Keith Jones, longtime Total Seal Piston Rings representative and engine builder, took some time to address a couple of popular misconceptions with gapless rings. As shown in the video, Jones explains the design of the gapless ring and how it works. Once he demonstrates the simple two-piece piston ring design, he tackles the first myth that is commonly misrepresented in high-performance circles.

Myth #1: Gapless rings are hard on cylinder bores.

According to Jones, the design is pretty simple. A bottom rail is machined into the piston ring. Nothing extra is added. The material used is the same that is used in a single-piece piston ring. Which means that a ductile-moly gapless ring is the same as a ductile-moly single-piece ring. Same goes for stainless steel and tool steel. The gapless ring design doesn’t change the material, the coating, hardness, or the face of the ring.

Jones did say that gapping procedures are important, which is no different that standard single-piece rings. As long as you follow the gapping charts and procedures, there won’t be a problem.

Myth #2: Gapless rings don’t work well with gas ports.

Gas ports are there to get gas pressure behind the ring to put pressure against the cylinder wall in applications with power-adders like blowers, turbos, or nitrous. Gapless rings work well with these applications. “Actually, it is one of the best rings for them,” said Jones.

For more information on Total Seal’s Gapless Rings, visit them online at www.totalseal.com.