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3 piece or 2 piece oil ring? which is better?
by
Smokey Eddy
on 06 Nov, 2009 00:17
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So I accidentally ordered 4 sets of Grant rings.
whoops!
But it's good for when I break the oil rings trying to put them on. Just broke one so I cracked open my other set I didn't sell and I find different rings in it!
totally different packing, instructions and everything. DifferentGrant box butsame autohaus AZ part number oddly enough.
The first two rings are the same but the oil rings in this box are different...
The pictures are thumbnails so you can look at a larger version if you click on them.


It is just 1 oil ring on the left and the other type on the right.
The rings i bought from prothe are like the ones on the right and the ring type i've seen on some small block chev's were all like the ring on the left (made of three parts. Total Seal also uses the 3 piece)
Which oil ring style do you guru's recommend?
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#1
by
drrtybyl
on 06 Nov, 2009 07:11
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Do those other rings fit around your pistons? It looks like you may have received a gasser set. Here's what I was [incorrectly] sent:
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#2
by
rs899
on 06 Nov, 2009 08:40
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I am installing the exact same Grant rings today and the oil ring I have is the one with the spring over wire type insert.
I also have 1/4 of a set of Goetze rings- same deal on the oil ring.
I did the opposite of you on the Autohaus AZ website. I mis-read the Goetze info and thought I was getting a full set for $25 (like the Grants). So- I cheaped out and then bought a set of Grants.
Rick
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#3
by
Smokey Eddy
on 06 Nov, 2009 13:41
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Yeah maybe? It seems pretty odd that it would get mixed up like that.
So we can conclude that the three piece ring is indeed NOT for our pistons?
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#4
by
rs899
on 06 Nov, 2009 14:43
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That would be my thinking. Also all the old rings I replaced ( from 2 piston sets) looked the same ) -spring wrapped over wire.
Don't do what I did on the Grants. The middle ring is marked "top" near the gap. I didn't see it until I did the last piston. Had to redo 3 of them. Still didn't break any.
Rick
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#5
by
maxfax
on 06 Nov, 2009 15:00
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All the Grant rings I have installed so far had the two piece oil ring..
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#6
by
Smokey Eddy
on 06 Nov, 2009 20:08
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this is going to sound obvious and stupid but for clarity's sake "top" refers to the piston head

yes?
I try to never assume anything. Especially with your guys around. Always nice to live without doubts.
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#7
by
maxfax
on 06 Nov, 2009 20:11
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You got it!!
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#8
by
fatmobile
on 06 Nov, 2009 21:23
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Total seal uses the 3-part oil rings.
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#9
by
maxfax
on 06 Nov, 2009 21:39
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Come to think of it there was another brand I used once that had 3 part rings as well.. But the Grant rings have all been 2 piece.. I don;t think it matters all that much, as long as they are correct and of decent quality.. Prothe and Top Line rings use 2 piecers I think.. NOthing else need be said about those.....
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#10
by
Smokey Eddy
on 06 Nov, 2009 23:32
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Total seal uses the 3-part oil rings.
Hmm does it really?
This IS intriguing
The box with the three peice rings definately is a different part number but autohaus put their own stickers on the boxes and both boxes have the same autohaus number on them
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#11
by
rs899
on 07 Nov, 2009 04:09
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FWIW the Grant box I bought from AHAZ has a Grant p/n 068-198-151-CBR C1464.000 . It has an AHAZ sticker marked 068198151A , but the "A" was handwritten over an expunged "CD".
IIRC the rings I put in my 1.6 Rabbit in 1997 were Cofap and I think they may have been the 3 piece ( or am I getting confused with my Ford 300?). I think I have been sniffing too much carb cleaner to remember that well.
Rick
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#12
by
fatmobile
on 07 Nov, 2009 16:30
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I broke an oil ring on the ongoing 1.7TD project and thought, How am I going to find an oil ring for oddball pistons like this.
total seal had them for $20 a set of oil rings.
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#13
by
Smokey Eddy
on 12 Nov, 2009 00:46
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So total seal uses the three piece set up and most others use the 2 piece... which to use? My question i feel still isn't very answered
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#14
by
rs899
on 12 Nov, 2009 07:19
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Why don't you call technical service at Grant and get their take on it? See if they botched it or if they are alternates...
Rick