Oil Seals 101 – The Ultimate Guide
One common reason leaking occurs in engines is that debris is caught in the fork seal, holding it open and allowing oil to sneak by. So, how do you fix this? This is where the little circular devices come in—oil seals.
How are they used?
Name Type
(type code) Shape Features
What Benefits Do Oil Seals Provide?
Oil Seals From Global O-Ring and Seal
On most cars you need not remove the engine to get at the sump . But often you have to raise it slightly and wedge it on its mountings so that the sump moves clear of the front- suspension cross member.
Rotary Wheel Of Auto Parts
Oil seals come cataloged as metric oil seals or imperial sized oil seals. The seals can also be custom-made to match the bearings in new types of machinery. They are installed in practically every type of machine including vehicles, protecting all kinds of precision, precisely-fitted ball bearings, sleeve bearings, and roller bearings.
Almost every lip seal is constructed to have a flexible inner part that creates a dynamic seal on the moving shaft, as well as a hard outer casing that statically matches the machine-end cover. The flexible part is made from different grades of rubber, while the hard part is made of light-gauge metal or strong plastic.
The metal used in the outer case of oil seals is usually made of carbon steel. Upon request, and depending on quantities, a different type of steel (such as stainless steel) can be used.
Examples of defects

top valve cover gasket.