Modern transmissions work hard, so shouldn't their oil seals do the same? Poor quality seals are one of the top reasons for diagnosing transmission fluid leaks, and it can damage the unit beyond repair. In a running automotive system, you should never underestimate the value of a well-made oil seal. In today's article, we'll discuss the importance of quality selection when it comes to transmission oil seals.

Causes and Effects

A transmission may contain dozens of seal components, all with a specific purpose. If even one of these seals fails, the transmission in the vehicle will begin to leak transmission fluid. However, a leaking transmission is not a simple problem in itself; a leaking seal can quickly lead to many other problems, including a complete transmission burnout.

Static seals, such as a simple O-ring, fit between two stationary parts, while more complex dynamic seals have multiple lips that act as a barrier between stationary and moving parts.

Over time, due to changes in pressure, stress and heat within the working transmission, seals will begin to break down - it's only a matter of time. However, depending on the quality of the seals, this time period can vary greatly. In addition, the oil seals that accompany the more moving parts of the unit, such as the input and output shafts, will experience more wear and tear and will usually need to be replaced more frequently.

Transmission Rebuilders

While proper maintenance and lubrication can help extend the life of the oil seal, the performance of the seal is largely dependent on the overall quality of the seal. Simply put, a poor quality oil seal cannot withstand the pressure fluctuations within a modern transmission and will lead to more transmission leaks and problems in the long run. That's why it's important to choose the highest quality oil seals when rebuilding transmissions in your store. Please follow HONGLEI to see more seals with different functions.

Quality seals under pressure

To find oil seals you can really rely on that will last long after the rebuild is complete, you should look for a few key signs of quality. The material of the seal is an important indicator of quality. Cheap rubber seals do not offer the same durability as more innovative materials such as polyacrylate, ethylene-acrylic, hydrogenated nitrile, fluoroelastomer and others. Each of these materials has different properties that determine how they will perform in different temperatures and environments.

Another true indicator of the quality of an oil seal is its inclusion as an OE component in the original unit. The OE seal used for the rebuild is identical to the seal used by the original transmission manufacturer to build the transmission, so you can be sure that the OE seal will have the highest level of performance, and the best fit within the unit. 

While no oil seal lasts forever, the quality of the seal you choose to install in your rebuild affects not only the success of that job on the shop floor, but also the long-term value of your work. Please contact HONGLEI if you need to purchase oil seals, we can offer high quality and good service to you. Using well-made, high-quality seals that can withstand the high demands of today's transmissions will only increase your productivity in the long run.