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Re: [Healeys] Ring Choice - closing the loop

To: healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Ring Choice - closing the loop
From: Bob Spidell <bspidell@comcast.net>
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2021 07:21:44 -0700
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: healeys@autox.team.net
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I'm curious as to why both 4- and 5-ring pistons are offered (by Moss). 
Does it vary by year or model, or just builder preference? As far as I 
can tell, cars came from the factory with 4 ring pistons.

FWIW, I have a DWM 3-ring Omega set in my BJ8, and I haven't noticed any 
piston slap.

Bob

On 4/19/2021 5:14 AM, m.g.sharp--- via Healeys wrote:
>
> Many thanks to everyone who responded to my question about the rings.  
> Seems that there are examples of people fitting that fifth ring and 
> leaving it off, and no-one reported a problem or bad experience either 
> way.  It also seems there is no hard knowledge on why that bottom ring 
> was fitted, but several of us, me included, think it may have been 
> aesthetic: simply to reduce the noise from piston slap.  I thought 
> Earl?s response was most telling in that he had been through a 
> complete engine cycle (i.e. he is on his second rebuild after 140,000 
> miles on the first) with a 5-ring piston and there were no issues 
> noted on the strip-down and good performance.
>
> While I have no doubt that extra ring may result in extra friction and 
> rob the engine of a horsepower or two, no-one has measured it, so we 
> do not know if that is significant in any way.  The only other 
> potential down-side is that the bottom ring will scrape the oil from 
> the cylinder wall on the down-stroke, reducing lubrication on any 
> piston-cylinder wall contact between the two oil control rings.  
> However, the bottom ring may also prevent the piston from making 
> contact with wall, or at least _reduce_ the friction, so maybe that is 
> not an issue.
>
> My goal is a well-built, reliable, original car with factory-level 
> performance. Given that, and some concerns about the unknown 
> consequences of an empty ring groove, I am electing to install the 
> 5^th ring.  Also, I think there is wisdom in Hank?s comment that as a 
> general rule parts should be installed as the manufacturer intended ? 
> who are we to second guess the engineers who thought it necessary to 
> add that ring?
>
> Interesting discussion, and if anyone ever turns up hard engineering 
> evidence as to why that extra ring was added, I would be very happy if 
> they would share it.
>
> As always, this list is amazing for providing a forum for providing a 
> forum for discussion on the things we find interesting ? as arcane 
> they may be!
>
> With thanks, Mirek
>
>


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    I'm curious as to why both 4- and 5-ring pistons are offered (by
    Moss). Does it vary by year or model, or just builder preference? As
    far as I can tell, cars came from the factory with 4 ring pistons.<br>
    <br>
    FWIW, I have a DWM 3-ring Omega set in my BJ8, and I haven't noticed
    any piston slap.<br>
    <br>
    Bob<br>
    <br>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 4/19/2021 5:14 AM, m.g.sharp--- via
      Healeys wrote:<br>
    </div>
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        <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Many thanks to everyone
            who responded to my question about the rings.  Seems that
            there are examples of people fitting that fifth ring and
            leaving it off, and no-one reported a problem or bad
            experience either way.  It also seems there is no hard
            knowledge on why that bottom ring was fitted, but several of
            us, me included, think it may have been aesthetic: simply to
            reduce the noise from piston slap.  I thought Earl?s
            response was most telling in that he had been through a
            complete engine cycle (i.e. he is on his second rebuild
            after 140,000 miles on the first) with a 5-ring piston and
            there were no issues noted on the strip-down and good
            performance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">While I have no doubt
            that extra ring may result in extra friction and rob the
            engine of a horsepower or two, no-one has measured it, so we
            do not know if that is significant in any way.  The only
            other potential down-side is that the bottom ring will
            scrape the oil from the cylinder wall on the down-stroke,
            reducing lubrication on any piston-cylinder wall contact
            between the two oil control rings.  However, the bottom ring
            may also prevent the piston from making contact with wall,
            or at least <u>reduce</u> the friction, so maybe that is
            not an issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">My goal is a well-built,
            reliable, original car with factory-level performance. 
            Given that, and some concerns about the unknown consequences
            of an empty ring groove, I am electing to install the 5<sup>th</sup>
            ring.  Also, I think there is wisdom in Hank?s comment that
            as a general rule parts should be installed as the
            manufacturer intended ? who are we to second guess the
            engineers who thought it necessary to add that 
ring?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Interesting discussion,
            and if anyone ever turns up hard engineering evidence as to
            why that extra ring was added, I would be very happy if they
            would share it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">As always, this list is
            amazing for providing a forum for providing a forum for
            discussion on the things we find interesting ? as arcane
            they may be!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">With thanks, 
Mirek<o:p></o:p></span></p>
      </div>
      <br>
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    <br>
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