hi, who uses them and which brand are you happy with? slant six racing news shows cars using total seal rings. i will be doing another slant next month and would like to try them especially for the low leakdown numbers that they show. just looking for yes or no feedback about them, i.e. only used for racing or great for street. thanks, ron

Installed Total Seal rings in a street 1962 225, block prepped and rings installed 100% in accordance with Total Seal's specifications and procedures. Leakdown numbers were not much different than with properly-installed standard rings; oil control was VERY poor. Will not use again.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Every motor we have put in the Simca has had gapless rings in them. We have been very happy with them and had absolutely no problem. We feel it is one of the reason we have no milking of the oil running alcohol. Would not run without them.

Just my .02 worth.

tom

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Nitrous cars are like old men on Viagra. Once the bottle is empty they are useless.
FJD

Tom, you've certainly got more data points than I do. There're all sorts of possible reasons why my buildup w/Total Seal rings didn't work out (randomly bad set of rings, improper assembly despite the great care we took, break-in factors, etc.)

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I smell an article!!!

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

I have heard countless times of cases where using gapless rings resulted in poor oil control. I have heard of some great leakdown numbers, but too many oil burners.

Mitch

Talking to various machinists and engine builders about it, trying for some forensic diagnosis, it seems like everyone agreed on a pathology: Ya need the teeny-tiniest little amount of airflow downward through the oil rings to keep 'em clear and prevent 'em from loading up.

I don't know for sure if that's true or not, but it sounds plausible and a lot of people who've built more engines than I seem to hold that belief.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

One thing you guys need to take into consideration is that Dan built a street motor and Tom has race motors. That is comparing apples to oranges.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Turbocharged fuel injection race motors... the boost may help keep the oil rings clear!
DD

Years ago I had a built 318 with the Total Seal gapless rings. When I rebuilt the motor I used standard rings. I didn't notice any differance in performance.

I am in no way suggesting there is a performance advantage. I do think they help keep the oil from milking up from the methanol. Especially at start-up when the motor is cold.

Yes ours is a "race" motor but truthfully it is more stock than some peoples street motors. we do run hypereutectic pistons on them so maybe that has something to do with it...? The first two motors had well over 300 runs on each of them and these rings showed no signs of problems. The motor that we ran into to preignition with (and melted two pistons) we re-used those rings on the two new pistons and that motor is in Moms valiant now.

DD may be right, maybe the boost does help. Once Mom's valiant has a little more time on it I can provide you with more feedback. It is N/A with gas.

Tom

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Nitrous cars are like old men on Viagra. Once the bottle is empty they are useless.
FJD

I's been a while. Any data yet? These rings have been around for 30 years.

I hear things about "ring flutter?"

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'72 Duster 198 stock cam, 3:23's Hookers on jack stands for 8 years in the driveway
'79 Maxivan 360 Offy Qjet Comp RV cam/rusting in the driveway.
93 D350 160HP Cummins Auto Dually Clubcab needs a injector pump
2005 Golden Couch Buick

I have them in my motor that is still being built. My builder thinks they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Rings getting cloged up is from carbon build up and carbon buildup comes from the top. Seal it better and there should be less carbon buildup.
This motor is also going to be an Amsoil motor after breakin. Amsoil as with other syn oils have a tendeny to "clean" an engine. I can't imagine I will have a problem with the oil rings and oil comsuption.

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67Cuda,FAST EZEFI,340cu,CR=10.25,RollerCam&Rocker (XR268HR,#20-810-9)(#1622-16)(EddyRPM#60779,#7576), (MSD6AL,#6425) A904, GearVendorsOD, 8 1/4,3.55:1, ClassicAir

Do the cylinder bores require a different surface roughness for the gapless rings to seat properly?

I do know that boosted motors can/do use gas porting around the rings, to let some pressure get behind the rings and help them seal better. I'd guess that even w/o porting, the same effect can occur, but to a lesser degree--so if the motor is "hot" enough, perhaps oil control (with the gapless rings) could get be better than with a stocker rebuild.