Everything you need to know about oil seals

 All the units of the car are interconnected. Because of this, the vehicle is a single mechanism in which every spare part is important. One of the first problems faced by the original ICE developers was how to minimize lubricant leakage where the shaft left the unit housing.

What is oil seal

Oil seal is a sealing element installed at the joint of various mechanisms and rotating shafts. In addition, similar parts are installed on parts that perform reciprocating motions to prevent oil leakage between the moving elements and the body of the mechanism.

Regardless of design and use, the device is in the form of a ring with compression springs. The parts can come in different sizes or be made of different materials.

Working principle and device

The oil seal is enclosed in a housing through which the mechanical shaft passes. The inside of the case has sealing material. It is located on all sides of the shaft that will come out of the unit body, such as a motor or gearbox. The diameter of the product shall be such that, during the pressing process, its seals are pressed tightly against the main shaft from the inside and against the fixed part of the mechanism from the outside.

In addition to its sealing function to prevent grease leakage, the oil seal is also used as a dustproof seal to collect dirt and prevent it from entering the mechanism.

In order for the part to remain effective under different operating conditions, it must satisfy the following characteristics:

Because the unit vibrates during operation, the seals must be flexible, which will reduce wear on the components themselves and the working parts.

The stuffing box must prevent grease from escaping from the equipment and coming into contact with chemically active substances. Therefore, materials should not deteriorate due to contact with grease.

Continuous contact with moving and rotating parts can cause the sealing contact surface to become very hot. For this reason, it is important that the material of the component maintains its properties both when it is cold (for example, leaving the car in a parking lot in winter) and when driving for long periods in the hot summer months.

Where is it?

The number and design of oil seals depends on the vehicle model and its characteristics. In any vehicle with an internal combustion engine, there must be two seals. They are mounted on either side of the crankshaft.

What material is the oil seal made of

The gland must be heat resistant because the contact surface between the product and the mechanism can be very hot. In addition, the heating temperature is increased because the edges of the parts are in constant friction during the rotation of the shaft. Accelerated failure of the stuffing box can be ensured if the manufacturer uses ordinary rubber or other materials that do not withstand high temperatures to make the element.

Seals on crankshafts and camshafts should have this property because they are constantly subjected to heat and friction while the engine is running.