Why your car’s oil seal is crucial

The humble oil seal—it’s the guardian of your engine's vital fluids. Small but mighty it’s a silent hero that often goes unnoticed… until something goes wrong. Yes, that little ring of rubber plays a crucial role in keeping your engine running smoothly.

Let’s lift the bonnet and discover everything you need to know about oil seals, including what an oil seal is, a few of the most common types, whether you can still drive with an oil seal leak, and how an oil seal leak repair is carried out.

What is an oil seal?

Simply put, an oil seal is a flexible circle of rubber that acts as a barrier to keep the oil in, and dirt and foreign objects out. If your oil seals are in less than tip top condition your engine could suffer from oil leaks, leading to reduced performance, increased wear and tear, and potential damage. So ensuring your oil seals are in good condition and replaced regularly will help your engine to keep working efficiently, and avoid costly repairs.

Different oil seal types

Your car’s engine doesn’t just have one engine oil seal, but many working their magic to keep your car humming along nicely. They come in a variety of oil seal sizes, but they’re all important to your car's engine health. Here are a few of the most common oil seals and what they do:

Rear main oil seal

Stationed at the rear of your engine's crankshaft, the rear main oil seal can be found where the crankshaft connects to the transmission. That’s why it’s sometimes called a crankshaft oil seal. Its main job is to prevent oil from seeping out of the crankshaft.

Input shaft seal

Nestled snugly within the transmission housing, the input shaft seal (also known as the front transmission seal) stops fluid from leaking around the input shaft. This shaft connects to either the torque converter or clutch disk, depending on if the car has an automatic or manual transmission.

Front crankshaft seal

The main job of the crankshaft front seal is to seal the hole in the engine block that the front of the crankshaft sticks out of. The crankshaft has large counterweights in it that splash oil onto the main bearings to keep them lubricated and moving smoothly. To avoid an oil leak, the front crankshaft seal is located in the bottom of the engine block just above the engine sump, stopping that splattered oil from seeping out.

Rear axle seal

The rear axle seal is found where the axle attaches to the rear differential. Its job is to stop differential oil from leaking out of the axle assembly. If an axle seal fails, it can lead to premature wear of the gears and bearings, potentially leading to costly repair, as well as leaking fluid onto the road creating a slip hazard.

How do you fix a leaking oil seal?

Here's a handy guide to doing an oil seal repair:

Can you drive with an oil seal leak?

While it’s possible to drive with an oil leak, just how far you’ll get will depend on the severity of the leak, where the leak is coming from, and how much oil you’ve already lost. So even though life gets busy it can be tempting to ignore a little bit of a leak and carry on as usual, doing so can have serious consequences.

If you continue driving with an oil leak you’re risking serious damage to vital components of your engine, which will cost you far more in the long run. If you notice an engine oil seal leak, it's best to have it inspected and repaired by a trusted mechanic as soon as possible.

Still not sure? Drop into mycar for help

If your car’s sprung a leak or you’re just unsure about the condition of your car's oil seals then drop into your local mycar for assistance. With more than 275 stores nationwide, we’re always just a short ride away.

Our team of expert technicians offer professional servicing, testing and replacement for all your oil seals and will inspect your vehicle and perform any necessary repairs to ensure your car is running smoothly. Plus, with our lifetime workmanship guarantee, you can trust that your car is in good hands. Schedule a service appointment today and experience the mycar difference.