1. How do I know if I need to vent my housing?

GORE® Automotive Vents are in a wide variety of applications. Venting is necessary for four main reasons:

  • To reduce stress on housing components and seals by equalizing internal pressure with the external environment
  • To protect the interior of the unit (electronics, light sources, sensors, etc.) from dust, dirt and liquid contamination
  • To reduce condensation build up by allowing the passage of water vapor out of the housing
  • To reduce the concentration of outgassed contaminates liberated from the heating of the electronics and materials within the enclosure

GORE® Automotive Vents enable the rapid exchange of air and other gases through the ePTFE membrane in response to environmental changes. Unlike traditional venting options, GORE® Automotive Vents offer a unique venting solution by protecting against the impact of dust, salt and water ingress while allowing the housing to breathe.

2. How does the vent work?

Microporous ePTFE membrane from Gore prevents pressure build-up by constantly equalizing the difference in pressure between the inside of the enclosure and the outside environment. The ePTFE vent works by allowing air and other gases to pass freely through the membrane while stopping liquid and particles from entering the enclosure.

There are many different types of GORE® Membranes, each designed for a particular application, based on the design needs of that application. Our technical staff will be able to help you select the right membrane for your application.

3. Does the GORE™ Membrane vent in both directions?

GORE® Automotive Vents allow the passage of air and other gases in each direction while blocking the flow of liquids. Gore offers a range of materials with varying airflows depending on how quickly the housing needs to vent.

4. What does oleophobic and hydrophobic mean?

Hydrophobic membranes have water resistant properties to protect your product from high surface tension aqueous liquids, like water. Gore's oleophobic ePTFE membranes provide protection from not only water but also from lower surface tension fluids like oils, detergents and alcohols. Due to the nature of automotive applications, with close proximity to oils, grease and fuels as well as frequent cleaning with surfactants and waxes, oleophobic membranes are an excellent way to ensure long term peak performance.

5. Should I use a molded, cut part or adhesive vent?

Gore offers a range of products to meet your application requirements, including molded snap-fit, molded press-fit, cut parts for welding and adhesive cut parts in a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, molded parts incorporate physical protection in addition to protecting from water and contaminant ingress. On the other hand, our cut and adhesive vents have a low profile and come in a range of sizes. The design and material of your housing is also influencing factors in the selection of a vent.

Gore also offers custom part configurations if standard offerings do not meet your needs. We would be happy to discuss your application requirements and help to determine which configuration will work best. Please contact a Gore representative with questions about what would work best for you.

6. What type of adhesive is used on the adhesive vents, how does it work?

Gore utilizes acrylic or silicone Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA) depending upon the part and the application. PSA's can be applied to a wide range of materials, require very little – if any – surface preparation, only require pressure to achieve a good bond and provide a durable, water-tight bond. Please see the individual product sheets for information regarding temperature resistance and system performance of the particular adhesive used on that product.

7. How many vents do I need?

The number of vents required is dependent upon the housing size and the net free volume inside. Furthermore, environmental influences (temperature cycles, altitude or pressure changes, contact fluids) and required airflow are important factors to consider when choosing a vent material and configuration. Having said this, the majority of automotive applications can be solved with one vent.

Gore sales associates can help determine how many vents are required to provide sufficient airflow and/or condensation relief to your housing. Contact Gore today.

8. Where should I place the vent hole?

GORE® Automotive Vents are designed to be flexible enough to be installed on a range of surfaces depending on the housing configuration. It is important that the vent be unobstructed so that it can pass air freely. We recommend mounting the vent on the vertical side of your housing to ensure that no foreign materials are able to block or pool on the vent area. Please review our surface guide, adhesive and installation instructions to ensure proper installation.

9. What’s the best way to install the vent?

GORE® Automotive Vents provide the flexibility to be installed manually for low-volume or frequently changing production, as well as fully automated installation for high-volume production.

Please contact a Gore representative to find out more about which method would be best for your application.

10. Do the vents pass IP69K spray testing and/or ice dunk tests?

Gore’s experience with automotive applications and membrane manufacturing has led to the development of a wide range of parts to meet the specific needs of these demanding applications.

Please see the individual part datasheets for more information.

11. Can the vent really last for the life of the vehicle?

Rugged, durable, long-lasting GORE® Automotive vents have been tested and shown to perform over the normal 10- to 15-year product life cycle. They have been designed and tested to the strictest OEM and Tier-1 testing requirements.