Cause Analysis of Oil Seal Leakage in Chemical Pumps

Chemical pumps are key equipment for transporting chemical liquids. Oil seal leakage is a common problem when they convey oil-based media, which not only wastes oil but may also cause equipment failures or safety risks. Below is a popular explanation of the main causes of oil leakage:

I. Problems with the Sealing Contact Surface: Damaged Lip or Defective Shaft

1. Oil seal lip wear: Impurities such as dust and iron filings in the pump accumulate on the oil seal lip, causing wear over long-term friction; if the oil seal is misaligned with the rotating shaft during installation, one side will wear severely; or insufficient lubricating oil at the lip leads to dry friction and damage, all of which will result in oil leakage.
2. Inadequate rotating shaft: The surface of the rotating shaft is not smooth enough or hard enough, making it prone to wear; if there are defects on the rotating shaft surface, such as corrosion, scratches, directional tool marks, etc., it will also scratch the oil seal and cause oil leakage.

II. Failure of the Skeleton Spring: Broken "Pressure Device" for Sealing

The spring inside the oil seal is like a "pressure device", responsible for pressing the lip tightly against the rotating shaft. If the spring has poor quality or manufacturing defects, it may be either too loose or too tight. When too loose, the spring's pressing force is insufficient to achieve a sealing effect; when too tight, the excessive pressing force causes improper fit between the oil seal and the rotating shaft, leading to abnormal wear of the oil seal and oil leakage. In addition, long-term immersion of the spring in oil can cause rust and breakage, resulting in loss of sealing function.

III. Material Mismatch: Incompatibility Between Oil Seal and Oil Medium

The material of the oil seal must be compatible with the transported oil medium. If they are incompatible, the oil medium will cause the oil seal lip to swell, harden, soften, or crack, reducing the sealing effect and naturally leading to oil leakage. For example, ordinary rubber oil seals are prone to this problem when used with certain special oils.

IV. Improper Installation: Potential Hazards from the Start

1. Due to the inaccurate installation tooling, the oil seal is deformed after pressing; during the installation process, if the oil seal passes through threads or splines without proper protection, the lip will be scratched.
2. If the surface roughness of the oil seal mounting position is too low and the pressing force is excessive, it will cause spring failure or lip inversion; failure to clean oil stains and impurities before installation will also prevent the oil seal from fitting tightly, leading to oil leakage.

V. Recommendation of High-Quality Pumps: Choose the Right Equipment to Reduce Failures from the Source

To fundamentally reduce the probability of failures such as oil seal leakage, it is crucial to select a reliable centrifugal pump. Teffiko Italian Centrifugal Pump, inheriting Italian exquisite manufacturing craftsmanship, strictly controls the sealing structure design, material compatibility, and shaft processing accuracy, which can effectively reduce problems such as seal failure and installation deviation, and is suitable for various chemical oil transportation scenarios.

If you have needs for chemical pump procurement, replacement, or customization, please feel free to contact us! Our professional team will provide you with selection guidance, technical support, and comprehensive after-sales service to help your production operate stably and efficiently.