Watched a Cessna 172 get a fresh cylinder install and learned something

I helped a buddy swap a cylinder on a 172 last weekend, and after he torqued everything down, compression was perfect on the first test. He told me he always soaks the new rings in oil overnight before install, and I’ve been slapping them on dry for years. How do you prep your rings before a cylinder job?

2 comments

2 Comments

ruby_lane24d ago

@harper_gibson2 I read some old mechanic swore by oiling rings with ATF for better seating.

harper_gibson224d ago

Have you ever tried the oil soak method yourself? I gotta say, I've been slapping them on dry for years too and never had an issue. But hearing that makes me wonder if I've been leaving some compression on the table this whole time.