The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Car Oil Seal

14 Apr.,2024

 

The Ultimate Guide to Oil Seals

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.

Oil seal specifications

The group of oil seals used in dynamic applications include radial shaft seals that seal a rotating shaft around its circumference. They are also known as lip seals, but in this blog we will use the term oil seals.

Usually, these oil seals are used to seal lubricating oil or grease and contain it within the application, so that moving parts such as bearings are continually supplied with enough lubrication. However, such seals are also used for sealing other liquids, gases, and solids, such as powders or granules.

An oil seal consists of:

  • An outer case, a body made of metal or provided with a rubber layer
  • A rubber or PTFE sealing lip
  • A spring, the composition of which depends on the type
     

The lip is specially designed to ensure the oil seal works effectively with the different forces that arise during rotation. Many different designs and materials are used, so countless types of oil seals are available. These are chosen according to the application; pumps, gearboxes, wheels, and many other rotating applications where fluids need to be sealed. They are used in a variety of sectors, such as the chemical industry, manufacturing, wind turbines, automotive sector, food industry, and more. Oil seals are used in nearly all sectors.

Choosing the right oil seal

What should you take into account when selecting an oil seal? Different types of oil seals and various types of materials are available, each designed for specific uses. It is also important to select the right size of oil seal for the best results. For this reason, selecting the right oil seal requires adequate understanding of the application in which it will be used.

Oil seal type or shape

Most standard oil seals have to comply with the DIN 3760 and ISO 6194 standards. Different standard types of oil seals are available that comply with these requirements.

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.

DIN    

Standard 3760/3761

ERIKS

DIN    

A

Standard 3760/3761

Rubber covered

ERIKS

R

DIN    

AS

Standard 3760/3761

As type A with dust lip

ERIKS

RS

DIN    

B

Standard 3760/3761

Metal cased design

ERIKS

M

DIN    

BS

Standard 3760/3761

As type B with dust lip

ERIKS

MS

DIN    

C

Standard 3760/3761

Double metal cased

ERIKS

GV

DIN    

CS

Standard 3760/3761

As type C with dust lip

ERIKS

GVST

All are fitted with a spring to preload the sealing lip. All these types are for non-pressurised or low-pressure applications up to 0.5 bar for diameters of a limited size. For diameter of 500 mm or more, the maximum pressure is 0.1 bar. For higher pressures, special types or PTFE lip seals can be used.

ERIKS type M (type B according to the DIN standard) has a single metal casing and rubber sealing lip. Since the casing is made of metal, it must be fitted in a well-finished, undamaged groove. Large volumes of oil seals with metal casings are often cheaper, which is why they are often used as original equipment in machines. However, if an oil seal has to be replaced, types with a rubber exterior (type R or RST) are easier to fit. Type MST is similar to M and commonly used. The difference is the dust lip in the MST oil seal that prevents dust and dirt reaching the sealing lip, and extends its service life in dusty environments.

ERIKS type GV (type C according to DIN) is equivalent to type M, but is a heavy-duty version with a double metal casing. This can be a useful solution with larger diameters in more demanding applications. There is also a version of this type with a dust lip; the GVST (type CS according to DIN).

ERIKS type R (type A according to the DIN standard) is identical in shape to type M, but has a rubber outer case with metal reinforcement on the inside. The rubber creates a good seal in the housing, even if the housing has suffered minor damage or is not in its best condition for other reasons. The RST version has a dust lip. These types are often chosen to replace a type with a metal outer case because they are easier to install and can cope with minor damage to the groove, such as scratches.

ERIKS also supplies the types GR and GRST. These are virtually identical to the types R and RST, except in this case the metal inner ring is also completely encased in rubber. ERIKS uses FKM rubber here as standard, so these seals are ideal for use in acidic environments.

An overview of the different standard types of oil seals and their main characteristics is shown below.

In addition to these standardised types, the following special types are also available:

  • Rubber oil seals with a rubber fabric outer case

These are comparable to type R and RST, except the outer case does not have a metal reinforcement ring. To compensate, the outside is not made of normal rubber, but a hard, heavy-duty rubber fabric. The advantage is that these types can be made in a split version. They are almost always produced to order, and made of NBR or FKM.

  • PTFE Lip seals

These types are made with a metal outer case and a PTFE lip. They are suitable for a wide range of temperatures from -90 °C to +260 °C.These lip seals can also be used for higher pressures of up to 10 bar (special types up to 25 bar) and rotational speeds of up to 40-45 m/s. Certain grades of PTFE are suitable for use in pharmaceutical and food applications. One important point is that PTFE lip seals do require a shaft with a harder, smoother finish.

