Diff/Shock Oil & Grease

Keep your RC car running smoothly with the right diff oil, shock oil and grease. Whether you’re carrying out maintenance or fine-tuning your setup, choosing the correct lubricant helps improve handling and reduce wear.

Which product do you need?

• Shock oil: Used inside oil-filled shocks to control how quickly the suspension compresses and rebounds. Thicker oil slows suspension movement, while thinner oil allows it to move more freely. The right choice depends on your vehicle, springs, shock pistons and driving conditions.
• Diff oil: Used inside compatible sealed gear differentials to control how freely the wheels or front and rear drivetrains can turn at different speeds. Thicker oil increases resistance to this difference in speed, while thinner oil allows more differential action. Front, centre and rear diffs may require different viscosities.
• Grease: Used on specified gears and moving parts to reduce friction and wear. Choose a grease suitable for the materials and application—gear grease, ball-diff grease and seal grease aren’t necessarily interchangeable. Only apply it where your model’s manual recommends.

Understanding oil ratings: Higher numbers mean thicker oil when comparing the same rating system. Oils may be labelled in cSt or WT, but these numbers aren’t directly interchangeable, and WT ratings can vary between brands. Use cSt where available to help compare viscosities.

Start with your model’s recommended setup and make small changes, one at a time. Use the specified oil type, check seals when servicing, and let trapped air escape when refilling shocks. Grease is not a direct substitute for silicone diff or shock oil.

Unsure what your RC car needs? Ask the SIK Hobbies team for help choosing the right lubricant