2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

^^ As I read it, only one new piston, none OEM rings and several oil changes. It may have needed to be ran harder from the get go.

GrizzlyMan

The new rings need that cross-hatch to make them sit properly.
He has a new (used) engine and his car is running fine now. (I guess lessons learned...)

KIS350

The rings I purchased and received definitely had a clear marking indicating installation orientation.

KIS350

I definitely agree that a solid hone should have been done, however the cylinders were close enough in cylindrical roundness and straightness that I felt, at the time, it wasn't necessary. I created a crosshatch in the cylinder walls with the deglazing stones that I felt was sufficient enough to retain oil on the walls for lubrication. The cross-hatch, as far as I know, is for oil retention on the sidewalls of the cylinder. Not for "seating" rings. Deglazing is crosshatching. Its returning oil retention on the sidewalls by removing the sheen and replenishing the crosshatch. Honing is improving cylindrical roundness, removing minor vertical scratches/wear as well as adding crosshatching.

The Pistons were not new, just the rings. The rings were not OEM. I speculate that was my biggest mistake and the wrong place to save time and money. 100% regardless of what I find inside...it was a mistake.

GrizzlyMan

Then, how will the new rings "seat" properly?
Did you use a calibrated bore gage to measure roundness from top to bottom?
On machine shop work, having the wrong measurement of about the thickness of a hair, makes the difference between a successful or failed rebuild.
I am not picking on you etc, but want to clarify certain troubleshooting steps during your rebuild as this is a public thread for others not to repeat.