All gas springs are built with at least a small amount of internal oil for damping (speed control) and internal lubrication for the internal moving components. When he gas springs are mounted “rod up-the oil pools at the bottom of the tube due to gravity and causes a “dry seal condition. This means little or no oil can get to the guide & seal package of the gas spring. When this happens, the seal tends to dry out and produces excessive friction between the rod and seal and can ultimately lead to premature failure of the gas spring.