Finding oil spots under a parked vehicle can be both worrying and stressful for any vehicle owner. If the seal’s leak is small, oil may start to accumulate on the underside of the engine. But as the leak gets bigger, the oil leak will become visible in the front side of the engine.  

Different types of rotary shaft seals are available in the market, including radial lip, axial lip, and mechanical face seals.

First, an elastomer, most often nitrile, is vulcanised to a metal ring. This creates a stiffening effect that includes a specialised metal tension spring directly behind the sealing lip, keeping the oil seal firmly in place against the moving part.

What are Oil Seals?

Figure 2.9. Metal to rubber bonded seal

For more information on the characteristics of Oil Seals click on some of the links below:

PTFE

Material selection is important to the life of a radial shaft seal. The elastomer’s resistance to temperature, abrasion, chemicals, weather, sunlight, and ozone can affect a profile’s longevity and performance. The two most prevalent materials are Nitrile and Viton. See our Oil Seal Materials page for details on compounds and chemical compatibility.