Seals and the Automotive Industry

It’s important to get from point A to point B. Whether you’re a car owner or you take public transportation, you need to get to your destination without the hassle of breaking down.

Some car owners depend on dashboard lights to let us know when something’s wrong. You might be a backyard mechanic that enjoys performing your own maintenance like oil changes and brake replacements. Or you might be a die-hard car enthusiast that is restoring a ’69 Ford Mustang! You tinker around and enjoy taking apart and rebuilding engines to see what you can make it do, or maybe, you just love being under the hood. No matter where you are on the car fanatic spectrum, the oil seal, as well as other seals, will play a major part in keeping your car running at its optimum performance. 

1.                   Oil Seals
We talk a lot about the importance of the oil seal when it comes to production equipment. And yes, it’s the oil seal that keeps contaminants from infecting your machinery and therefore causing it to breakdown. But, did you know that the oil seal works the same way in your car, motorcycle, or even ATV. If there is a bearing, you’ll have an oil seal to protect it. The seal plays three main roles:

• Holds and maintains liquids and lubricants in place
• Keeps contaminants under control
• Seals or separates divergent fluids and gases

Oil seals are used in many different applications in every type of moving vehicles. You’ll find them in camshafts and crankshafts, differentials, axles, pinions, and timing covers. Oil seals even protect your wheels.

2.                   Commercial Vehicle Oil Seals
Whereas every moving vehicle has oil seals, they are not all created equal. An oil seal manufactured for a commercial vehicle is constructed to endure and work in running conditions that may not be ideal. Grooves and nicks are sealed with rubber ribs that contain the entire axle shoulder.  The seal has a running surface that is even and lithe so that the seal can move side to side when it is deemed necessary. 

Commercial vehicle seals have large vent holes so that the applied lubricant is able to flow to and from the oil seal. Any heat build-up is also removed. 

3.                   O-Ring Seals
O-Ring seals can be found in virtually every moving vehicle. From construction vehicles to hot rods, o-rings are used in a number of applications to seal a variety of automotive fluids so that they cannot escape. The seal has to have the ability to maintain its litheness when exposed to different environments, including temperatures ranging from -40° to 200°C and pressures up to 2000psi.  Fluids, including power steering fluid, transmission fluid, engine oil, refrigerant and coolant, compressor oil, and brake fluid, are sealed between two sides and the o-ring is essentially pushing into the space that is between the connecting surfaces by force coming from the other side.  

For example, one of the most important applications the o-ring is used in is your vehicle’s braking system. The hydraulic fluid used is a glycol-based synthetic oil so that you are promised a continuous operation. Again, the o-ring is expected to perform under an extensive range of temperatures. You want to be sure that your o-ring is secured and not worn so that you have no issues with brake fluid leakage.  

4.                   V-Seals
Last, but not least, vehicles also need v-seals. Although used in a number of applications, v-seals are primarily used on an unusual or somewhat uneven shafted. Because they are crafted completely of rubber, v-seals are tremendously easy to mount and can be slid over shaft and then attached against the counterface. If your application needs to be retrofitted, v-seals are the perfect condition as they are an easy and adaptable solution. 

V-seals can also be used in a number of applications including manufacturing and oil refineries. 

Why Choose Colonial Seal Company?

Colonial Seal Company is an Authorized Vietnam-Era, Veteran Owned Small Business located in Westville, NJ. For over 20 years, we have continuously dedicated ourselves to delivering the highest quality products and outstanding service to all of our customers. We can provide Certificate of Conformance, material reports, and test reports upon customer request without hesitation. When you choose Colonial Seal Company, you choose a partner that can meet the demands of your industry and offer you solutions that will guarantee limited production downtime. Contact us today for a competitive quote!

We are here for Any Industry, Any Application, Anytime!