Wiseco Auto - Blog

Gapping and correctly installing piston rings is one of the most important parts of engine assembly. Here's how to do it right. 

Piston rings perform a number of duties in an engine: They seal combustion pressure and gases in the chamber, preventing them from passing by the piston and into the crankcase where they can only do harm. They stabilize the piston as it travels up and down the cylinder bore, help cool the piston by transferring heat into the block’s cylinder bore, and finally, they meter the film of oil on the bore surface during operation. Rings perform these functions under the most extreme conditions, which is why premium ring sets should always be used, with materials and designs matched to the intended application.

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Ring gap is absolutely critical to engine performance and longevity––and, one of our number-one tech questions. Today we explain why rings need a gap, how to do it, and some common ring-gapping mistakes.

If you’re a frequent reader of our articles here, you may have noticed that our “tech” stories tend to fall into a few major categories. Some are to let you know about new stuff that’s just hitting the market. Others are intended to give you an in-depth look at the engineering and technology behind the aftermarket products you’re selecting for your engine builds. And the rest are simply a way to answer the question: “how do I do that?”

Today, we’re looking at setting ring gap - a topic that might not exactly elevate your heart rate, but something that is absolutely critical to engine performance and longevity–and, one of our number-one tech questions. Our expert guiding us today is Wiseco’s Nickolaus DiBlasi.