What Are Piston Rings?

The piston ring seals the combustion chamber to keep the combustion gas in and the oil out. 

Properly working piston rings are essential to an engine.


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◆Best piston ring supplier

If you're looking for piston rings or OEM/ODM services, you've come to the right place. Whether you are an auto parts dealer, an existing brand, a dealership, or an automotive service company, 1D is a piston ring manufacturer that can meet your needs at a reasonable price and provide quality products.

Unlike other manufacturers, 1D has a wide range of cylinder liners compatible with more than 1,000 car engine models. We have strong manufacturing capabilities, flexibility to customize and strong after-sales service.


◆What Are Piston Rings?

At some point, every novice driver asks, What's a piston ring? What does a piston ring do?

In short, the piston ring forms a seal between the piston and the cylinder wall, preventing pressurized combustion gas from entering the oil pan. They also regulate oil consumption by preventing too much oil from entering the combustion chamber and burning. A properly functioning ring is essential for maximum engine power and efficiency.


◆What does a piston ring do?

Most stock car pistons have three rings, as shown below.

The top ring and the second ring are responsible for pressing tightly against the cylinder wall and sealing the combustion chamber to allow combustion gas to enter and exhaust the oil.

The oil ring scrapes oil off the cylinder wall as it goes down the cylinder and returns it to the oil pan. Some oil combustion is normal during combustion because of the extremely thin oil film lubricating ring/cylinder wall interface. What constitutes "normal" fuel consumption, however, depends on the engine.


◆When a good piston ring goes bad.

Worn rings create a gap between the torus and the cylinder wall. During combustion, the pressurized gas that pushes the piston down the cylinder and turns the crankshaft can be blown through the piston and down the cylinder wall and into the oil pan, resulting in horsepower and efficiency. Leaks can also contaminate the oil, reducing its performance and service life.

Clasp can cause the same thing. The extremely hot combustion gas breaks down the oil, forming carbon deposits in the annular groove. Gasoline byproducts also form deposits.

Large amounts of sediment cause the piston ring to stick in the groove instead of sticking out of the piston, creating a gap between the ring and the cylinder wall, which can lead to air leakage and oil consumption.


◆Blue smoke, hard starts and power loss

The negative effects of a bad piston ring are usually easy to notice. Too much oil consumption can cause blue smoke to billow out of the exhaust pipe, especially before the engine has warmed up and the piston rings have expanded in the cylinders. Burning oil also means you need to refill your oil more frequently.

Frayed or stuck rings can also cause difficulty starting and reduced horsepower.

As the engine turns, the piston compresses the fuel/air mixture before burning. However, a bad ring will allow some fuel/air to escape from the combustion chamber, effectively reducing engine compression and making it harder to start the engine. Once it's up and running, the reduced compression takes power away from your engine.


◆How is prevention best practice?

How to prevent wear and jammed rings is critical to maximizing engine power, efficiency and life.

Start with a high quality synthetic oil, such as 1D Toyota Series Synthetic oil, which resists wear and withstand extreme heat, keeping the piston clean.

Secondly, we should choose high quality piston rings, such as 1D piston rings, which can avoid many problems such as breakage and wear of piston rings.

If you suspect that your piston ring is worn or stuck, consider using the highest viscosity oil recommended by an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

Some Oems recommend a range of viscosities based on your climate (for example, 5W-20 for cold, 10W-30 for above 0ºF). Using the recommended maximum viscosity will help narrow the gap between the ring and the cylinder wall.


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