Abstract: A hydraulic actuator and a method for degassing hydraulic actuators having t least two chambers are disclosed. For actuating a hydraulic element, for example a piston in a piston-and-cylinder unit the hydraulic actuator may be supplied with pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic source via gate valves. The chambers may be interconnected via another gate valve such that when the other gate valve is open, a closed flushing circuit may be configured, starting from a hydraulic fluid container via a hydraulic pump, a first gate valve, a first chamber, the additional valve, a second chamber, a second gate valve and back to the hydraulic fluid container.