Abstract Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the dynamic characteristics of mechanical face seals with liquid-lubricated inclined elliptical grooves. Design/methodology/approach The steady-state and perturbation Reynolds control equations of liquid films were established. The film pressure and the liquid film dynamic coefficients were obtained, impacts of groove structures on the liquid film dynamic characteristic coefficients were analyzed. Findings The analysis results indicate that the axial dynamic stiffness and damping coefficients of the liquid film seal with inclined elliptical grooves are far greater than those of the angular directions. Furthermore, the dynamic stiffness coefficient of the liquid film with the nonclosed inclined elliptical grooves is higher than those with the closed grooves, whereas the dynamic damping coefficient of the liquid film is lower. Originality/value The effects of inclined elliptical groove structures on the dynamic characteristics of the liquid film seal are investigated. The results presented are expected to enrich the theoretical basis of optimizing the dynamic performance of liquid film seals with textures.