class + Weight Chart

Picking shock oil feels confusing at first. Your manual doesn't explain weights, and forums give conflicting advice.

But one thing you must know is use 350–450 cSt front / 300–400 cSt rear for most 1/10 4WD buggies; adjust ±50 cSt per grip step.

To learn other things like shock oil weight selection by car class and track conditions to help you tune your suspension for the best performance, keep reading.

What Is RC Shock Oil & How Does It Work?

Shock oil is pure silicone fluid that controls suspension damping, which means how fast your shocks compress (pack) and extend (rebound). Thicker oil slows everything down for stability and precision. Softer oil speeds up response for mechanical grip.

The right weight balances jump control with cornering traction. Your choice depends on vehicle weight, piston hole count, spring rates, and driving surface. Oil thickness is measured in cSt (centistokes) or WT (weight). Higher numbers mean thicker fluid.

cSt vs WT Conversion Chart

Here's the rule: treat ±5 WT as roughly ±50 cSt, and stay within one brand for consistency. Cst and WT values aren't directly comparable between manufacturers. Stick with HUDY, Traxxas, Tamiya, or Team Associated throughout all four shocks (mixing brands will mess up your damping, even if the numbers match).

Weight (WT)	Approx. cSt	Best For
22.5 WT	~238 cSt	Extremely dusty tracks
30 WT	~375 cSt	Low-grip dirt, 2WD buggies
35 WT	~425 cSt	All-around baseline
40 WT	~475 cSt	High-grip carpet, big jumps
45 WT	~525 cSt	Monster trucks, heavy landings

Keep in mind: ±5 WT ≈ ±50 cSt. Brand consistency prevents unpredictable damping.

Quick adjustment guide:

• Add 50 cSt: High-grip surfaces, big jumps, car bottoms out
• Drop 50 cSt: Dusty/loose tracks, under-steer, need more response
• Temperature tip: Go up ~50 cSt per 5°C colder; subtract in heat

Shock Oil Setup: Baselines by Car Class

Now that you understand oil weights, let's look at what actually works on the track. Rear damping typically runs 50–100 cSt lighter than front for traction. Adjust up or down by 50 cSt based on surface grip and jump size.

1/10 Touring 4WD

Start with: 400 cSt front and rear

Recommended oils: 400 cSt

Range: 350–500 cSt (front and rear equal)
Touring cars run identical oil front/rear because of short suspension travel and high sensitivity to setup. Most drivers use 350–500 cSt.

Surface adjustments:

• High-grip carpet/asphalt? Go 450–500 cSt
• Running medium-grip? Stick with 400 cSt
• Dusty or low-grip? Drop to 350–400 cSt

Common issues you'll face:

• Excessive body roll → add 50 cSt
• Sluggish direction changes → subtract 50 cSt
• Inconsistent corners → check all four shocks match exactly (this matters more than you think)

Pro tip: Precise shock assembly is essential for touring. These cars amplify any mismatch between corners, so double-check your builds.

1/10 Buggy/Short Course 2WD

Most drivers use: 300–350 cSt front / 250–350 cSt rear

Recommended oils: 300 cSt and 350 cSt

Front: 300–350 cSt
Choose 350 cSt for high-traction clay or carpet. Drop to 300 cSt on loose dirt or blue-groove tracks. Heavier oil sharpens steering but reduces mechanical grip.

Rear: 250–350 cSt
Run 50 cSt lighter than front for traction. Watch for "nervous" rear-end or bounce on landing. If you see either, go up 50 cSt.

Track-specific tuning:

• High-grip clay/carpet → 350 front / 300 rear
• Medium-grip packed dirt → 325 front / 275 rear
• Loose/dusty → 300 front / 250 rear
• Big jumps? Add 50 cSt both ends to prevent bottoming

Common mistake: Running too-soft rear to chase traction, then wondering why the back end kicks sideways off jumps. Balance matters.

1/10 Buggy 4WD

Sweet spot: 350–450 cSt front / 300–400 cSt rear (most popular setup)

Recommended oils: 350 cSt and 400 cSt

Front: 350–450 cSt
Start at 400 cSt for medium-grip conditions. Use 350 cSt on dusty tracks needing more mechanical grip. Consider 500 cSt on high-bite carpet or watered clay (trust me, you'll need it).

