Should you grease seals?

To begin the seal installation, an important step is to pre-lubricate the seal with the oil or grease you are going to seal. This will reduce the “sliding“ friction force that can damage the seal when installed dry. It also prevents a dry starting condition that can tear the seal material during initial run-in periods.

What is a grease retaining seal?

A grease seal, often called an oil or dirt seal, is a type of seal utilized to retain grease in a case or housing. Grease seals close spaces between stationary and moving components in mechanical equipment, helping prevent lubricant escape.

What is the difference between an oil seal and a grease seal?

Oil Seals are used to seal around a rotating shaft and keep an oil-based lubricant inside an axle, engine, etc. Grease seals are used to seal more viscous grease lubricants in rotary shaft applications.

Should oil seals be greased?

Both the shaft and the Oil Seal have to be lubricated with oil or grease in advance. This eases the assembly and ensures lubrication from the beginning. If Oil Seals with fixed dust lips are being used, the space be- tween the sealing lip and the dust lip may also be filled max. 40% with grease.

Why do you lube O-rings?

Lubrication of O-rings is essential for the proper function and full-service life of the seal, but also to ensure the machine, motor, engine, or device in which it is placed does not malfunction from a blown seal. A grease or oil application at assembly helps to protect the O-ring from damage during use.

Why do you lubricate O-rings?

Lubricating an O-ring is an important part of the assembly line process as it can help protect an application from abrasion or scuffing damage. Applications that are constantly in motion are prone to this wear over time.

Are grease seals reusable?

Reusing your old race is totally fine and going just a little bit past flush with the grease seal is totally fine as well. Normally we recommend flush but if you are just a bit past that there won’t be any problems.

Do lip seals need lubrication?

Lip seals need lubrication to avoid direct contact between the shaft and lip. As sump temperature or speed increases, the film of lubricant between the seal and shaft becomes thinner and can break down. When this contact occurs it results in heavy wear.

What are oil seals made of?

An oil seal generally consists of an outer circular metal part and an inner flexible member that does the actual sealing and is bonded to the metal part by chemical adhesive agents. The sealing member is made of rubber, either synthetic or natural as the case may be.