Pistons Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Brake & Front End
Diagnosing Murphy’s Law Under the Hood of a Ford F-150

Most of us working in the automotive service trades are very familiar with Murphy’s Law and how it affects our shop’s cost of doing business. Murphy’s Law says, “Everything that can go wrong usually will go wrong.” Gary Goms investigates a mysterious engine noise in a 1989 Ford F-150 pickup equipped with the venerable 5.0L or 302 cubic-inch V8 engine.

Tech Tip: Getting Your (Piston) Groove Back

The piston ring set and the piston must be engineered to complement each other from a standpoint of clearance between the back of the piston ring and the bottom of the piston groove. This clearance is referred to as back clearance. If the clearance is not sufficient, severe engine damage can result when the piston and rings are installed in the engine.

Tech Feature: Troubleshooting Internal Errors – Solving Piston and Ring Breakdowns

Rings that do not seal well during all four phases of the four-cycle combustion process can reduce an engine’s power potential by 20, 30, 40 or more horsepower, depending on the engine’s displacement, compression ratio and speed. Rings that leak during the intake stroke will reduce air velocity and volumetric efficiency.

Compression Ring Seating: When is a Piston Ring Seated?

There has been some confusion concerning piston ring seating. Some ring sets have been returned to the manufacturer with the comment “the rings didn’t seat,” however, when the rings were examined they had 360 degree continuous contact on the O.D. face. This contact is indicative of total ring sealing.

Tech Spec: Tackling Old Timers – Salvaging Pre-War Era Engines

It’s often surprising to some people that parts for these cars are still available. For other engine specialists, it’s sometimes more surprising when they aren’t.

Tech Tip: How to Check Piston Ring Groove Back Clearance

It is extremely important to check rings for sufficient back clearance to verify correct ring set application for the engine. The piston ring set and the piston must be engineered to complement each other from a standpoint of clearance between the back of the piston ring and the bottom of the piston groove.

Tech Tip: Top 10 ‘DOs’ of Piston Ring Installation

Here are 10 brief pointers from Hastings Piston Rings on how to properly install piston rings and avoid a comeback.

Tech Tip: Destroking or Decompressing Pistons

A destroked piston is a piston that may have as much as .020″ or more removed from the top of the piston. This may be done by machining the top of the piston, or reducing the thickness of the head in the original casting.

Tech Tip: Checking Compression Ring Gaps

Ring gaps are often a confusing and misunderstood part of a rering job. There are minimum and maximum ring gap specifications that must be observed for the best performance of a new ring set.

Tech Spec: Nailing Down the Misunderstood Buick Nailhead Engine

Like the Small Block Chevy, the Rocket 88 Olds, the Ford Flathead and the Chrysler Hemi, the Buick Nailhead engine is one of those that has the immortal smell of history all over it. Yet, unlike its more familiar brothers, cousins and even competitors, the Nailhead has an aura of mystery about it as well.

Tech Feature: Family Ties – Servicing Chrysler’s Versatile 3.3L and 3.8L Engines

First introduced as a family back in 1990, these engines have been upgraded and improved to provide good torque for the necessary applications, reasonable fuel economy and a reputation for durability and appropriate performance.

Tech Tip: VW’s MIL is On, with DTCs P0087/P1093 or P2293

This condition could be caused by excessive wear of the intake camshaft lobe that drives the high pressure fuel pump. The wear limits maximum pump piston lift, causing fuel rail pressure fluctuations. The wear on the camshaft lobe can also lead to wear on the base of the high pressure fuel pump cam follower.