Piston Ring Replacement

2006 Honda Pilot LX, 3.5 YF1, J35A9SECTION Piston Ring Replacement
  1. Remove the piston from the engine block (see CRANKSHAFT AND PISTON REMOVAL  ).
  2. Using a ring expander (A), remove the old piston rings (B).
    Fig 1: Removing Old Piston Rings Using Ring Expander
    G04244945Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  3. Clean all the ring grooves thoroughly with a squared-off broken ring, or a ring groove cleaner with a blade to fit the piston grooves. File down the blade, if necessary. The top ring and second ring grooves are 1.2 mm (0.05 in.) wide, and the oil ring groove is 2.8 mm (0.11 in.) wide. Do not use a wire brush to clean the ring grooves, or cut the ring grooves deeper with the cleaning tool.
    NOTE: If the piston is to be separated from the connecting rod, do not install new rings yet.
  4. Using a piston, push a new ring (A) into the cylinder bore 15-20 mm (0.6-0.8 in.) from the bottom.
    Fig 2: Pushing New Ring Into Cylinder Bore From Bottom Using Piston
    G04244946Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  5. Measure the piston ring end-gap (B) with a feeler gauge:
    • If the gap is too small, check to see if you have the proper rings for your engine.
    • If the gap is too large, recheck the cylinder bore diameter against the wear limits (see step  4 ). If the bore is over the service limit, the engine block must be rebored.

    Piston Ring End-Gap 

    Top Ring: 

    Standard (New): 0.20-0.35 mm (0.008-0.014 in.) 

    Service Limit: 0.60 mm (0.024 in.) 

    Second Ring: 

    Standard (New): 0.40-0.55 mm (0.016-0.022 in.) 

    Service Limit: 0.70 mm (0.028 in.) 

    Oil Ring: 

    Standard (New): 0.20-0.70 mm (0.008-0.028 in.) 

    Service Limit: 0.80 mm (0.031 in.) 

  6. Install the rings as shown in Fig 3. The top ring (A) has a 1D mark and the second ring (B) has a 2C mark. The manufacturing marks (C) must be facing upward.
    Fig 3: Installing Rings
    G04244947Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  7. After installing a new set of rings, measure the ring-to-groove clearance:

    Top Ring Clearance 

    Standard (New): 0.055-0.080 mm (0.0022-0.0031 in.) 

    Service Limit: 0.15 mm (0.006 in.) 

    Second Ring Clearance 

    Standard (New): 0.030-0.055 mm (0.0012-0.0022 in.) 

    Service Limit: 0.13 mm (0.005 in.) 

    Fig 4: Measuring Ring-To-Groove Clearance
    G04244948Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
  8. Rotate the rings in their grooves to make sure they do not bind.
  9. Position the ring end gaps as shown in Fig 5.
    Fig 5: Positioning Ring End Gaps
    G04244949Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
RENDER: 1.0x

NO RELATED

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When to See a Mechanic

Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:

  • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
  • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
  • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
  • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
  • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.