LX Gas Spring Resource
How gas spring cycle life is measured and tested, what shortens it, signs a gas spring is worn out, and how to make gas springs last longer.
"How long will this gas spring last?" is one of the first questions OEM buyers ask, and one of the hardest to answer with a single number. Gas spring life depends on how many times it cycles, how it is mounted, the temperature, and the environment it works in. This guide explains what gas spring life really means, how manufacturers test it, the signs a gas spring is wearing out, and how to make it last longer.
Short answer: gas spring life is measured mainly in cycles (one full compression and extension), not years. LX gas springs have passed a TÜV fatigue test of 180,000 cycles, and all LX gas springs are covered by a 3-year warranty. Actual service life in your product depends on load, mounting, temperature, side load, and environment, which is why OEM projects should agree a cycle test on real samples.
A gas spring is a sealed cylinder filled with pressurised nitrogen and a small amount of oil. It reaches the end of its useful life when it no longer delivers enough force to do its job, usually because:
Two numbers describe life:
| Measure | What it means | Typical drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle life | Number of full strokes before force drops below the acceptable limit | Load, stroke speed, side load, seal quality |
| Calendar life | Years in service, including time standing still | Temperature, gas permeation, environment, storage |
A car tailgate strut might cycle a few times a day for years. A machine guard or medical bed may cycle hundreds of times a day. Both need a life target defined in cycles and checked against how the product is really used.
At LX Gas Spring, the in-house laboratory in Changzhou runs three main types of test:
An electronic universal testing machine compresses the gas spring at a controlled speed and records the force curve: the extension force at the start of stroke, the force at the end of stroke, and the friction band between compression and extension. Measuring force before and after cycling shows how much force has been lost.
Multi-station endurance testers cycle several gas springs at once through their full stroke, at a set speed, for a set number of cycles. Samples are then measured again on the force tester. The result is a force-loss percentage after a defined number of cycles, which is how cycle life is compared and approved.
A salt spray chamber exposes coated and stainless parts to salt fog for an agreed number of hours. This is essential for marine, outdoor, and washdown gas springs, where corrosion of the rod or fittings ends life long before the seals wear out.
LX gas springs have passed a TÜV fatigue test of 180,000 cycles. For OEM projects, the cycle count, test speed, temperature, and acceptable force loss are agreed with the buyer and run on production-representative samples.
| Cause | What happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Side load | Rod bends slightly, seal wears unevenly, leaks start | Align mounting points; use ball joints for articulation |
| Wrong orientation | Seal runs dry and wears faster | Mount rod down in the closed position where possible |
| Over-stroking | Internal stop hammers on every cycle | Keep a few millimetres of stroke reserve at both ends |
| Rod damage | Scratches, paint, or weld spatter cut the seal | Never paint, weld, or grip the rod |
| High or low temperature | Force rises when hot, drops when cold; seals age faster at extremes | Tell the manufacturer the real operating temperature range |
| Corrosion | Pitted rod destroys the seal | Use SS316 stainless steel gas springs in salt or washdown areas |
| Undersized force margin | Spring works at its limit and any force loss becomes a failure | Size force with a sensible margin using the force calculator |
When one gas spring in a pair fails, replace both. A new spring paired with a worn one loads the mechanism unevenly and shortens the life of the new part.
Include these points in your RFQ so life can be designed in rather than discovered in the field:
Request a quote with cycle-life requirements or see the testing laboratory and production lines at our factory.
It depends on load, mounting, temperature, and environment. LX gas springs have passed a TÜV fatigue test of 180,000 cycles. For OEM projects, the cycle count and acceptable force loss are agreed and tested on real samples.
Calendar life depends on how often the spring is used, the temperature, and the environment. A gas spring that is mounted correctly, protected from side load and corrosion, and sized with a force margin will last much longer than one working at its limit. All LX gas springs are covered by a 3-year warranty.
Standard sealed gas springs are not designed to be recharged. When force has dropped or the seal leaks, the gas spring should be replaced, ideally as a pair.
Nitrogen pressure falls as temperature drops, so force is lower in cold conditions. A spring that only just holds a lid at room temperature may not hold it in winter. Specify the minimum operating temperature so the force can be sized correctly.
Yes. Mounting the rod pointing down in the closed position keeps oil on the seal, which reduces wear. Side load from misaligned mounting points is one of the most common causes of early failure.