Oil seals are commonly used in engines, gearboxes, and other rotating machinery to prevent the leakage of oil from shafts and bearings. They are typically made from rubber or elastomeric materials that are resistant to oil and heat. The seal is installed in a housing or bore that is larger than the shaft, and it is pressed against the shaft to create a tight seal.

Nitrile Oil Seals - Nitrile oil seals, which is the commonly used term for acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber seals, is a very good general-purpose option due to the flexibility of use across a variety of components. The resistance is strong against fats, hot water, gasoline, mineral oils, grease and animal oils, making them the most often-used oil seals. They do not have a wide temperature range, making them a poor choice for machinery that can see extreme changes in temperature.

When selecting the oil seal that is right for your machine, it is important that the oil seal be appropriate for the requirements of the usage environment and that it be easily acquired for replacement.
In this month's column, How to select the right oil seal, we conveyed the following points:

1) Oil seal shape and material should be selected based on the housing, substance to be sealed, pressure, rotational speed, total eccentricity, and air-side conditions.
2) Oil seals can show good sealing performance in combination with properly designed shafts and housings.
3) Oil seal performance is affected by not only the type and material of the selected oil seal, but also a variety of other factors, such as operating conditions, total eccentricity, rotational speed, the substance to be sealed, and lubrication conditions. For this reason, diligent care is required in oil seal selection.

Oil seals are typically classified based on their sealing capabilities, with common types including lip seals, mechanical seals, and hydraulic seals. Lip seals are the most basic type, consisting of a flexible lip that seals against the shaft. Mechanical seals use sliding or rotating components to create a seal, while hydraulic seals are designed for high-pressure applications.

Synthetic Rubber Oil Seals - Styrene Butadiene Rubber oil seals, or just SBR oil seals, offer strong resistance to abrasions and lesions, making them an ideal seal for fast-moving machinery. With the ability to withstand extreme temperatures with its heat-aging qualities, they can be used in outdoor components. They are also seen as more cost-effective oil seals than natural rubber.

Fit the gasket to the cover, making sure any screw holes line up. If the gasket has tongues, fit them into their cutouts.