Piston Rings: What are the signs of wear

The piston rings are one of the most sensitive components of the engine and have a direct impact on the engine operation. See in this article the main engine segments signs of wear ,how you can avoid deformations in the rings and much more. Continue reading the article.

 

What are piston rings?

The combustion engine has pistons inside. This is where the explosion occurs when air and fuel enter which cause the engine to have the power that creates motion.. It is precisely in these pistons that the piston rings are found.

They are a set of rings attached to each piston  having as main function the pressure regularization and the amount of oil consumed by the engine. Each ring set consists in 3 different segments:

• Compression segments – responsible for none of the pressure generated by the piston movement is not lost.
• Compression and cleaning segments – responsible for cleaning process after the explosion assuring that cleaning pressure is not lost in the process
• Oil control segments – responsible for proper lubrication inside the cylinder without excess or lack of oil.

 

How long do the rings of the engine segments last?

The engine segment lifetime depends on the maintenance that is made to the vehicle and the use that takes place to the same. On average, with good maintenance, the segment rings have a durability of approximately 150 000 km.

 

Signs of wear of piston rings

Symptoms associated with cylinder wear are similar to other engine components. KROFtools recommends a checkup as soon as you see any of the following symptoms in the vehicle:

• White smoke coming from the exhaust
• Excessive oil consumption
• Low acceleration capability
• Losing power at high revs

 

Causes of deformation on  the motor piston rings

Engine segment rings can be damaged in several ways:

·       Lack of maintenance

When some powders lodge inside the cylinder, they increase abrasion on these rings due to friction.

·       Incorrect rectification

When bad finishes are made inside the cylinders, they turn into sandpaper and reduce the life of the rings.

·       Failed handling

When working with the segments rings , although resistant, it is essential to take extra care, because any twist made can lead to deformation and consequent appearance of cracks.

·       Failures in the injectors

When there is a leak in the injectors, it can let impurities into the cylinder and lead to rings degradation

How to avoid deformations in the piston rings?

To ensure the engine proper operation good maintenance practices must be adopted in time and hours defined by the manufacturer. The tings deformation is no exception.

You will have no problem with the engine segment if you change the oil and engine oil filter within the time limits recommended by the vehicle manufacturer

Changing piston rings

There is no repair for motor segment rings as they have to be replaced when they are in poor condition.

The cost of segment rings is relatively low compared to other automotive components. The price of a set of segment rings starts at 30 and can reach 70 euros.  On the other hand, the assembly of the engine segments is a time-consuming procedure and costs approximately 300 euros.

For the piston assembly, the mechanic needs to remove the upper block from the engine and remove the piston or the pistons where new segments are required. To assemble everything back you´ll  need a segment strap to put them in place.

Want more tips on the automotive world? Go to our Facebook page and start tracking the content we share daily.