Piston installationHello to all.

shbop · 03-28-2006, 02:44 PM

Hello to all. OK, yesterday I'm talking with some friend's about which oil to use on my new pistons and rings. For years, years ago, I used regular motor oil. Liberally applying it to the rings, piston, and cylinder walls. Now I'm hearing that it is not good! Too much oil and the rings won't seal. I tell my friend, "you've got to be kidding". It will get burned off in no time and the oil below the control rings--well. He said that he uses LPS. Can one of you guys that do this all the time shed some light? What's the best way to go? And does it matter if the engine will sit for a while before going to work? The ring orientation isn't a problem, just the lubricant for the rings, piston skirt and cylinder walls. Has anyone used LPS #3? Thanks in advance!!

Tyson Schmidt · 03-28-2006, 04:28 PM

I use a squirter to squirt ATF into the ring lands, then a very light coating on the piston skirts.

Some people actually advocate assembling them dry to help them seat, but I just don't have the stomach to try that.

shbop · 03-28-2006, 04:39 PM

Thanks for the reply! I've heard the same, Also couldn't possibly do it, but this idea of too much oil is bothering me. I mean, I don't want to fill the cylinder with oil, but has anyone heard of too much actually preventing the rings from sealing?

id911T · 03-28-2006, 04:49 PM

In all of the engines I have rebuilt, I've never had a problem with the rings not seating after coating them with oil upon installation. Granted, these engines weren't 911 engines, but they range from motorcycle to big block, so the sample spread is pretty broad. Maybe with some cylinder compositions it's an issue, but I have not run into it.