  • Cassette Seals

Cassette seals are designed to maximise grease or oil retention and protection against liquid or solid contaminants. These seals are provided with their own bushings in which dirt is kept out and oil/grease kept in by a multi-lip seal.

These cassette seals are widely used in wheel-end applications, such as the axles of agricultural machinery or off-road trucks.

 

  • Oil seal for higher pressures
     

The sealing lip of the RST-D is more heavy-duty, so it can cope with pressures of up to 10 bar at slightly lower rotation speeds.

Reinforced GVP design for larger diameters, with rotation speeds of up to 15 m/s and pressure of 3-4 bar

Oil seal material

Outer case

  • Metal

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.

  • Rubber or rubber fabric

The quality of the rubber or rubber fabric used to make an outer case is the same as the quality of the rubber sealing lip. Fabric reinforced rubber is, as the name suggests, rubber reinforced with a fabric.

Spring

Standard springs are made of carbon steel. We use stainless-steel springs for our GR and GRST oil seals made from FKM rubber. In some rare cases, an O-ring is even used as a spring element. Standard PTFE lip seals are not fitted with springs.

Sealing lip

The sealing lip is always made of a rubber or synthetic material. For oil seals with a rubber outer case (R, RST, GR, GRST), the rubber quality of the sealing lip and the outer case are the same.

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. 

Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR, nitrile)

NBR, also known as nitrile rubber or nitrile, is the most popular material for an oil seal because of its good resistance to many oils and greases, such as mineral grease and hydraulic oil. Depending on their composition, synthetic oils and greases, such as those based on glycol, can damage NBR rubber materials. Depending on the amount of glycol, a PTFE lip seal may be the best choice. NBR is also unable to cope with contact with acids and solvents. The rubber is suitable for oil and grease at temperatures from -35 °C to 100 °C.

Most ERIKS oil seals, such as the types M, MST, R and RST, are made of NBR as standard.

Fluorine rubber (FKM, Viton™)

FKM or FPM, which is in well-known brand Viton™, can withstand higher liquid temperatures of up to 180 ˚C. FKM is highly resistant to strong acids and bases, as well as to synthetic oils and greases. Glycol-based oil and grease, however, can also damage FKM.

Because of the higher temperature resistance of FKM, this material is also chosen for applications where higher speeds play a role, which raise the temperature at the sealing lip considerably. Usually, using FKM will result in a longer life than using NBR. This compensates the higher price of FKM compared to NBR, as an FKM does not have to be replaced as frequently. The low temperature resistance of standard FKM is limited to -15 ˚C.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon®)

PTFE, which is used in the well-known brand Teflon®, is less commonly used, but it is the preferred material for specific rotating seals in the chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries. This material is notable for having a very low frictional resistance and the best chemical resistance. It can also withstand a very wide range of temperatures in these types of seals; -80 ˚C to 200 ˚C. The shafts on which oil seals with PTFE lips are used require a harder and finer finish. Something like an axle sleeve can also be used to meet this requirement.

EPDM

EPDM oil seals are less common. They are used in solvent, hot water and steam applications, EPDM resists low temperatures down to -50 °C and UV radiation well. Some types of EPDM are also suitable for higher temperatures up to +150 °C. EPDM oil seals are usually available upon request.

VMQ (silicone)

VMQ, also known as silicone, is also used for oil seals, but this is less common because the mechanical strength of VMQ is low and this material has poor wear-resistance This makes it less suitable for dynamic applications, but it can withstand fairly low and high temperatures from -60 °C to 200 °C. Many types of VMQ are also suitable for contact with pharmaceutical and food products, so VMQ is an option worth considering. VMQ oil seals are usually available on request.

Rubber type

Material Code ISO 1629

Heat resistance

Rubber type

Nitrile 
High wear resistance good running properties for general use

Material Code ISO 1629

NBR

Heat resistance

-35 °C to + 100 °C

Rubber type

Polyacrylate 
Better heat, oil and chemical resistance than NBR 
It is recommended for use in oil which contains load bearing additives such as EP gear oils

Material Code ISO 1629

ACM

Heat resistance

-20 °C to + 130 °C

Rubber type

Viton® 
High level of chemical resistance 
High temperature resistance

Material Code ISO 1629

FPM

Heat resistance

-15 °C to + 180 °C

Rubber type

Silicone 
Wide temperature range 
Commonly used in low temperature applications 
Very prone to mechanical damage during fitting

Material Code ISO 1629

MVQ

Heat resistance

-50 °C to + 150 °C

Rubber type

Polytetrafluoroethylene 
Chemical resistant 
Low coefficient of friction poor elastic properties not wear resistant if used by dynamic applications

