How to find the right Sealing Washers AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Sealing Washers
- Sealing type for the job
- Copper or aluminum crush washers suit drain plugs and banjo bolts. Bonded seals with a metal ring and rubber lip suit hydraulic ports. EPDM-backed washers suit roofing screws. Each design seals by a different mechanism and is not interchangeable.
- Elastomer compatibility
- Use nitrile (NBR) for petroleum oils and fuels, EPDM for water, steam and glycol brake fluid, and FKM for heat and aggressive fuels. The wrong rubber swells or hardens and leaks.
- Single use for crush washers
- Replace copper and aluminum crush washers at every service unless they are re-annealed. They work-harden when crushed and will not reseal reliably.
- Thread size match
- Match the ID to the bolt thread, such as M14 for a drain plug, and the OD to the seating face. An oversized ID or OD does not compress evenly and seeps.
Brands that matter
- Parker: Hydraulic seals, including bonded sealing washers.
- Freudenberg: Industrial seal maker.
What to avoid
- EPDM seals on petroleum oil
- Reusing crushed copper drain-plug washers
- Mixed assortments with no rubber compound stated
Questions
Is a 'Dowty washer' a brand?
It is the common name for a bonded seal: a metal washer with a molded rubber sealing lip. Several makers produce them.