My Koni struts have oil on them. Are they leaking?
The Koni struts on ’97 m/y and newer ACRs may appear to leak, with small amounts of oil collecting on the strut barrel. Below is the text of a flyer included with the Koni struts: “During lift inspection/servicing/tyre rotation, etc., a thin film of oil and dust collection may be noticed on the outside damper tube. This is a normal condition which occurs during the damper internal seal ‘break-in’ period and does not affect the performance of the damper and does not indicate the need for damper replacement. Damper replacement should only occur if the damper oil leakage is sufficient to cover the entire damper tube and has ‘dripped’ onto the lower control arm or onto the pavement during overnight parking.” Note that some owners have experienced leaking struts. A substantial amount of oil could indicate a problem, and should be checked. Damping ability will be reduced if the strut has lost oil; testing the strut next to a known good sample can verify correct operation.
