Which piston rings to use

[SilveradoTwins02]

Ok. I am building this lb7 with stock deli piped pistons. I have read that a steel top ring should be used in the dura max. When I look for rings I find the OEM replacements made by Mahle. #41909. The top ring is a ductile iron with plasma moly coating. This is a keystone ring if I'm not mistaken. The #42160 is a stainless steel top with a Nitride coating. This one is for the 2010 to 2012
D maxes. I think it is a square ring. Sooo. What rings are being used by the guys saying that they are running a steel top ring? Mahle rep said that ductile iron is good for N2O supercharging and turbo applications.

Any info would be appreciated.

 

[TheBac]

Maybe this would help?

https://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/threads/piston-rings.21670/

I used the 41909s in mine and have had no issues, but you should probably use OEM or better.

 

[mike diesel]

Ok. I am building this lb7 with stock deli piped pistons. I have read that a steel top ring should be used in the dura max. When I look for rings I find the OEM replacements made by Mahle. #41909. The top ring is a ductile iron with plasma moly coating. This is a keystone ring if I'm not mistaken. The #42160 is a stainless steel top with a Nitride coating. This one is for the 2010 to 2012
D maxes. I think it is a square ring. Sooo. What rings are being used by the guys saying that they are running a steel top ring? Mahle rep said that ductile iron is good for N2O supercharging and turbo applications.

Any info would be appreciated.

You've been asking lots of questions that I had in my mind for my build Thanks!

 

[Burn Down]

I have been going back forth on stock or Merchants gapless rings...

 

[SilveradoTwins02]

Maybe this would help?

http://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21670&highlight=piston+rings

I used the 41909s in mine and have had no issues, but you should probably use OEM or better.

Thanks To The BAC, i have read that thread and it is a couple years old. just wondering if any new vendors or technology has evolved since then.

I talked to Mahle OE and Mahle Motorsports, Mahle OE says the the 41909 is what they have for the stock piston. It is a Ductile Iron Plasma Moly coated (Keystone) design top ring.
Mahle Motorsports uses the "their" ring pack but tosses the top ring for a "Total Seal" newer style(2010-current D Max) stainless Nitride coated, barrel face square ring.
The Mahle Race cast piston uses the (newer style) ring packs.
So if from what i understand, Mahle is the OE supplier for their rings, then is it true the GM ring is the Ductile Iron Plasma Moly ring??

Talked to Total Seal too. they do offer a ring set for the stock LB7 piston and it is crazy priced....like in the 800 range. He said they are made from Ductile Iron too..
He mentioned that is difficult to produce the Keystone ring in steel..
the Newer generation with the SS ring is normal price, more realistic..
give or take 300 range.

So the Big question is . Where are these engine shop's getting these "So Called" Steel top rings from?

this is confusing...

 

[Mile_high]

Thanks To The BAC, i have read that thread and it is a couple years old. just wondering if any new vendors or technology has evolved since then.

I talked to Mahle OE and Mahle Motorsports, Mahle OE says the the 41909 is what they have for the stock piston. It is a Ductile Iron Plasma Moly coated (Keystone) design top ring.
Mahle Motorsports uses the "their" ring pack but tosses the top ring for a "Total Seal" newer style(2010-current D Max) stainless Nitride coated, barrel face square ring.
The Mahle Race cast piston uses the (newer style) ring packs.
So if from what i understand, Mahle is the OE supplier for their rings, then is it true the GM ring is the Ductile Iron Plasma Moly ring??

Talked to Total Seal too. they do offer a ring set for the stock LB7 piston and it is crazy priced....like in the 800 range. He said they are made from Ductile Iron too..
He mentioned that is difficult to produce the Keystone ring in steel..
the Newer generation with the SS ring is normal price, more realistic..
give or take 300 range.

So the Big question is . Where are these engine shop's getting these "So Called" Steel top rings from?

this is confusing...

http://www.socaldiesel.com/Piston Kits.htm

If socal sells it, its good enough for me...

 

[SilveradoTwins02]

http://www.socaldiesel.com/Piston Kits.htm

If socal sells it, its good enough for me...