Material Code ISO 1629

PTFE

Heat resistance

-80 °C to + 200 °C

Rubber type

Leather 
Recommended for abrasive applications 
Good running properties, due to the impregnated seal lip 
Can be used on shafts which have a surface roughness outside the range for rubber seals 
Not suitable for water

Material Code ISO 1629

-

Heat resistance

-40 °C to + 90 °C

Oil seal size

Oil seals are available in an immense range of sizes, for shafts from a few millimetres to several metres. Once the shaft diameter, groove diameter (housing diameter) and groove width are known, selecting an appropriate oil seal is a simple task. An oil seal or its product description is usually associated with three dimensions, for example 6x15x4. These refer to the sizes of the hardware for which the oil seal is designed. In this example, this oil seal is suitable for: 6-mm shaft diameter x 15-mm groove diameter x 4-mm minimum groove width.

Oil seal installation

Have you found the right oil seal for your application? The next step is fitting the oil seal correctly, so that it remains undamaged.

Preparation

Before fitting the oil seal, it is essential to check that the oil seal, shaft and bore are clean and undamaged. The surfaces the oil seal will come into contact with must be free of sharp points or burrs. The sealing lip is fragile, so even minimal damage can cause a leak. It is also important that the shaft and bore are correctly finished.

Prepare the shaft and prevent damage

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.

Other important factors are ensuring the hardness and roughness of the shaft are correct. A shaft hardness of HRC 45 is recommended for a rubber sealing lip, with a roughness of Ra 0.4-0.8. A higher shaft hardness of HRC 60 and shaft roughness of Ra 0.1-0.4 is recommended for a PTFE lip.

Fitting an oil seal

Always start by making sure the oil seal is facing the right direction. The oil seal must be positioned with its spring to the side of the medium to be sealed. The oil seal must then be pressed into the bore. It must fit tightly (H8 in the groove is recommended). Use appropriate tools for this, such as an impact socket set, to ensure that the force is applied evenly during pressing. The oil seal must never be hammered into the bore with brute force, but eased in.

See here for more information and useful fitting tips.

Author

Stijn de Cnop

Product Manager of Sealing & Polymer Technology

Product Manager of Sealing & Polymer Technology

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In Part 1, we explained the structure, functions, and types of oil seals.


Oil Seals (Part 1): The structure, functions, and types of oil seals

Oil seals come in various shapes to fit the machines and substances to be sealed.
For this reason, when designing a machine, it is important to select the oil seal that is right for that machine.

That's where this column comes in.
We will explain the key points for selecting the oil seal that is right for your machine.


1. Criteria for selecting oil seals

Oil seals come in a wide range of types, and they also have various sizes.
When selecting the right oil seal for your machine from among these many varied types of oil seals, the following two criteria are very important.

  • Criterion 1: It should be appropriate for the machine's usage environment and the operating condition that is being demanded of the oil seal
  • Criterion 2: It should be easy to acquire replacement oil seals and it should facilitate maintenance/inspection of the machine

If these criteria are met, damage of the machine can be reduced, the time needed to replace the oil seals when performing repairs can be shortened, and the machine can be used for a longer period of time.

In this way, selecting the appropriate oil seal will lead to machine design that is economically superior!


2. How to select the right oil seal

In general, oil seals should be selected in the order of priority indicated in Table 1.

However, when you actually select the oil seal to use, the most important factors are past success history and points of improvement, so it is not necessary to follow this order to the letter.

Table 1: The order of priority for selecting oil seals

No. Examination item 1 Seal type 2 Rubber material 3 Metal case and spring material

1) Seal type

Select your oil seal type according to Table 2.

Table 2: How to select the seal type

No. Examination item Flowcharts 1 O.D. (outside diameter) wall material Figure 1 2 Necessity of spring Figure 2 3 Lip type Figure 3


Figure 1: O.D. (outside diameter) wall material




Figure 2: Necessity of spring

Figure 3: Lip type

<Seal selection example>
Based on the above flowcharts, the oil seal type that meets the requirements shown in Table 3 would be the type code MHSA or HMSA shown in Table 4.

