Ring gap for boosted daily driver
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 66
Likes: 6
From: Waverly, NE
Ring gap for boosted daily driver I'm starting filing my rings for my 6.2L. 4.07 Mahle 4032 Ceramic coated pistons. Mahle says bore x .0060 for up to 15lbs, .0070 for OVER 15lbs. I *thought* the ceramic coating would help not only with detonation but also reduce the heating of the piston, and therefore growth of the rings(?)...
Planning on top ring at .025, 2nd at .027. If I go with "over 15lbs", it would be about .028/.029 and probably .030 on the 2nd ring.
The V2 of this engine put out about 12psi, maybe 14 if it was below 32*. Being an interstate driven DD that won't see a racetrack- more just screwing off and making on ramps and stoplights fun but driven like a grandpa 95% of the time, I'm concerned about excessive blowby but also afraid to get bit by the boost bug and not be able to pulley down.
Thoughts, opinions, experiences?
Planning on top ring at .025, 2nd at .027. If I go with "over 15lbs", it would be about .028/.029 and probably .030 on the 2nd ring.
The V2 of this engine put out about 12psi, maybe 14 if it was below 32*. Being an interstate driven DD that won't see a racetrack- more just screwing off and making on ramps and stoplights fun but driven like a grandpa 95% of the time, I'm concerned about excessive blowby but also afraid to get bit by the boost bug and not be able to pulley down.
Thoughts, opinions, experiences?
I'm starting filing my rings for my 6.2L. 4.07 Mahle 4032 Ceramic coated pistons. Mahle says bore x .0060 for up to 15lbs, .0070 for OVER 15lbs. I *thought* the ceramic coating would help not only with detonation but also reduce the heating of the piston, and therefore growth of the rings(?)...
Planning on top ring at .025, 2nd at .027. If I go with "over 15lbs", it would be about .028/.029 and probably .030 on the 2nd ring.
The V2 of this engine put out about 12psi, maybe 14 if it was below 32*. Being an interstate driven DD that won't see a racetrack- more just screwing off and making on ramps and stoplights fun but driven like a grandpa 95% of the time, I'm concerned about excessive blowby but also afraid to get bit by the boost bug and not be able to pulley down.
Thoughts, opinions, experiences?
Planning on top ring at .025, 2nd at .027. If I go with "over 15lbs", it would be about .028/.029 and probably .030 on the 2nd ring.
The V2 of this engine put out about 12psi, maybe 14 if it was below 32*. Being an interstate driven DD that won't see a racetrack- more just screwing off and making on ramps and stoplights fun but driven like a grandpa 95% of the time, I'm concerned about excessive blowby but also afraid to get bit by the boost bug and not be able to pulley down.
Thoughts, opinions, experiences?
I run .0063 x bore on supercharger builds. I had a motor that did 53k miles at ~800 HP 4.1 bore, 1st ring 24, 2nd ring 26. I am running that motor now at 26/29 for ~1150 HP (crank)
I know some prefer the gaps close to 30 (nothing wrong with that), but in my experience 0.007 is pretty conservative.
Also, probably worth adding that I have never pinched a ring in an LS. Even on nitrous motors, etc... My last motor burned down from a pre-ignition event (sharp spot on the piston) with enough heat to pocket the head - and that motor didn't pinch rings.
I know some prefer the gaps close to 30 (nothing wrong with that), but in my experience 0.007 is pretty conservative.
Also, probably worth adding that I have never pinched a ring in an LS. Even on nitrous motors, etc... My last motor burned down from a pre-ignition event (sharp spot on the piston) with enough heat to pocket the head - and that motor didn't pinch rings.
Last edited by NoGo; May 18, 2025 at 12:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 66
Likes: 6
From: Waverly, NE
Appreciate it fellas. I didn't see the responses until after I started, but did the tops at .026 and 2nd at .028. I'll open them up a scoshe more since I can't do anything else until I get a dial bore gauge and micrometer anyway.
