PISTON RING CAMPAIGN

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30277, 1 November 1963, Page 11

PISTON RING CAMPAIGN

A CAMPAIGN will soon be started throughout New Zealand to try and impress on motorists the importance and ultimate economy of fitting new pistons and rings in good time. At present New Zealand motorists spend about £2} million a year on fitting new piston rings to their engines.

There are several indications that a car is nearing the time when new piston

rings should be fitted. Blue smoke emerging in quantity from the oil filler pipe shows combustion pressure is escaping past worn rings and setting up excessive pressures in the crankcase.

Another warning is a shiny black deposit on the bottom of the thread of the spark plugs, which shows oil is escaping past the rings into the cylinders. If, after a few minutes’ idling, a

stamp on the accelerator pedal produces quantities of blue smoke from the exhaust it shows the rings are worn.

Worn piston rings mean a waste of oil and petrol. Shortened spark plug life and general damage to internal engine parts from escaping corrosive acids. New rings are the cheapest method of preventing bigger repair and maintenance bills and higher running costs.