Table 3: Requirements

No. Requirements 1 Housing Made of steel, one solid design, housing bore surface roughness 1.8 μmRa 2 Substance to be sealed Grease 3 Pressure Atmospheric 4

Shaft surface speed

(peripheral speed)

6 m/s 5 Air-side condition Dusty


Table 4: Type of selected seal

Type 1 Type 2 O.D. wall material Rubber O.D. wall Metal O.D. wall Necessity of spring Spring required Spring required Lip shape Minor lip required Minor lip required
Type (type code)

For a more detailed discussion of seal types and type codes, please see the following:

2) Rubber material

The rubber material used in the oil seal should be selected based on the operational temperature and substance to be sealed.
Table 5 lists the major rubber materials along with their operational temperature ranges.
Note that it is necessary to check the compatibility with fluids.
<N.B.>
Extreme pressure additives are compounds added to the lubricant. They are activated by heat and chemically react against rubber, which deteriorates rubber properties. For this reason, it is necessary to check for compatibility with rubber materials.

Table 5: Major rubber materials and their operational temperature ranges

Rubber material
(ASTM*1 code) Grade Features Operational temperature range (°C) Compatibility with fluids

Nitrile rubber (NBR)

Standard type

Well-balanced in terms of resistance to abrasion and high and low temperatures

-30~

100

Necessary to check compatibility with fluids
(See *2)

Fluids
• Fuel oil
• Lubricating oil
• Hydraulic fluid
• Grease
• Chemicals
• Water

High- and low-temperature-resistant type Highly resistant to both high and low temperatures -40~

110

Hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR)

Standard type

Compared with nitrile rubber, superior in resistance to heat and abrasion

-30~

140

Acrylic rubber (ACM)

Standard type High oil resistance and good abrasion resistance -20~

150

High- and low-temperature-resistant type Improved low temperature resistance and same level of heat resistance as the standard type -30~

150

Silicone rubber (VMQ)

Standard type Wide operational temperature range and good abrasion resistance -50~

170

Fluoro rubber (FKM)

Standard type The most superior in resistance to heat, and good abrasion resistance -20~

180

Notes
*1 ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials
*2 For more details on fluid compatibility, please see the following:


Rubber materials, operational temperature ranges and their compatibility with fluids

3) Metal case and spring material

The metal case and spring material used in the oil seal should be selected based on the substance to be sealed.
Table 6 shows how to select the metal case and spring materials.

Table 6: Selection of metal case and spring materials

Substance to be sealed Material Metal case Spring

Cold rolled carbon steel sheet
(JIS* SPCC)

Stainless steel sheet
(JIS* SUS304)

High carbon steel wire
(JIS* SWB)

Stainless steel wire
(JIS* SUS304) Oil ○ ― ○ ― Grease ○ ― ○ ― Water × ○ × ○ Seawater × × ○ Water vapor × ○ × ○ Chemicals × ○ × ○ Organic solvent ○ ○ ○ ○

Notes
* JIS: Japanese Industrial Standard
✓: Compatible
✗: Incompatible
―: Not applicable


3. Shaft and housing design

Oil seals can show good sealing performance in combination with properly designed shafts and housings.

1) Shaft design

Table 7 shows the shaft design checklist.

Table 7: Shaft design checklist

No. Examination item Major points to confirm Remarks 1 Material Use one of the carbon steels for machine structural use, low-alloy steel, or stainless steel. Soft materials (brass and so on) are not suitable. 2 Hardness Shaft hardness should be at least 30 HRC. In usage conditions where wear can occur easily because of dust or contaminated oil, hardness should be 50-60 HRC. 3 Shaft diameter tolerance This should be h8 (seals are designed to suit shafts with a tolerance of h8). 4 Shaft end chamfer "Provide a chamfer on the shaft end.
(This prevents failure during mounting.)" See Figure 4. 5 Surface roughness and finishing The shaft surface to be in contact with the lip should be finished to
0.1 to 0.32 μmRa and 0.8 to 2.5 μmRz
and the lead angle to no greater than 0.05°. (There is a risk that the lead marks will impede the sealing performance of the oil seal: see Figure 5.)

Nominal shaft diameter
d1, mm d1-d2, mm を超え 以下 ― 10 1.5 min. 10 20 2.0 min. 20 30 2.5 min.

Figure 4: Shaft end chamfer




a) Good finished surface
(no lead marks) b) Undesirable finished surface
(visible lead marks)

Figure 5: Shaft surface with and without lead marks



2) Housing design

Table 8 shows the housing design checklist.

