Staggering the Gaps in Rings

[The Barron]

When you guys install the rings on your pistons.. in what way do you offset or stagger the ring gaps?

One guy told me to like have one gap at 12:00 then 6:00 then 9:00/or 3:00.

This sound right?

[puppet]

Looking down ... front of engine is 90* left.
Oil control ... bottom ring @10:30, expander @7:30, top ring @4:30
Ring #2 @7:30
Ring #1 @1:30

... all times GMT

[Koreth]

When you say "front of entine, do you mean the side of the engine that the belts are on (the traditional "front" of the engine) or do you mean the side of the engine you see when you open the hood with the distributor and oil filter and all that?

[ebola]

It doesnt realy matter wich way gaps look. Most important is they dont sit one above another and dont bleed compression to the crank from the begining.After some work, rings settle themselves the way they like, no matter how You fit them when building.My 2 cents.By the way, engine front is always opposite side to the gearbox.Belts no matter also.Example: VW VR6 engine has chain by the tranny, that means in opposite side from the engine front.

[15w/ashelby]

I agree with ebola. In runnig a new engine for 30 seconds every ring had shifted. AS long as there not in line there shouldn't be a problem.

[puppet]

Front of engine is pulley side. ... always thought that one of the causes of ring spin, which isn't good btw, was a sloppy hone job.

[oldgregg]

This question comes up allot.

Ring positioning doesn't mean or do squat since they rotate in the bore while the piston is moving.

The only "rings" that "need" pre positioning are the top & bottom wipers on the oil ring (bottom ring assy) when it's assembled.

The gap for the top wiper should be 1" or so to the left (or right if bottom wiper is on left) of the oil ring gap & the bottom wiper should be 1" or so to the right (or left if top wiper is on right).