Putting an lq4 together. The original 250k rings were .038”. New pistons rods and rings from WS6 store are going in. Right now rings are .023” for top. What ring gaps have you all seen works well with 10-15 psi boost? I’ve reading and have .024-.028 and varying opinions on bottom ring being same or larger.

 

Usual rule of thumb for top rings is around .0045 - .005 per " of bore N/A; add acoupla .001"s for boost. So .025 - .028 is pretty much right in there.

Bottom compression ring should be a little larger. Not much, but a little. Maybe 10 - 15%.

The penalty for slightly too much ring gap (emphasis on SLIGHTLY) is slightly more blowby. The penalty for too little ring gap, even a TINY amount too little, is instant catastrophic total destruction when the ends butt up against each other at max boost, max power, and max RPM, when they grow to their max size due to heat.

Which penalty would you rather pay? Make your decision accordingly.

 

WS6 got back to me and states .026 top and .024 bottom... always though they would be the same or bottom would be larger... no?

 

The .026" top is extremely believable.

Most people set the bottom larger these days; lets the pressure out from between them. If it was me I might go .026 & .030".

Butt hay, it's not THAT much difference anyway, and if they say what they say, they've done more of this than me, and if they offer a warranty on it, ...

 

There is plenty out there on the subject. You might find these articles helpful.
https://www.enginelabs.com/engine-te...-ring-end-gap/
Everything You Need to Know About Ring Gap!

 

Read those and everything else you can find on the first three pages of google.... no diff omit everything Answers, wheat I did determine is 26/28 are the most common gaps people run and seem to do well. Right now mine are 23/23 so not too far off.