How to Inspect Car Piston Rings

The pistons in your car may begin to fail because of defects within the piston rings. These rings are designed to act like circuit breakers and will fail before your piston does. If your car is losing compression and fuel efficiency, inspect the piston rings to see if they need to be replaced.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Read your car's auto repair manual and remove all the components necessary to remove the engine head. Leave the engine block in place if at all possible.

2. Remove the pistons from the cylinders. You may need to heat them with an electric piston heater, which will help them slide out more easily. Perform this step carefully, or you may wind up having to replace the pistons.

3. Clean the carbon build-up from the pistons. Since the piston rings still may be serviceable, don't use any chemical cleaners.

4. Inspect the piston rings for obvious signs of wear, including cracks or missing sections. If you find any, remove the rings and replace them. Clean the piston in either kerosene or diesel oil.

5. Use a piston ring feeler gauge to measure the ring groove for every ring you remove. This is a precision tool geared entirely for one specific purpose in auto repair.

6. Replace any defective piston rings, lubricate the pistons in clean oil, and replace.

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