Oil seals or shaft seals are an integral part in any rotating and moving part assembly. Oil seals find great deal of usage in gearboxes, hydraulic cylinders, etc. The usage of the seals in areas concerned with motion also earns them a name of “Dynamic Oil Seals.”
Oil seals come in a vast range of materials and compounds. Even older materials, such leather, are still used today. Nitrile is among the most common materials for oil seals but is slowly losing ground to PTFE, which is gaining popularity due to its effectiveness in high-speed applications.
However, the new variant also comes with less good properties. Namely less flexibility and less resistance during assembly. Most damages therefore occur during the installation of PTFE oil seals.
In addition to preventing oil leakage, the piston oil seal also helps to reduce friction between the piston and the cylinder wall. This is important for maximizing engine efficiency and prolonging the life of the engine components. By reducing friction, the seal helps to improve fuel economy and reduce wear and tear on the engine.
piston oil seal

Material Code ISO 1629

In order to use the oil seal reasonably, the following points should be paid attention to:
The material of the sealing lip is chosen according to the liquid to be sealed and the rotational speed. For larger shafts, an NBR sealing lip can cope with surface speeds of up to 10-12 m/s, while an FKM lip is suitable for speeds of up to 35-38 m/s.
The most common oil seals are the ERIKS types R, RST, M and MST, which correspond respectively to types A, AS, B and BS according to DIN 3760/ISO 6194.
Oil seals come in a vast range of materials and compounds. Even older materials, such leather, are still used today. Nitrile is among the most common materials for oil seals but is slowly losing ground to PTFE, which is gaining popularity due to its effectiveness in high-speed applications.



