Clean your piston rings

[skrews]

Just a friendly PSA to clean your rings before you install them. I know this maybe common knowledge for many, but others may not realize how much grime is imbedded in new rings. These are new Total Seal gas ported top rings.

 

[Desoto291hemi]

Those don’t look new,,,,they look filthy .
I’ve never seen dirty new rings,,,,they are always meticulously clean in my experience .
Although,,,I guess nowadays,,,,anything is possible .

Tommy

 

[skrews]

Those don’t look new,,,,they look filthy .
I’ve never seen dirty new rings,,,,they are always meticulously clean in my experience .
Although,,,I guess nowadays,,,,anything is possible .

Tommy

I can assure they are new. Every set of rings I've ever used had some grit imbedded in them. These are by far the worst I've seen. I started cleaning my rings with carb or brake cleaner after seeing an article years ago on the finer points of engine assembly by Ray Barton. Some bearings can need cleaning too.

 

[Dan the man]

Those don’t look new,,,,they look filthy .
I’ve never seen dirty new rings,,,,they are always meticulously clean in my experience .
Although,,,I guess nowadays,,,,anything is possible .

Tommy

I've never seen new rings that were dirty.

 

[Dan the man]

With all the talk about rings, such as ring end gap I've never heard anyone on here mentioned anything about checking the gap between the rings and the ring land, this used to be a big deal back in the day.

 

[Dartnut]

Great thread!
This proves the fact that it pays to clean everything before assembly, you just never know until you check.
I also haven't seen new rings this dirty out of the box, but this was caught because you were meticulous on your pre assembly...
Good for you!

 

[Dan the man]

Great thread!
This proves the fact that it pays to clean everything before assembly, you just never know until you check.
I also haven't seen new rings this dirty out of the box, but this was caught because you were meticulous on your pre assembly...
Good for you!

I've always cleaned the rings bearings before I installed them. The bores got wiped down with thinner soaked cloth baby diapers till they were clean this usually took 2-3 diapers per bore, then they got washed and put up till they were needed.

 

[Dartnut]

I've always cleaned the rings bearings before I installed them. The bores got wiped down with thinner soaked cloth baby diapers till they were clean this usually took 2-3 diapers per bore, then they got washed and put up till they were needed.

Agreed.
Yeah, it's amazing what grit is left behind in the cross hatch pattern in the bores and crank for that matter after machining.
And don't forget he oil passages in the block, along with the rest of the block and the cam and lifters, and the timing chain and sprockets.
I've also seen grit in the heads from the valve job as well.
Sheesh, you can't be too clean and check everything...

 

[skrews]

I should crack open the box of rings for my other motor just to see how gritty they are.

 

[Dartnut]

I should crack open my other box of rings for my other motor just to see how gritty they are.

Yeah, I would love to see your findings...

 

[skrews]

More dirty rings

 

[skrews]

I've never seen new rings that were dirty.

Yeah, I would love to see your findings...

See the video above

 

[skrews]

The stuff coming off these rings looks to be the excess black phosphate coating. IMO I don't want what came off in the paper towel to go through my cylinders and what not.

 

[fishmens67]

I've never seen new rings that were dirty.

All new parts are dirty, need to be cleaned and lubricated.

 

[lead69]

I just spoke with total seal recently to order a set of gas ported rings and he told me they just take a regular set out of inventory and machine them. Mine were filthy as well when they showed up and looked like they just came out of the machine complete with the lubricating oil still on them.

 

[340six]

All new parts are dirty, need to be cleaned and lubricated.

I agree. As a side note my Total Seal were clean. But why take a chance

 

[Desoto291hemi]

Yes,,,,that can of brake clean is removing the phosphate coating .
They are not quite as filthy as the rag makes them look .

Tommy

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yes,,,,that can of brake clean is removing the phosphate coating .
They are not quite as filthy as the rag makes them look .

Tommy

LMAO. So, you really think brake cleaner is more potent than combustion gasses. Keep dreamin.

 

[Desoto291hemi]

No,,,I didn’t say that at all .

I did state that Acetone,,,(which is the major ingredient in brake cleaner),, will dissolve phosphate .

And yes,,,Acetone will cut gasoline,,and grease,,,and many other petroleum based elements .

What a piece of work .

Tommy

 

[RustyRatRod]

What a piece of work .

Tommy

WTF is this supposed to mean? That if someone dares disagree with anything you say, they're suddenly a "piece of work"? Do you consider your position so weak that you cannot discuss something like an adult, but have to resort to insults? If that's how it is, just say the word. I have a list with lots more room on it.

 

[67Dart273]

AND NOW, yet another annoying story from the old days.

Back in the mid 70's, stationed at then NAS Miramar, I had a part time paying job at the base auto hobby shop. Two guys were putting a regrind crank in an engine, and rering. We had miked it, seemed like an easy, low budget deal

Bear in mind I was not there every day, or even all day, often. So guys would come and go, do a little work, and I'd be in for my job, and missed some of what went on

So one of them comes over to the tune up bay and says, "can you help us? It is tight."

the answer was easy. the did not know you had to carefully clean the piston grooves. They had put in one slug, then two, but by three or four, they just could not turn it anymore

 

[Desoto291hemi]

I’m sorry man,,,I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings .
From what I read in post #18 was that you were calling me stupid for Knowing that Acetone will cut phosphate .
LMAO followed by keep dreaming ,,usually means that someone is taking a superior position of intellect .

Am I wrong there as well ?
Lol , I try to be your friend,,however you always take to being upset when anyone posts something contrary to your positions.

Again,,,I’m sorry if I offended you .

Tommy

 

[RustyRatRod]

AND NOW, yet another annoying story from the old days.

Back in the mid 70's, stationed at then NAS Miramar, I had a part time paying job at the base auto hobby shop. Two guys were putting a regrind crank in an engine, and rering. We had miked it, seemed like an easy, low budget deal

Bear in mind I was not there every day, or even all day, often. So guys would come and go, do a little work, and I'd be in for my job, and missed some of what went on

So one of them comes over to the tune up bay and says, "can you help us? It is tight."

the answer was easy. the did not know you had to carefully clean the piston grooves. They had put in one slug, then two, but by three or four, they just could not turn it anymore

You need to write the book.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I’m sorry man,,,I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings .
From what I read in post #18 was that you were calling me stupid for Knowing that Acetone will cut phosphate .
LMAO followed by keep dreaming ,,usually means that someone is taking a superior position of intellect .

Am I wrong there as well ?
Lol , I try to be your friend,,however you always take to being upset when anyone posts something contrary to your positions.

Again,,,I’m sorry if I offended you .

Tommy

I'm not upset at all, you are. If I ever need to call someone stupid, there will be absolutely no misunderstanding whatsoever. No, I wasn't upset, I was trying to provoke some discussion about it. How much brake cleaner do you think gets shot into carburetors into engines over time and no ill effects to the rings. I just don't see it. Now, if you want to discuss it like an adult I'm all about it. Show me some proof. You're the one who made the statement first, so the burdon of proof is yours.

 

[Desoto291hemi]

What burden of proof,,,,that Acetone will cut black phosphate ?

Come on man,,,, Lol .

Again,,,I apologize if I have offended you in anyway .

Tommy