A seal installation guide sleeve for installing a radial lip seal onto a shaft. The radial lip seal includes a flexible sealing lip. The guide sleeve includes a cylindrical lip engaging surface, and includes an annular flange portion extending from the cylindrical lip engaging surface. The guide sleeve also includes a plurality of tabs extending from the annular flange portion. The guide sleeve is pre-installed in the radial lip seal such that the flexible sealing lip engages the cylindrical lip engaging surface, thereby protecting the flexible sealing lip from damage as the radial lip seal is installed onto the shaft.