weinerschizel

How many miles does it take for the average set of piston rings on an LT1 to set in?

Pasky

1000-2000

It all depends on how you break it in and the quality of rings. Its nothing like it used to be.

weinerschizel

Well I built my motor about 4k miles ago. Ever since I built it it's been using oil. I skimed and went with some cheapo valve seals... However, somebody told me that rings take quite a while to break in and those were more likely the culprit.

I purchased sealed power plasma molly rings. They were like 90$ for the set. When it was built, we honed the cylinders, checked the bore, and everything looked great.

What do you think? Could I burn 1/2 quart of oil every 1000 miles through the valve guides?

Pasky

I really can't say myself, this is my first lt1 im rebuilding myself and I used the exact same rings you did. Did you install the rings correctly? The top ring and 2nd ring both have a taper that need to be facing a specific direction to seal against the oil ring.

weinerschizel

Gosh. You know I'm not sure. I built the engine over a year ago. I just know the largest ring I installed correctly with the taper in the right direction. I'm pretty sure I followed the directions included for installing the other rings as well.

Thanks for your help!

BlackLT1_TX

mine never smoked with new rings on a fresh hone. i have heard people say that the rings seat much more quickly then most think. i know that there is alot of evidence that proves that the motor should be ready to tear up the roads within 30 minutes of running, and that motors broken in that way promote better ring sealing and more horsepower. the topic has been beaten to death, but i am on the side that says to drive it like you stole it once you've double checked everything. its worked for me a few times.

as far as burning oil, most of the time the valve seals cause the car to smoke on start up after the oil has been able to seep into the cylinders. it would need to be a hell of a leak to burn that much. could very well be the rings.

-james

1racerdude

Did you cover the rings in oil before installing? If ya did that's a sure way to get moly NOT to seat. Give it some time they will probably come in.

weinerschizel

Really??? Well that's probubly it then... I litterally saturated the piston and rings in oil. Each time I installed a piston I dumped it into a can of fresh 10-W30 oil.

Thanks!

1racerdude

The recommended procedure from C&A and Total seal is to light lube the piston skirt and with a rung out oily rag coat the cyls lightly. After doing R&D for C&A that is the way that was the best. The hone is so fine with a lot of oil ya get "slick out" and the ring never wears to the cyl wall to seat.