Mahle ring end gap for rods only build
 

I'm having trouble with getting an answer on the ring gap for the Mahle 41608 rings (rockauto rings) if anyone who has run them could chime in with what their end gap was it would be much appreciated.

I have tried calling Mahle. Was told I would get a call back an never received one. I emailed them this morning but nothing yet.

Out of the box I am getting .021 for the top ring and .019 for the second ring. I squared them up using the upside down piston method and these numbers are consistent across all 4 cylinders.

I didn't receive instructions with the rings but there are 2 different ring gap instructions online which unless building a blower motor these numbers are way off recommend values. Also their current instructions do call for a larger second ring gap while their instructions from 2014 call for a slightly tighter second ring gap.

I thought I had this figured out but an went ahead and installed them but I feel uncomfortable with that top ring gap being so large... An not getting any response from Mahle..

Attached are the two different instructions.
Thanks.

Figured i'd post my findings. YMMV.

So after 2 weeks of waiting to hear back from Mahle and a couple emails/phone calls later still have not gotten a response. I went ahead and ordered the Sealed Power rings to see what they looked like. I don't have a bore gauge but I am thinking that the machine shop took off a little much when honing. I had wrote down the gap of the stock rings before sending the block off but cant seem to find it. I'm pretty sure it was very close to current numbers but idk.

Im just going to run the Mahle's and see what happens. Ring flutterrr an low comp hereeee I comeeee.
Anyway.

Original 150xxx Mile Rings:
Top Ring: 0.015"
Second Ring: 0.025"

Mahle 41608:
Top Ring: 0.021"
Second Ring: 0.019"

Sealed Power E615KC:
Top Ring: 0.022"
Second Ring: 0.025"

I'm running untouched mahle rings in my rods only build.

I dont remember exact numbers. But your numbers do sound like what I had on my rings when I put them in.

been running for over 1 year, no issues.

Alright. That makes me feel a lot better. I've got to keep reminding myself I'm not building a track car.

Alot of stuff I've been stressing over I will probably never notice in real life daily driving.

Normally the gap of the second ring is bigger then the one from the top one.

Yeah hence my joke about ring flutter. I've tired contacting Mahle to no avail.

Mahle appears to have 3 different sets of instructions on ring end gap one of which calls for a tighter second gap for my power application. The docs are attached in the first post.

So idk, I'm just going to run them... Plus I can send the Sealed Power ones back for a refund still :cool: the Mahle I can't.

If the gaps on the SP was a little tighter id eat the cost an run those.

I have said it before, always use the Piston manufacturer specs for ring gap. A rods only build sounds like Mazda pistons to me, within Mazda specs will be correct.