What are the consequences of oil seal leakage?
2 Answers
Valve oil seal leakage can lead to accelerated engine oil consumption and blue smoke from the exhaust pipe, but it has little impact on engine power. The valve oil seal prevents engine oil from entering the intake and exhaust pipes, thereby avoiding oil loss. It also prevents the leakage of the air-fuel mixture and exhaust gases, and stops engine oil from entering the combustion chamber. Below is extended information about oil seals: 1. Function: An oil seal is a mechanical component used to contain lubricants, commonly found in the bearing areas of various machinery. Its primary role is to isolate lubricated parts from the external environment, preventing lubricant leakage. It serves the dual purpose of sealing oil internally and keeping out dust externally. 2. Material: Modern oil seals are primarily made from various types of rubber, such as nitrile rubber, acrylic rubber, polyurethane rubber, silicone rubber, fluororubber, and polytetrafluoroethylene rubber. The typical structure of an oil seal is shown in the figure below (note: image removed as per instructions). It offers advantages such as simple structure, lightweight, compact installation space, and ease of manufacturing.
I witnessed the disastrous consequences of an oil seal leak during my last car repair. The differential oil seal on that SUV was seeping oil, and the owner ignored it. As a result, during a long-distance trip, all the oil leaked out, causing the gears to grind dry and fail, costing an extra 8,000+ in repairs. Oil seal leaks in chassis components must be addressed promptly, especially the power steering oil seal—if it leaks completely, the steering wheel can suddenly become heavy, which is extremely dangerous at high speeds. Another example is the engine crankshaft rear oil seal leak, where engine oil drips onto the exhaust pipe, producing white smoke that can make people think the car is on fire.
