These problems can be overcome through a better understanding of the types of sealing materials available, redefined selection procedures and the consistent application of sound replacement and maintenance practices.
Oil seals are found in a wide range of applications, in virtually every industrial sector. It is essential to select the correct oil seal so that the application in which it is used can run efficiently, free of leaks or other issues. In this blog, we explain which factors you should pay attention to when selecting the best oil seal for your application.
Finding oil spots under a parked vehicle can be both worrying and stressful for any vehicle owner. If the seal’s leak is small, oil may start to accumulate on the underside of the engine. But as the leak gets bigger, the oil leak will become visible in the front side of the engine.

The edge of the metal is finely ground after seal manufacture in a centerless grinder to enable an interference fit in the oil seal housing. A slight chamfer on the outer diameter (OD) of the seal is desirable for easy assembly. The sealing lip is prepared by buffing, grinding or cutting away the rubber flash which occurs at the sealing edge. A fine sealing edge creates sufficient pressure on the shaft to minimise spring load, leading to lower friction whilst maintaining effective seal performance. The garter spring plays an important role in the efficiency of the oil seal. If its tension is too high, heat will be generated between the sealing lip and the shaft, and result in rapid wear of the lip. If too low, the spring will be ineffective and the sealing lip will be worn away leading to leakage of the fluid.
An oil seal consists of:
There are quite a number of factors to put into consideration when you’re choosing the right oil seal for your application. Some of them are discussed below.
• Super helix seal (seal with one-way two-step screw)
Spring
PTFE is special in that a pre-tensioned spring is not required. This is because the material returns to its original shape when heated, also known as the shape-memory polymers (SMPs) effect. These oil seals are also supplied as integrated parts, where it only needs to be installed as one component.
Leather is probably the oldest of the lip materials still in common use, but the move towards mass production methods has seen a massive increase in the development of synthetic rubbers which lend themselves to accurate and repeatable injection and compression moulding. Nitrile (NBR) is still by far the most common elastomer for “normal” use, whilst Viton® (FKM/FPM) is rapidly replacing Polyacrylate (ACM) and Silicone (VMQ) for high-temperature applications. Viton® also has high resistance to abrasion and chemical attack making it a preferred elastomer. Recent developments in the use of PTFE for Rotary shaft seals has caused widespread interest particularly for high-speed shaft rotation or poor lubrication applications.
Dechengwang provides a full line of seal types, including PTFE seal, which is recognized as the best seal and the future of the seal industry. Amongst all other PTFE component manufacturers, Dechengwang stands out with unique products and services, as well as outstanding manufacturing capabilities.