Thursday, November 21, 2013
Oil Seal Grease Seal Differences
Seals are used in many applications to prevent liquids from moving from one compartment to another. Even though an oil seal uses oil to accomplish this while a grease seal utilizes grease, both seals may be used in the same machine to protect different parts. Oil is a lubricant that makes an engine turn over and run smoothly, while grease is made from animal fats and minerals, making it a thicker lubricating substance than oil. It is common to confuse the two terms since many companies will refer to an oil seal as a grease seal, and vice versa.
Location
An oil seal is often located where raw oil is inserted into the machine for lubrication. This seal will keep the oil from blending into other liquids inside of the machine, and from coming into contact with water. A grease seal is often found away from any entry point in the machine, but rather at the base of an engine so the grease made by the oil does not leak out.
Material
Grease differs from oil in that it keeps a thick, liquid state while at room temperature. Because of this, grease seals are typically thicker and made from more durable materials like silicone and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to withstand the heavy flow. An oil seal only needs to fit securely to the machine part, since oil is a runny liquid at room temperature. The oil seal might be thinner and be made from elastics and acrylics.
Apperance
While both seals resemble one another at first glance, upon a closer look, the seals do differ slightly. Once again, grease is a thick, heavy sludge, made from the fats of animals and minerals. Because of this, a seal for grease might have a two-lip design, which is a double groove on the outside of the seal, to securely enclose the grease inside the machine part. Some seals have a spring set within the groove, or lip, to guarantee the seal does not slip off. Oil seals, on the other hand, usually just require a single lip design to keep the seal in place.
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