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Frequently asked questions about cars and motorcycles
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The function of the piston elastic bands.

Model: (Various brands) Various
Part: Engine

The piston rings, namely the elastic bands, serve the purpose of sealing the compression, thus preventing the escape of combustion gases from the combustion chamber to the oil sump; they remove excess oil from the walls of the cylinder during the descent of the piston, and help dissipate heat from the piston to the walls of the cylinder, preventing overheating. The upper compression ring is the most critical for sealing the gases; the secondary sealing ring completes the gas seal and supports the oil scraping of the lower ring, which has holes and slots to allow oil to flow towards the sump. If the rings are worn, there is a loss of compression, blue smoke from the exhaust, oil consumption, and overheating with a risk of seizing. The rings cannot be repaired, but must be replaced, and wear is accelerated by poor quality oil, infrequent oil changes, clogged air filters, and engine overheating.

Posted on 5 January 2026 by ScegliAuto

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