Oil seals are one of the major contact type sealing devices.
• They prevent leakage of the lubricant or other sealed substance, and
• prevent entry of dust and foreign matter (dirt, water, metal powder, etc.) from outside.

6 Things about Oil Seals You Need to Know

An effective way to ensure particles do not contaminate your oil seal is to store it in a container or sealed bag away from areas where dust and debris are prevalent. Resealable, heavy-duty plastics bags and bins are ideal for keeping your shaft seal protected.

PTFE Oil Seals - A relatively new and exciting oil seal, the use of polytetrafluoroethylene means that they can withstand dry or unlubricated operations. With a massive thermal range of  -130ºC to +200ºC and a strong resistance to chemicals, they are considered to be the future of rotary shaft seals.

Oil seals come in various shapes to fit the machines and substances to be sealed.
Figure 2 shows the structure and the names of the various components of the most typical oil seal.
The functions of the various components are also indicated in Table 1.

To install an oil seal properly, the shaft must be undamaged. This is so the oil seal can do its job properly on the one hand, and to prevent it from being damaged during fitting on the other. In addition, it is very important to lubricate the shaft, the sealing lip and the bore with plenty of grease. This will allow the oil seal to slide more easily over the shaft and prevent dry running after the first rotation. The oil seal may also come into contact with the keyway, thread or other grooves when sliding over the shaft. By taping or covering the shaft at the location of these irregularities with oil-soaked paper, the oil seal can be mounted without damage to the sealing lip.