How Long Does a Pinion Shaft Oil Seal Last?

How Long Does a Pinion Shaft Oil Seal Last?

In a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the transmission’s power must be transmitted from the front of the vehicle to the rear wheels. This is done using a driveshaft – a long metal shaft that attaches to the end of the transmission and turns with the rotational speed of the transmission and the engine. However, the driveshaft cannot connect directly with the rear wheels. A differential is used to transform the rotational power of the driveshaft into movement at the wheels. To connect the differential and the driveshaft, a pinion shaft is used.

Depending on the make and model of vehicle in question, there will be one or more pinion seals. One will be located at the inner edge of the pinion shaft, and another (the pinion shaft oil seal) will be located near the end where the pinion shaft attaches to the drive shaft. The point of the seal is to prevent oil from leaking out of the pinion shaft.

All seals are subject to wear and tear, as well as degradation from heat. Eventually, they will fail. Your pinion shaft oil seal is no different. There’s no estimate on how long one should last, though, as there are many different mitigating factors. The seal is in use anytime you’re driving, and your driving habits and the conditions in your area will have significant effects on the longevity of the seal. For instance, if you regularly go off-road with your vehicle, you’ll but a lot more wear and tear on the seal than someone who sticks to the pavement.

The most important tip to remember about your pinion shaft oil seal is that it should be inspected for leaks at every service (your regular oil change, for instance). Once a leak is spotted, the seal should be replaced, as it will only become worse over time. Here are a few common symptoms of a failing pinion shaft oil seal to watch for:

Wetness at the end of the pinion shaft/driveshaft

Low differential fluid

Whining or grinding from the differential while driving, particularly around curves (indicates low fluid)

If you suspect there’s a problem with your pinion shaft oil seal, a certified mechanic can help inspect the system and replace the pinion shaft oil seal if necessary.

The Lifespan of a Gasket

The Dreaded Gasket Blowout Call

Have you ever received the dreaded 2 a.m. call from plant staff saying that things are at a standstill – production is down?

You arrive at the plant, walk through the parking lot, coffee in hand, and head to the locker room. When you come out on to the plant floor, there are several people staring at you with a look of panic on their faces as steam or process chemical sprays from a pipe flange.

Prognosis……gasket blowout.

You think to yourself “didn’t we just replace that gasket?”, or perhaps “we should have replaced it during the last shutdown but chose not to because of time constraints or cost cutting.”

If this scenario is new to you, you are lucky and you can go back to sleep… the 2 a.m. call was a wrong number. If it’s not new to you, this means you are most likely a Plant Supervisor, Maintenance Manager or Plant Personnel in some capacity.

Roll up your sleeves, grab your torque wrench and let’s get to work!

Gasket Lifespan

If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me, “How long will my gasket last?” I would be a rich man. As you can probably guess, “How long will my gasket last?” is a loaded question to which the practical, factual, and political answer is… an Application Engineer’s nightmare!

A gasket may last 5 years, or it could last 20 years. I cannot give you an exact date or lifespan of a gasket; however I can give you some insight into factors that will give your gasket the best chance at a long and prosperous life between the flanges.

3 Factors to Help Prevent Bolted Flange Gasket Blowout

Gasket Selection

Choosing the right gasket will save you a lot of grief. It’s important to speak with an Applications Engineer to help determine the proper gasket for your application. Factors such as chemical compatibility or elevated temperature can severely affect elastomer-based gaskets and cause them to become brittle. When gaskets become brittle they lose their ability to expand and contract with cyclic conditions. Sometimes they can start to leak slightly and the natural urge is to just “snug” or re-tighten the bolts with your wrench… DO NOT DO THIS.

Remember the gasket is brittle and now re-tightening this gasket may cause it to crack or break, leading to a blowout which can cause serious issues.

2. Gasket Quality

As a gasket manufacturer, I can tell you that cost matters. For instance a $2.00 compressed gasket may last 1 – 5 years, but a more expensive gasket, such as a $25.00 gasket could last 20 years. You don’t necessarily need to buy the most expensive gasket on the market; however, saving 50¢ on a lower-priced gasket should not be high on your priority list forsaking reliability and safety. In the end, you get what you pay for (within reason).

3. Installation

Installation is the most important factor to gasket longevity. Failing to install a gasket correctly is starting off on the wrong foot and indeed setting yourself up for a premature failure. Consider the following before gasket installation:

Do you have an installation procedure?

Do you use a torque wrench?

Do you know what torque values must be used?

If you answered ‘No’ to any of the above questions, I highly suggest you reach out to your gasket manufacturer for recommended installation procedures and appropriate torque values. Better yet – get your hands on a copy of ASME PCC-1 and read it if you’re serious about extending the life of your gaskets.

Final Thoughts on Gasket Lifespan

There is no real way to predict the future and determine when gasket failure will occur. To ensure you get the best performance out of your gaskets, following these suggestions will ensure that your gaskets don’t prematurely end up in the trash bin. And maybe you won’t get any more of those dreaded 2 a.m. phone calls.

Until next time, stay safe and keep the fluid between the pipes!

For more information about how Gallagher Fluid Seals can help you solve gasket challenges or how we can provide custom solutions to you, contact our engineering department at 800-822-4063

Original article was writted by Chett Norton, C.E.T. and can be found on the Triangle Fluid Controls website.

How Long Does an Oil Seal Last?

Seal life is very difficult to determine on equipment in the field because operating conditions are unknown, and they vary considerably. It’s hard to define a “typical” application. Furthermore, the applications are usually not ideal (defined as clean lab type environments, fully lubricated, low speed, ambient temps, no pressure, no misalignment or runout, no exposure to chemicals or solids, everything is sized correctly, etc), and the reality is that these factors change seal life considerably.