Mile high, i know that So Cal offers this so called steel top ring package.
I dont think that Guy is producing his own rings, or maybe he is or has a deal with a manufacturer to produce only for him, dont know???
I guess it's kind of like the ARP roker shaft studs, i see So Cal has them but Arp doesnt list them. If you give them the stud dimensions they can provide them but only if you spec out the sizes..

So if total seal ring CR9091 is there conventional ring for the stock pre-2010 pistons and are ductile iron at around 800 a set (of course MSRP) and the the S 9091 is their gapless ring set at a little more then that and still has the Ductile iron ring as the top ring.
Then who is the manufacturer of the Keystone "Steel OEM top ring"??
Does anyone here on DD know?

 

[SilveradoTwins02]

Well after some digging, i found a couple ring sets with the "STEEL Nitrited coated" top ring sets, these are the stock replacement Keystone design.
Hastings has one which is #2D 4845 i was quoted around 400 on these
NPR offers one #SDI 10183 these were les than 280.
Hope this helps guys looking for the correct ring sets for these motors. :thumb:

 

[dirtydmax]

I just got a crazy deal on a new set of lml pistons,ring's,rods and rod bearing's,I already have my lb7 pistons deliped,So my question is can the 2010 and newer rings be used on the older pistons and are the newer rings ss or iron?Would the newer rings be considered better than the older lb7's?Thanks in advance for the good thread:thumb:

 

[SilveradoTwins02]

Dirty dmax. See below
QUOTE=SilveradoTwins02;855876]Ok. I am building this lb7 with stock deli piped pistons. I have read that a steel top ring should be used in the dura max. When I look for rings I find the OEM replacements made by Mahle. #41909. The top ring is a ductile iron with plasma moly coating. This is a keystone ring if I'm not mistaken. The #42160 is a stainless steel top with a Nitride coating. This one is for the 2010 to 2012
D maxes. I think it is a square ring. Sooo. What rings are being used by the guys saying that they are running a steel top ring? Mahle rep said that ductile iron is good for N2O supercharging and turbo applications.

Any info would be appreciated. [/QUOTE]

The 2010 to present rings are barrel face and square or the inside according to the Mahle catalog. They are stainless steel gas nitride.
From what Mahle motorsports told me. They do use the newer ring style in their race cast pistons with the ss top ring.
Hope that answers your question
Maybe Fingers can get in the conversation. He should know very well, he use the Mahle cast blanks to perform his magic on!!

 

[dirtydmax]

Dirty dmax. See below
QUOTE=SilveradoTwins02;855876]Ok. I am building this lb7 with stock deli piped pistons. I have read that a steel top ring should be used in the dura max. When I look for rings I find the OEM replacements made by Mahle. #41909. The top ring is a ductile iron with plasma moly coating. This is a keystone ring if I'm not mistaken. The #42160 is a stainless steel top with a Nitride coating. This one is for the 2010 to 2012
D maxes. I think it is a square ring. Sooo. What rings are being used by the guys saying that they are running a steel top ring? Mahle rep said that ductile iron is good for N2O supercharging and turbo applications.

Any info would be appreciated.

The 2010 to present rings are barrel face and square or the inside according to the Mahle catalog. They are stainless steel gas nitride.
From what Mahle motorsports told me. They do use the newer ring style in their race cast pistons with the ss top ring.
Hope that answers your question
Maybe Fingers can get in the conversation. He should know very well, he use the Mahle cast blanks to perform his magic on!![/QUOTE]

Yesir,by the sounds of it I am good to go,good bit of info right there.

 

[bmc1025]

Well after some digging, i found a couple ring sets with the "STEEL Nitrited coated" top ring sets, these are the stock replacement Keystone design.
Hastings has one which is #2D 4845 i was quoted around 400 on these
NPR offers one #SDI 10183 these were les than 280.
Hope this helps guys looking for the correct ring sets for these motors. :thumb:

which rings did you end up going with? Has anyone used the NPR set?

 

[rodder55]

Oh no wish I never seen this thread haha I though my stock rings were good on my lbz for my build using cut lb7. Can I run them or should I switch to 2010+ rings