Oil Seals

Oil Seals:

Oil seals are usually attached to the ends of shafts and are meant to keep fluids, including oils, water, transmission fluid, and other liquids from escaping from the container the seals are sealing. In some cases, oil seals are also meant to keep moisture and fluids in the environment from seeping into a container. Oil seals are usually made of some combination of rubber and metal and are designed to be sturdy to ensure long-term use.

Oil seals need to have some flex or movement in order to grip the shaft tightly and ensure that no fluid passes into or out of the container. However, this flexible part creates a problem - with time, most oil seals harden or expand to the point that leaks occur. This is because the rubber or soft part of the seals simply becomes worn out or hardened. Researchers are constantly trying to create new materials that will be inexpensive enough to create oil seals but long lasting enough to ensure no leakage. In the meantime, oil seals need to be replaced periodically.