Oil seals, springs and coils are integral parts of engine design. Oil seals keep fluids from entering the combustion chamber, springs allow flexibility in certain auto components (i.e. shock absorbers), and coils supplies spark plugs with electricity. A brief description of these important, but often overlooked, auto parts follows.

An oil seal is a circular rubber gasket designed for keeping oil or other fluids from leaking and causing serious damage to the engine; these pieces are primarily used to seal the rotating shafts that are a part of every modern gas powered engine. The reason these parts are called oil seals is because there is a thin layer of oil between the seal and the shaft; this layer of oil allows the shaft to rotate freely without causing wear and tear to the seal.

At their most basic, a spring is a coiled piece of wire in which the layers are stacked on top of one another. This allows the spring to compress and expand with pressure. The main use of springs in the auto industry is for suspension systems, which allow the auto to drive smoothly and without bouncing.

Coils are essential to the operation of an automobile of any type; they are what provide the power necessary to create a spark and ignite the fuel in order to make the vehicle run.

Knowing about oil seals, springs and coils and what they do before they quit working could save you some of the headache of confusing car repair.