Table 8: Housing design checklist

No. Examination item Major points to confirm Remarks Material Steel or cast iron is generally used as the housing material.
Aluminum alloys and resin (materials with a large difference between the linear expansion coefficients) demand sufficient consideration (as there is a risk of failure due to the increased clearance with the oil seal at high temperatures). 2 Bore diameter tolerance 1. If the nominal bore diameter is 400 mm or less:
H7 or H8
2. If the nominal bore diameter exceeds 400 mm:
H7 3 Bore inlet chamfer Provide an appropriate chamfer with rounded corners.
(This facilitates mounting.) See Figure 6. 4 Shoulder diameter
(if the housing bore has a shoulder) Set appropriate shoulder diameter. See Figure 7. 5 Bore surface roughness 1. For metal O.D. wall type:
0.4 to 1.6 μmRa,
1.6 to 6.3 μmRz
2. For rubber O.D. wall type:
1.6 to 3.2 μmRa,
6.3 to 12.5 μmRz
(Firmly affixes the oil seal and prevents leakage through the seal O.D.)





Nominal seal width
b, mm

B1 min.
mm L
mm Over Up to ― 10 b + 0.5 1.0 10 18 1.5 18 50 b + 0.8

Figure 6: Recommended housing bore chamfers (shouldered bore)





Nominal seal O.D.
D, mm

F

mm Over Up to ― 10 D - 4 10 18 D - 6 18 50 D - 8

Figure 7: Recommended housing shoulder diameters


3) Total eccentricity

When the total eccentricity is excessive, the sealing edge of the seal lip cannot accommodate shaft motions and leakage may occur.
Total eccentricity is the sum of shaft runout and the housing-bore eccentricity.
Total eccentricity, shaft runout and housing-bore eccentricity are generally expressed in TIR (Total Indicator Reading).

A) Shaft runout
As shown in Figure 8, shaft runout is defined as being twice the eccentricity between the shaft center and center of shaft-center rotation trajectory.

Figure 8: Shaft runout


B) Housing-bore eccentricity
As shown in Figure 9, housing-bore eccentricity is defined as being twice the eccentricity between the housing-bore center and shaft rotation center.

Figure 9: Housing-bore eccentricity


4) Allowable total eccentricity

The allowable total eccentricity is the maximum total eccentricity at which the sealing edge can accommodate shaft rotation and retain adequate sealing performance. The oil seal's allowable total eccentricity is affected by the design of the oil seal, the accuracy of the shaft, and the operating conditions.

For details on shaft and housing design, please see the following:
Examples of allowable total eccentricity for oil seals


4. Seal characteristics

Oil seal performance is affected by not only the type and material of the selected oil seal, but also a variety of other factors, such as operating conditions, total eccentricity, rotational speed, the substance to be sealed, and lubrication conditions.
Figure 9 shows items relating to oil seal characteristics.

Figure 9: Items relating to oil seal characteristics

No. Item Content Major factors 1 Sealing property Lip pumped volume
(the volume of oil, etc., pushed back at the lip contact area per unit of time) • Shape
(hydrodynamic ribs)
• Rotational speed
• Oil viscosity, etc. 2 Oil seal service life Wear on the rubber material
Loss of lip sealing function • Operational temperature
• Total eccentricity
• Rotational speed
• Substance to be sealed
• Lubrication conditions, etc. 3 Lip temperature Temperature rise due to sealing edge friction heat because of the shaft rotation • Rotational speed, etc. 4 Allowable peripheral speed When shaft rotation is extremely fast, the sealing performance deteriorates. • Total eccentricity
• Rubber material
• Seal type, etc. 5 Allowable internal pressure Internal pressure is a factor that may deteriorate seal performance. • Total eccentricity, etc. 6 Seal torque The seal torque is large. • Lip radial load
• Lubricating oil
• Rotational speed
• Shaft diameter, etc.

For a more detailed discussion of seal characteristics, please see the following:
Seal characteristics


5. Conclusion

When selecting the oil seal that is right for your machine, it is important that the oil seal be appropriate for the requirements of the usage environment and that it be easily acquired for replacement.
In this month's column, "How to select the right oil seal," we conveyed the following points:

1) Oil seal shape and material should be selected based on the housing, substance to be sealed, pressure, rotational speed, total eccentricity, and air-side conditions.
2) Oil seals can show good sealing performance in combination with properly designed shafts and housings.
3) Oil seal performance is affected by not only the type and material of the selected oil seal, but also a variety of other factors, such as operating conditions, total eccentricity, rotational speed, the substance to be sealed, and lubrication conditions. For this reason, diligent care is required in oil seal selection.

In order for the sealing property of the oil seal you selected to really shine, attention needs to be paid to how it is handled.
In the event of seal failure, it is necessary to take effective countermeasures.

We will cover these points in the next column, "Oil Seals (Part 3)".

If you have any technical questions regarding oil seals, or opinions/thoughts on these "Bearing Trivia" pages, please feel free to contact us using the following form:



The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Car Oil Seal

Oil Seals (Part 2): How to select the right oil seal