3 piece or 2 piece oil ring? which is better?

[Smokey Eddy]

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?

[drrtybyl]

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:

[rs899]

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

[Smokey Eddy]

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?

[rs899]

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

[maxfax]

All the Grant rings I have installed so far had the two piece oil ring.. 

[Smokey Eddy]

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.

[maxfax]

You got it!!

[fatmobile]

Total seal uses the 3-part oil rings.

[maxfax]

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.....

[Smokey Eddy]

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

[rs899]

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

[fatmobile]

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.

[Smokey Eddy]

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

[rs899]

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