Piston Ring Lube

[ffgb]

What are you guys using for assembling your engine and for the piston rings/cylinder?
I have Torco assembly lube for the bearings, but didn't know what everyone was using for the piston skirts and rings/cylinders?
I have heard the Total Seal has a dry lube for the pistons/cylinders, is it worth it for Grant rings?

Thanks

[sdwarf36]

You still have to use oil-even if you use that total seal magic dust. (Which I'm not sold on-but have used it a couple of times. )
 1st-make sure you clean the cylinders very well. I use acetone on a lint free paper towel-wiping in the direction of the cross hatch-do it a few times-till the towel remains clean. Take a few drops of oil and smear it around the top inch or so of the cyl.-get some on the chamfer too. Put a few drops on the piston skirts-that all you need. Don't lube up the rings-they'll scrape what they need when you assemble.
 Someone way smarter than me once said " the best thing you can when rebuilding is duplicate running condition as soon as possible-and you never are running with your rings soaked in oil."

[rabbitman]

You still have to use oil-even if you use that total seal magic dust. (Which I'm not sold on-but have used it a couple of times. )
 1st-make sure you clean the cylinders very well. I use acetone on a lint free paper towel-wiping in the direction of the cross hatch-do it a few times-till the towel remains clean. Take a few drops of oil and smear it around the top inch or so of the cyl.-get some on the chamfer too. Put a few drops on the piston skirts-that all you need. Don't lube up the rings-they'll scrape what they need when you assemble.
 Someone way smarter than me once said " the best thing you can when rebuilding is duplicate running condition as soon as possible-and you never are running with your rings soaked in oil."

I like to wash the cylinders with hot soapy water, dry 'em good, maybe wash 'em with gas too to make sure all the water's gone, and then smear oil all over it to prevent rust (we all know how long fresh rebuilt engines sit before they run).

I have always totally soaked the pistons/rings with oil, if it's too much the worst it'll do is have some oil to burn off .

[theman53]

I used my assembly lube...red stuff in bottle smeared into the cross hatch. Don't know if it is correct or not but that's what it got.

[410]

I've always soaked the rings as well using two stroke oil.  Two stroke oil is designed to be burned in the combustion chamber anyway.  I then turn the engine over a few times and wipe the excess oil out of the cylinder. 

I also agree with washing the cylinders out with hot soapy water and I use wd-40 after washing to remove the water from the fresh metal.  It has to be one of the best uses for wd-40.  Makes sense since the wd actually stands for water displacer.

[Fisher]

I also wash the Cylinders with Soap and Water, dry them and wipe them with WD40.  When I assemble the Pistons in Cylinders I install the Rings on the Pistons dry, wipe out the Cylinders with Brake Cleaner and install the Pistons in Cylinders Brake Clean dry.  The Cylinders get all the Oil they need as soon as it fires.

[rodpaslow]

I disagree with the last comment, but each to his own.  I've done over a dozen or so gassers & deisel and never had an issue with covering the piston and rings in oil, putting the ring compressor on and inserting them.  Once installed the engine turns over easy if needed, and any excess oil will be in the oil pan by the time you fire it up.  Metal to metal contact is never a good thing in my experience when it come to IC engines.

[macka]

I hot tank the block, then when I assemble the pistons and insert them, I use a clean lint free rag and wipe the cylinders down with oil. I also drop in oil with a syringe around the edge of the pistons. I then make sure the pump is primed and the oil pan has oil in it.

[Smokey Eddy]

I use lots and lots and lots of normal motor oil. Try to avoid using something synthetic for initial break in purposes

[410]

I totally agree with your last comment smokey eddy.  I used stp oil treatment on the first sb 350 I built and I don't think that motor ever broke in properly.  No syns for break in!