- In conclusion, retainer oil seals are essential components in machinery that help prevent oil leakage and ensure efficient operation. Proper selection, installation, and maintenance of these seals are crucial to the reliability and longevity of the equipment. By understanding the importance of retainer oil seals and taking necessary precautions to maintain them, operators can help prevent costly downtime and repairs.
Nominal seal O.D.
D, mm
Oil seals are always exposed to a lot of chemicals, both mild and harsh chemicals. The seals react by showing some signs like cracks, blisters, and discoloration especially when the chemical is harsh. This clearly shows that the chemical is not compatible with the seal, which goes as far as affecting its cross-link density (increase or decrease). When the cross-link density increases, the seal material becomes harder, but when it decreases, the seal material becomes softer.
Modern engine oils, such as the current SG classification for gasoline engines, contain a large fraction of additives, many of which are detrimental to fluoroelastomers. The primary functions of oil-additive packages are to protect metal parts, avoid deposits in the engine, minimize oil degradation, and adjust fluid viscosity. Little attention has been paid to avoiding damage to rubber seals. Instead, elastomer producers have been expected to provide new, higher-performing products at no increased cost to auto manufacturers. Among the additives with moieties that may attack fluoroelastomers at high temperature are detergents (phenolates), dispersants (succinimides, alkylphenol amines), and antioxidants (amines, sulfides, hindered phenols).4 Many of these components are multifunctional, containing phenol or amine groups that can dehydrofluorinate and crosslink VDF-containing fluoroelastomers, leading to loss of elongation and eventual embrittlement. However, the rate and extent of reactions with seals are affected by many factors, including whether air is present in the system. When oil is exposed to air at high temperature, additives may undergo considerable changes. For example, a significant fraction of amines may be oxidized to amides, which have little effect on fluoroelastomers.5
In this kind of seal, wider tolerances are possible between the OD of the seal and the seal housing. Irregularities of the housing surface can be taken up by the resilient rubber layer on the outside of the seal. However, the rubber covered seal can be blown out under high pressure in a reciprocating application whereas, with a metal case, there is no such danger.

