Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications 3.0L Duratec Question of the ring gap theories.......

Originally posted by BurritaSVT:

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I am at the stage of gapping my rings. I bought total seal rings and went by their gap recommendations but......
After doing some more research on what might be the best gap for my forced induction setup. There were many of site and forums who have diiferent opinions on the ring gaps.

One being
the top ring gap is larger than the second ring just like total seals recommends. But on high reving motors there is ring flutter when the second rings has less blowby then the first. So to avoid the top ring from losing seal there is a newer approach

which is
making the second gap larger like two thousands more. I researched it more and found out that people have been doing this for a long time. I also read many of forum post where the second rings ends butted because of the first ring not sealing seeing more higher temps than before. I know that the gap is really measured by heat expansion. and of course oiling on the second ring is better too when it is larger too from what I read to allow some oil to get to the top ring. The only downfall too the whole setup with larger gap on the 2nd ring is the vacuum of the motor would be less.

I am leaning towards .022 on top and .024 on bottom should be enough sealing surface to handle the high boost I have setup for the 3 liter. I also have a 3.520 bore too.

Any opinion would be appreciated before I file my second rings to size to the final gap. Thanks Joey

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