Do you think motor remanufactures would use low compression piston rings?

I just got one, and the tech on the phone wouldn’t tell me. My guess would be that they may not have to worry about the epa, and would simply want to create a solid product. Anyone have any insight into this?

 

What are you smoking? rings have very little to do with compression unless they leak. Weak metal, strong metal can all seal well. Lifetime of the rings is probably a major consideration.

The better (proper) compression, the better the motor can run, the more efficient, the more power.... etc. All bonuses when it comes to emissions and the EPA.


You can build a high compression engine, or you can build a low compression engine, but that has to do with pistons, heads, deck height, and more. and usually low compression engines are forced induction like a supercharger or turbo.

 

I think he means Low Tension Rings.

I would think they rebuild to original specs. So if it’s a motor that came with low tension rings that is what goes back in.

 

The epa makes these importers of vehicles use low compression piston rings, which is the cause of oil consumption in Toyotas, Audis, etc.

 

That sounds like some tinfoil hat BS

Oil consumption is due to thin oils (0w-20), aggressive PCV systems, and reducing piston friction to increase engine efficiency. It's not some giant controversy or some evil plot. It's all about engine efficiency and mileage.

 

Yeah. To get better efficiency they are now using low tension rings, which results in less friction and therefore less wasted energy.

The downside is that oil isn’t scraped off the cylinder walls as effectively and there is more blow by past the compression rings. Hence why my new ford F-150 uses a quart of oil every 3000 miles.

 

They are low tension rings.
Not low compression.

The problem (which isn’t a problem) is that neglecting to do oil changes frequently, can cause the rings to stick in their grooves. When this happens, you get blow by and oil consumption.

The EPA isn’t the right person to blame here.

 

Ya I fucked that up lol. And ya that’s what I’m thinking, I got it from apr

 

Watched a video about this, apparently it is the epa bc these rings put less load on the engine. Think it was car wizard talking about the Audi 2.0 turbo engine.

 

The epa didn’t mandate low tension rings.
Low tension rings are a byproduct of meeting epa regulations.
Low tension rings are not a bad thing. They help reduce the power the engine needs to run.
The less power it take to run an engine, the more fuel efficient it will be.

But mandating that a manufacturer “has” to use them? No
Unless you have a reason “not to” run low tension rings, you should use them.

 

Just change your oil according to the severe service schedule using a major brand of synthetic oil or a oil that meets dexos 1 spec at the very least and assuming you have an engine for your 2005, then it'll run forever. Oil has come a long way since then so change it regularly and you'll have no issues

 

i'd like to see documentation of that.

but critical to note here, the toyota tacoma has always been a domestic product of the USA/Mexico.

however my subaru brz/toyota 86 was built in japan and imported to america, and has zero oil consumption issues despite my best efforts to continually bounce off the rev limiter at every chance.

 

Europoors have entered the chat ^

It’s something they did in the last 20 years. Gonna find the car wizard video where he discusses this. Definitely not an expert, nor some overly online car guy.

 

Low tension rings are originally from race motors, more blow by and oil consumption but more power. The mileage thing is an afterthought.

Its not mandated by the epa directly, for example. GT350 engines changed ring packs half way through production because of oil consumption complaints, but that car was not made with EPA numbers in mind.

 

There is no such things as low Compression rings .

Are you using the wrong term?

compression is controlled by cylinder diameter and length of the stroke and size of the chamber on the head.

 

I thought low tension rings where for better fuel economy...

 

That’s how they sell it lmao, it’s a green revolution mod

 

Low compression rings the only way would be allowing blow by past the pistons

Then adding unburned fuel and exhaust into the oil which mixes so well with oil.