Topic: 4 ring pistons

vacaville john	-- 02-22-2016 @ 11:29 AM
	Does anyone have any experience using 3 rings on a 4 ring piston?
Old Henry	-- 02-22-2016 @ 12:15 PM
	I have. I thought the 3 ring pistons used more oil. Switched back to 4 ring and used less oil. I think that was why they had the 4th ring, to seal off the oil use better. Oops. When I re-read your post it looked like you are talking about leaving the 4th ring off of a 4 ring piston. If that's correct, I didn't do that. I just did what I said. This message was edited by Old Henry on 2-22-16 @ 12:17 PM
cliftford	-- 02-22-2016 @ 1:17 PM
	There is nothing to be gained by doing this and you would be tampering with factory engineering. This message was edited by cliftford on 2-22-16 @ 3:33 PM
Drbrown	-- 02-22-2016 @ 6:37 PM
	My 1942-1948 Ford Service Manual indicates that a three-ring piston was also used, of course with different rings. It does not explain how/where and offers no comments on the uses.
MG	-- 02-22-2016 @ 7:42 PM
	From 'Rumble Seat' on the 'Techno Source for the 1932 thru 1953 Flathead Ford' site. > http://www.flatheadv8.org/rumblest/intro.htm http://www.flatheadv8.org/rumblest/engine.pdf "RINGS: Ford originally came with 4 ring pistons to decrease excessive oil consumption. Rings contribute the most friction of any engine component. Check the drag on one piston in a cylinder using 4 rings and then again after removing 1 oil ring. Amazing! Increased friction causes a build up of heat as well as a reduction in hp. The added friction of the 4th ring causes an engine to run hotter.... something we really don’t need in our flatheads. To overcome friction requires hp...... hp I’d sooner be using for fun things. Why not change and run 3 rings which have 25% less drag than 4 rings do? Makes sense to me. Recent engines normally have only 3 rings and they last well past 100K miles." - rumble seat

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