TOTAL CONFORM
A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN PISTON RING DESIGN
Featuring Revolutionary, Power Producing Radial Notch Technology
WHY TOTAL CONFORM
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New Total Conform Piston Rings
- Patent pending Radial Notch Design allows to ring to “conform” to cylinder wallto provide increase horsepower and torque while reducing blow-by
- A full width radial wall ring that efficiently conforms to bore distoritions like a shallow radial wall ring
- Precise constant end radius of notches minimizes stress, maximizes conformability, and eliminates the chance of failure from fracturing
- Features lower mass, higher efficiency and improved crankcase vacuum
- Available optional PVD applied C-33 face coating – quick seating, easy on cylinder walls and won’t chip or flake
Contact us today and learn more about this incredible new piston ring design…
Conforming to Pressure
Conforming to pressure may often be looked at as a sign of weakness or compromise. In engines, compromise is a necessary evil that engine builders strive to minimize. From ignition timing to fuel curves, component strength or weight savings, it’s a never ending trade off in terms of compromises in order to gain overall performance.
However, conforming to pressure takes on a completely new discussion when it comes to sealing the cylinder, and the experts at Total Seal Piston Rings take conforming very seriously. Piston rings have one of the toughest jobs in an engine as any leakage past the rings results in an inefficiency that not only diminishes the power of the engine, but also degrades the ability of the motor oil to properly lubricate. Total Seal has the answer on how best to conform to (cylinder) pressures.
Sealed Benefits
When it comes to a better ring seal, not only does the engine become more efficient through the four strokes of the engine, but less combustion gasses leaking into the crankcase means the engine oil stays cleaner longer. Clean oil and cooler oil protect the engine better, which increases oil life and the longevity of the engine itself.
Total Seal offers the Total Conform rings in AP Steel and with their top line Diamond Finish, depending on the application and use of the engine. Total Conform rings can be made from either stainless steel or tool steel, depending on the demand of the application. Due to these variances, it’s best to call one of Total Seal’s tech experts to discuss the engine build to ensure the best ring possible for the build.
Localized Distortion
The cylinders of all engines experience some form of localized distortion due to heat, head bolt positions and sleeve materials. The best example to illustrate these differentiations is to use a big bore, long stroke engine. The temperatures at the top of the cylinder are higher than the temps at the bottom of the cylinder which leads to different rates of expansion. This example is especially prevalent in thin sleeve aluminum blocks as the materials expand unevenly under temperature changes.
When cylinder distortion occurs, it causes leakage points between the piston rings and the cylinder wall. Piston rings are typically designed to seal a round cylinder, so any distortions to the cylinder can cause gaps between the cylinder and the rings leading to increased blow-by. Put simply, a loss of efficiency.
Due to this physics of these alterations, the piston ring would need to change the shape of the outer diameter as the engine operates. While a traditional piston ring design allows for some conformability, there’s just no way it change shape enough to seal as effectively as the cylinder bores distort due to heat, pressure and mechanical stresses. Or is there? Total Seal now offers a solution with their Total Conform top rings.
Constant Conforming
The Total Conform Ring is a unique design for the top compression ring. The patented ring has a series of radial notches around its inner diameter which allows the ring’s outer diameter to shift its shape, allowing it to conform to the distortions in the cylinder wall. This radiused form reduces stress risers as well as the chance of the ring fracturing while maximizing its ability to conform to the ever changing cylinder form to produce a more effective seal.
Joe Gibbs Racing recently performed a test of the Total Conform rings on an iron sleeved, aluminum block developed for an off-road race truck. The engine featured a wide bore and used Total Seal’s .8 mm Diamond Finish rings as the base line for the test. When fitted with a Diamond Finish Total Conform ring (also .8 mm), the engine produced 50% less blow-by! Where there is blow-by, there is lost power and a 50% reduction is substantial in any engine.
The form shifting abilities of the Total Conform ring was designed to seal in combustion pressures, but their design also resulted in a lighter and more flexible ring. The radial notches of the ring also provide an area where cylinder pressures can push the ring out to assist in sealing to the cylinder wall much like a gas ported ring.
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About Total Conform
The radiused slots in the inside of the Total Conform Ring provide the ability to retain a seal against the cylinder wall during times of cylinder distortion.
Notice the radius form of the ring slots. The smooth radius is needed to prevent stress points and helps the ring conform to cylinder deviations then return to its original form.
Every ring from Total Seal is subject to a number of quality tests during the manufacturing process including a back-light test. This step ensures there is a complete seal with no voids where pressure could escape.
Fitment checks are made during the CNC process as well. Here the ring fitment is being confirmed in one of the precise cylinder gauges.
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