Rear: 300–400 cSt
Run 50–100 cSt lighter than front. Increase if rear bounces after jumps or kicks sideways on landing.

Fine-tuning symptoms:

• Pushes on entry? Subtract 50 cSt front
• Dives under braking? Add 50 cSt front
• Loose/nervous rear? Go up 50 cSt rear
• Poor traction? Drop 50 cSt rear

This baseline works for 80% of conditions. Tune in 25 cSt increments based on lap times (not just feel).

Pro tip: Buy bottles of 350 and 400 cSt. They cover 90% of what you'll need, and you can blend them for in-between weights if necessary.

1/10 Short Course 4WD (Newer Models)

Try: 400 cSt front / 350–400 cSt rear

Recommended oils: 400 cSt

Front: 350–450 cSt
Newer SC trucks (Traxxas Slash 4x4, Tekno SCT410) use large-bore shocks that run well on lighter oils. Use 350 cSt for slippery tracks, 450 cSt for high-bite surfaces.

Rear: 350–400 cSt
Match surface grip. Big-bore pistons provide sufficient damping at lower weights. Watch for dive or bounce to confirm you're in range.

Important note: These trucks handle jumps differently than buggies because of higher center of gravity. Prioritize landing stability over absolute grip.

1/8 Buggies and Truggies

Most racers run: 450–500 cSt front / 400–450 cSt rear

Recommended oils: 450 cSt and 500 cSt

Front: 400–600 cSt
Heavier 1/8 vehicles need substantial damping. Use 400–450 cSt for grip-focused tracks with small jumps. Go 500–600 cSt on high-grip surfaces with big air (landing forces demand control over traction).

Rear: 350–500 cSt
Run 50–100 cSt lighter than front unless rear bounces or car dives on landing. Too-soft rear causes loss of control off jumps.

Why heavier oil matters at 1/8 scale:
Greater vehicle mass creates higher momentum on landings. The reason is simple: under-damped suspension bottoms out violently, while over-damped suspension causes push. Your rear must be soft enough for traction but stiff enough to handle 4+ foot jumps.

Monster trucks and truggies benefit from slower rebound (thicker oil) to prevent chassis bounce after landing. Once you nail this balance, lap times drop.

RC Shock Oil FAQs

Can you mix different RC shock oils?

Avoid mixing different shock oil brands. Even with matching cSt ratings, silicone formulations vary between manufacturers and create inconsistent damping behavior. If you must mix oils, blend no more than 10–20% and test rebound response carefully before racing. The better solution is stocking multiple weights from one brand to maintain predictable suspension performance across all four corners.

How often should you change RC shock oil?

Replace shock oil every 3–5 race days or immediately after wet or dusty conditions. Change oil right away if you notice foaming, slow rebound, leaking seals, or one corner handling differently than others. Regular oil changes prevent seal wear and maintain consistent damping. Mark the date on shock bodies with a permanent marker to track replacement schedules accurately.

Does RC shock oil go bad?

Sealed shock oil bottles store for years without degrading. Replace oil if it appears cloudy, contains dirt contamination, or shows inconsistent viscosity. Opened bottles last 1–2 years when stored with caps tightly sealed. Shake bottles before each use to remix any settled particles. Contaminated or old oil causes unpredictable damping and should be replaced immediately for consistent performance.

What shock oil weight for my Traxxas Slash?

Traxxas Slash 2WD runs 300–350 cSt front and 250–300 cSt rear for most conditions. Traxxas Slash 4x4 needs heavier damping at 350–450 cSt front and 350–400 cSt rear due to added drivetrain weight. Use the lighter end of ranges for dusty low-grip tracks and heavier weights for high-traction clay or carpet surfaces. Adjust in 50 cSt increments based on grip level and jump size.

Get the Right Shock Oil for Your Setup

You've got the baselines. Now grab the bottles you need. We stock pure silicone oils from HUDY, Tamiya, and Team Associated in weights from 200–600 cSt. Most racers keep 300 cSt, 350 cSt, and 400 cSt on hand since they cover 90% of conditions. Running 1/8 scale or hitting big jumps? Add 450 cSt and 500 cSt to your toolkit.

All orders ship the same day if placed before 3 PM (Helsinki time). Need help picking weights for your specific track or car? Contact our team as we race what we sell.