I know that a shock that leaks oil or has clearly had an oil-splosion all over the place is blown, but what about a trace amount of oil on the piston?

I was changing pads yesterday and noticed there was what seemed to be oil on the boots and on the piston, but my struts don't feel blown.

I went for a drive and felt the rods again and didn't notice any more oil.

Also, there seems to be a slight amount of lateral play in the front shocks when the car is jacked up, but I wonder if that's just the spring moving around, or if it's really the shocks themselves.

Do shocks that aren't blown sometimes have oil on the pistons when you go to full extension, or does any oil at all mean it's about to blow it's load down the road?

I have been looking for an excuse to buy coilovers, but I have a track day tomorrow and don't want to spend the money just yet.

 

blown

 

I went to the track and they seemed fine, albeit a little soft. I haven't seen any more oil on them at all. I will probably be upgrading to new (lightly used) shocks soon, though.

 

sounds like the seal for the shaft might be starting to fail