Oil Seals (Lip Seals)

Function of Oil Seals (Lip Seals)

Oil seals, commonly known as lip seals or rotary shaft seals, are essential sealing components used in many parts of the engine and transmission. Their primary role is to prevent oil leaks (or other fluids) where a rotating shaft exits a housing.

They are typically found around the crankshaft (timing end and flywheel end), camshafts, transmission shafts, wheel hubs, etc. They consist of an outer metal or rubber part that fits into the housing, and an inner sealing lip made of rubber or elastomer that contacts the rotating shaft, often aided by a small spring to maintain pressure.

Maintenance and Failure Signs of Oil Seals

Over time, due to heat and contact with oil, the sealing material of lip seals can harden, crack, or wear, losing its effectiveness.

Maintenance Tips:

• Use good quality engine and transmission oils and adhere to change intervals. Contaminated or poor-quality fluids can degrade seals.
• During major engine or transmission work (clutch replacement, timing belt change), it is often recommended to preemptively replace accessible oil seals, as their subsequent replacement can be labor-intensive and costly.

Common Failure Signs:

• Visible oil leaks: This is the most obvious sign. You may notice oil spots under your vehicle or seepage around areas where seals are located (e.g., behind the crankshaft pulley, at the engine/gearbox junction).
• Low oil level: If you frequently need to add oil without other apparent causes.
• Smell of burning oil: If oil leaks onto hot components like the exhaust.
• Grime buildup: An oil leak can attract dust and dirt, creating a greasy buildup around the leak area.

Replacing a faulty oil seal is important to prevent excessive oil loss (which can damage the engine or transmission due to lack of lubrication), to keep the engine compartment clean, and for environmental reasons. Konipa offers a range of quality oil seals to ensure the tightness of your engine.