Glossary / Engine

piston rings

56 Episode Mentions

Too Afraid to Ask

Piston rings are small metal pieces inside an engine that keep the oil from leaking and help the engine run smoothly. If they wear out, the engine can lose power and burn oil.

Technical Definition

Piston rings are metal rings that fit inside a cylinder of an engine. They seal the combustion chamber, control oil consumption, and help transfer heat from the piston to the cylinder wall.

Hear It Discussed

"I merely dispute the story. One particular money shift. It was the piston rings flying due to knocking on the engine and tunes and all that. However, this is..."
Ferrari’s New Fake Gated Manual, Fiat Topolino & Why Doug Won't Buy a Supercar! THIS CAR POD! with Doug DeMuro & Friends! 05:31

"And when I walked around outside, I found some piston rings lying around. [1198.2s] And now I got a real problem with what mechanic describes as piston slap."
#2635: Knock, Knock... The Best of Car Talk 19:53

"It could also be coming by piston rings as well as it sits there. But, you know, things to do about that."
The Motor Medics Helping People to Repair Their Cars Over The Phone Under The Hood show 24:57