Generation IV Internal Engine 2005-2014 LS2 | LS3 | LS7 | L92 | LS9

Has anyone used coating on your pistons?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 22, 2016 | 04:23 PM
  #1  
saccitycorvette's Avatar
Thread Starter
LS1Tech Sponsor
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 785
Likes: 32
From: Sacramento, Ca.
Default Has anyone used coating on your pistons?

Hi,
Has have any of you done your own piston coatings on the top and skirts.
Have you used Techline Coatings like CBX for top of piston and DFL 1 for skirts?
What do you think. I hear there are some good advantages to coating to pistons.
Have anyone had any issues?
Thank you,
Chrsitian
__________________
Don't forget to check out our products at www.saccitycorvette.com
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...c361808_12.gif
If you like our products, tell others! If not, tell us! https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s/thumbsup.gif

Reply
Old Apr 22, 2016 | 04:35 PM
  #2  
JL ws-6's Avatar
Race your car!
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (50)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15,421
Likes: 19
Default

Always used the coatings that Diamond puts on their pistons, which I believe is done at Dart. Skirts and a top coating for heat.

The pistons I have seen with the coating on the sides, the cylinders always seem a little better than when you don't. As for the top piston coating, it won't stop you from burning one, but it might save you once or twice.


There is another coating out that I can't remember the name of that actually gets put on to the point of an interference fit and is designed to wear into the bore quickly, this is designed to stop piston rock, and supposedly makes a substantial improvement, but I can't recall the name of it for the life of me. It's relatively new, and has been tested in the motorcycle roadcourse world a bunch with really good results from what they claim.

I have not used this, nor do I know anyone that has, but I do plan on having my engine builder look into it when I have my motor apart for upgrades, or build my next one whichever I end up doing.
Reply
Old Apr 30, 2016 | 01:53 AM
  #3  
96 Comp T/A's Avatar
TECH Regular
20 Year Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 429
Likes: 2
From: Tampa FL
Default

I have used the Techline stuff before and applied it myself, although not in an LS application. It certainly worked in our application. Back to back testing on the dyno was on the order of a 5% increase in power output, however engine in question was air cooled, and a thermal sieve, so anything we could do to contain that combustion energy was a positive. I have had Dart do the pistons in my current engine, and will likely have them do any future engines I build.
Reply
Old Apr 30, 2016 | 04:36 AM
  #4  
patrick335d's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Dubai UAE
Default

If i remember correctly we used Molykote D321 on the skirt of the piston.
Reply
Old Apr 30, 2016 | 10:06 AM
  #5  
KCS's Avatar
KCS
Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,859
Likes: 323
From: Conroe, TX
Default

I've used Polydyne for coating skirts. The bores would have to be honed a little on a refresh and if the customer didn't want to buy new pistons, Polydyne would apply a coating to reduce the piston-to-wall clearance. It's worked great with no excess noise.
Reply
Old May 1, 2016 | 06:22 PM
  #6  
Krom's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 328
Likes: 3
Default

I've used swain coatings on lots of 2 stroke stuff
http://swaintech.com/race-coatings/

The exhaust coating really does work. The piston coatings would let me run much higher egt's
Reply
Old May 20, 2016 | 09:53 AM
  #7  
c0ncEpT's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 1
From: Shelby twp, MI
Default

Originally Posted by JL ws-6
Always used the coatings that Diamond puts on their pistons, which I believe is done at Dart. Skirts and a top coating for heat.

The pistons I have seen with the coating on the sides, the cylinders always seem a little better than when you don't. As for the top piston coating, it won't stop you from burning one, but it might save you once or twice.


There is another coating out that I can't remember the name of that actually gets put on to the point of an interference fit and is designed to wear into the bore quickly, this is designed to stop piston rock, and supposedly makes a substantial improvement, but I can't recall the name of it for the life of me. It's relatively new, and has been tested in the motorcycle roadcourse world a bunch with really good results from what they claim.

I have not used this, nor do I know anyone that has, but I do plan on having my engine builder look into it when I have my motor apart for upgrades, or build my next one whichever I end up doing.
All coatings Diamond offers are done in house. (Moly skirts, Ceramic tops, Anodize)

Also the interference fit coating your referring to is an APC coating done by Line2Line
Reply
Old May 20, 2016 | 10:28 AM
  #8  
JL ws-6's Avatar
Race your car!
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (50)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15,421
Likes: 19
Default

Dart misdemeanor the coating for diamond years ago, good to hear they do it in house now.

The line to line coating is correct that's the interference stuff that was developed in super bike applications. It would seem to make a lot of sense to put to use in a drag engine, but I don't know anyone with first hand experience
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-1

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-9

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 20, 2016 | 10:56 AM
  #9  
thompson's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 914
Likes: 17
Default

It can certainly be done with success but be careful on bore size. We have had a few people send in attempted home coat and build motors that have been a bit on the tight side and caused some catastrophic results.

The diamond coatings are great. We have built motors with several thousand sets and they are mixed coated and non coated. We have noticed that the coated skirts do have a cleaner cylinder wall after a season of racing but also noticed that on a daily driven vehicle the coating depletes rather quickly so the protection on a driver is relatively short term.
Reply
Old May 20, 2016 | 11:12 AM
  #10  
kingtal0n's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,261
Likes: 19
From: florida
Default

Originally Posted by thompson
It can certainly be done with success but be careful on bore size. We have had a few people send in attempted home coat and build motors that have been a bit on the tight side and caused some catastrophic results.

The diamond coatings are great. We have built motors with several thousand sets and they are mixed coated and non coated. We have noticed that the coated skirts do have a cleaner cylinder wall after a season of racing but also noticed that on a daily driven vehicle the coating depletes rather quickly so the protection on a driver is relatively short term.
I'd love to know which coating offered protection for long-term daily driver applications. Something we can use on a forged piston to help with cold-start clearance perhaps? Definitely don't like the way they rock when the piston/wall is large. But besides that, I'd like to cut down on the bore wear (often see streaks down the sides after 100k miles)
Reply
Old May 20, 2016 | 02:23 PM
  #11  
c0ncEpT's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 1
From: Shelby twp, MI
Default

Originally Posted by kingtal0n
I'd love to know which coating offered protection for long-term daily driver applications. Something we can use on a forged piston to help with cold-start clearance perhaps? Definitely don't like the way they rock when the piston/wall is large. But besides that, I'd like to cut down on the bore wear (often see streaks down the sides after 100k miles)
The Line2Line APC is the way to go. Its going to be the most durable coating.

The moly based skirt coating Diamond and other manufactures apply is a sacrificial coating designed for initial break in protection really. It will wear away in engines that see a lot of run time.
Reply
Old May 21, 2016 | 05:52 AM
  #12  
JL ws-6's Avatar
Race your car!
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (50)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15,421
Likes: 19
Default

It would stand to make sense the line to line coating may almost need a piston with a touch more clearance to be effective though no?
Reply
Old May 24, 2016 | 11:54 AM
  #13  
c0ncEpT's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 1
From: Shelby twp, MI
Default

Originally Posted by JL ws-6
It would stand to make sense the line to line coating may almost need a piston with a touch more clearance to be effective though no?

The coating is designed to wear into where the piston is happy in the application/power level.

As a piston manufacture your consistently trying to run them as tight as you can without sticking them to help reduce piston rock. With that being said they're going to air on the side of caution (loose) every time.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:06 AM.

story-0
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-04 18:13:20


VIEW MORE
story-1
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-2
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-6
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-9
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE