Service Bulletin

RTA-43.3

Technical Information to all Owners / Operators

of Sulzer RTA and RT-flex Engines

RT-flex-05
31.08.2006
(Supersedes Bulletin
RTA-43.2 of 03.12.2002)

Piston Rings

Contents:

Wrtsil Switzerland Ltd

Wrtsil Schweiz AG
Wrtsil Suisse SA

PO Box 414
CH-8401 Winterthur
Switzerland

Page

1. Introduction

2. Piston ring technology

3. Piston ring designation

4. Piston ring standard

5. General Recommendations

6. Part list

7. Related service bulletins

11

Tel. +41 52 262 23 30

Fax +41 52 212 71 03
E-mail: techservice.ch@wartsila.com

1 INTRODUCTION
This Service Bulletin offers information and advice on the latest piston ring specification for
RTA and RT-flex engines.
Information in Service Bulletins RTA-43, RTA-43.1 and RTA-43.2 about piston rings is
superseded by this issue.

2 PISTON RING TECHNOLOGY

2.1

Latest development

The development and availability of new piston ring coatings have allowed Wrtsil to test a
variety of piston ring executions on their engines. The aim of the evaluation was to find a
low wear concept that offers a high safety margin against unstable piston running
conditions that could lead to sudden severe wear.
The best results were obtained with chrome-ceramic coated rings in all ring grooves, in
combination with fully honed liners.
Chrome-ceramic (CC) coating was tested in RTA engines from 1998 onwards and was
introduced as the standard configuration for the top ring in 2000, in combination with RC
(running-in coating) lower rings. The CC-coating has a high resistance against abrasive,
adhesive and corrosive wear and greatly reduces the risk of sudden severe wear.
2.2

Latest standard

A full CC-coated ring pack is now recommended as the standard configuration for the large
bore engines viz. RTA96C, RT-flex96C, RTA84C, RTA84T, RTA84T-B, RTA84T-D, RTflex84T-D and RTA84M.
Based on satisfactory service experience the SCP1RC lower rings remain the standard
configuration for RTA84 and smaller bore engines, along with RC top rings and K0P rings for
certain engine types.
Both the top ring and the lower rings are pre-profiled; the top CC-ring has an asymmetrical
barrel shaped profile (P1), the lower CC-rings have a symmetrical barrel shaped profile (P2).
The RC-rings have a P1 profile.
The standard rings have a straight-cut (SC) type ring gap, except for the K0P rings which
have an oblique cut ring gap. A gas tight (GT) top ring may be applied as an alternative
solution for the large bore engine, see section 5.3.
K0 (non-profiled) rings have been replaced by K0P (pre-profiled) rings.
Note: CC-coated rings should only be used in combination with a fully honed liner.

1 / 11

Service Bulletin RTA-43.3

3 PISTON RING DESIGNATION

The type of piston ring is specified by 8 characters, e.g.:

Ring gap:

SC - Straight Cut
GT - Gas Tight

Profile:

P1 - Asymmetrical barrel shape

P2 - Symmetrical barrel shape

Coating:

CC - Chrome-Ceramic
RC - Running-in Coating

Ring height:

SC P1 CC 20

[mm]

Piston ring profile:

P1:

CC top rings and RC rings

Asymmetrical profile

P2:

CC lower rings
Symmetrical profile

2 / 11

Service Bulletin RTA-43.3

Older ring specification K0 and K0P

K0P rings have an oblique cut ring gap. The K denotes a correction to the ring ends: The
0 (zero) indicates the ring ends have no correction whereas the previous KN version had a
negative correction. The P indicates the ring is pre-profiled, as shown in the illustration.
Coated K0P rings have the extension PL (Plasma Coated) or RC (Running-in Coated).

Wrtsil Piston Rings are marked as follows (example):

WCH VP6 SCP1CC20 TOP xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wrtsil Switzerland
Material
Ring Designation
Orientation
Manufacturing Date and Batch Number

The ring marking is stamped on

the upper face near the ring gap

3 / 11

Service Bulletin RTA-43.3

PISTON RING STANDARD

The following table shows the current standard for all applications and alternative solutions
deviating from the standard recommendation.
1x denotes the top ring, followed by 3x or 4x denoting the lower rings
A single 4x of 5x means ring pack consisting of all identical rings.
Engine Type

Ring configuration

Standard
recommendation

Alternative

RTA96C
RT-flex96C

4-ring

1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20

1x GTP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20

5-ring

1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP2CC18

1x GTP1CC20
4x SCP2CC18

4-ring

1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20

1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP1RC20
or
1x GTP1CC20
3x SCP1RC20
or
4x SCP1RC20

5-ring

1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP2CC16
or
1x SCP1CC16
4x SCP2CC16

1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
1x GTP1CC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
1x SCP1CC16
4x SCP1RC16
or
5x SCP1RC16

4-ring

1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20

1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP1RC20
or
1x GTP1CC20
3x SCP1RC20
or
4x SCP1RC20

5-ring

1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP2CC16

1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
1x GTP1CC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
1x SCP1CC16
4x SCP1RC16
or
5x SCP1RC16

RTA84C

RTA84M
RTA84T
RTA84T-B
RTA84T-D
RT-flex84T-D

or
1x SCP1CC16
4x SCP2CC16

4 / 11

Service Bulletin RTA-43.3

Continued
Engine Type

Ring configuration

Standard
recommendation

Alternative

RTA84

5-ring

1x SCP1RC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
5x SCP1RC16

1x SCP1RC20
4x K0P16
or
1x SCP1RC16
4x K0P16

RTA76

5-ring

1x K0P18
4x K0P14
or
5x K0P14

1x GTP1CC18
4x K0P14
or
1x SCP1CC18
4x K0P14

RTA72
RTA72U
RTA72U-B

4-ring

1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP1RC18
or
1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP1RC14

4x SCP1RC18
or
1x SCP1RC18
3x SCP1RC14

5-ring

1x SCP1CC18
4x SCP1RC14
or
5x SCP1RC14

1x SCP1RC18
4x SCP1RC14

RTA68-B
(RTA68T-B)
RTA68-D
RT-flex68-B
RT-flex68-D

4-ring

1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP1RC18

1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP2CC18

RTA68

5-ring

5x K0P13
or
1x SCP1RC18
4x K0P13

RTA62
RTA62U
RTA62U-B

4-ring

1x SCP1CC17
3x SCP1RC17
or
1x SCP1CC17
3x SCP1RC13

4x SCP1RC17
or
1x SCP1RC17
3x SCP1RC13

5-ring

1x SCP1CC17
4x SCP1RC13
or
5x SCP1RC13

1x SCP1RC17
4x SCP1RC13

RT-flex60C
RT-flex60C-B

4-ring

1x SCP1CC16
3x SCP1RC16

RTA58T
RTA58T-B
RT-flex58T-B

4-ring

1x SCP1CC16
3x SCP1RC16

5 / 11

4x SCP1RC16

Service Bulletin RTA-43.3

Continued
Engine Type

Ring configuration

Standard
recommendation

Alternative

RTA58

5-ring

1x SCP1RC16
4x K0P12
or
5x K0P12

RTA52
RTA52U

4-ring

1x SCP1CC15
3x SCP1RC15
or
1x SCP1CC15
3x SCP1RC12

4x SCP1RC15
or
1x SCP1RC15
3x SCP1RC12

5-ring

1x SCP1CC15
4x SCP1RC12
or
5x SCP1RC12

1x SCP1RC15
4x SCP1RC12

RTA50-B
RT-flex50-B

4-ring

1x GTP1CC15
3x SCP1RC15

RTA48T
RTA48T-B

4-ring

1x SCP1CC15
3x SCP1RC15

RTA48

4-ring

1x SCP1RC15
3x K0P11
or
4x K0P11

RTA38

4-ring

1x K0P13
3x K0P10

4x SCP1RC15

or
4x K0P10

6 / 11

Service Bulletin RTA-43.3

5 GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1

Piston ring life

The Chrome-ceramic coating is a lifetime coating. However, the actual wear depends on
piston running conditions. Wear of the CC-coating can be monitored by means of a chrome
thickness measurement tool, available through Wrtsil, see part list in chapter 6.
When during a piston underside
inspection a piston ring with a partially
worn CC-coating is found, the ring
does not necessarily need to be
changed immediately. If the remaining
chrome layer is intact, it is still fit for
continued service. Obviously the
scuffing resistance of the ring will
decrease accordingly.
If the chrome layer is damaged i.e.
pieces of coating broken out, or
patches of coating peeling off, the ring
should be replaced at the earliest
opportunity.
5.2

Partially worn CC-coating, but

suitable for continued service

Overhaul intervals

The Engine Maintenance Manuals give the following guidelines for piston overhaul intervals:

18 20,000 running hours

12 14,000 running hours
6 8,000 running hours

Piston with CC top ring and liner with anti-polishing ring

Piston with CC top ring, liner without anti-polishing ring
Piston with RC top ring, regardless of anti-polishing ring

When using RC top rings as an alternative to CC top rings, the shorter overhaul intervals
should be observed.
The above mentioned overhaul intervals for pistons with CC top rings also apply to pistons
with CC rings in all grooves.
5.3

Ring storage and handling

Handle with care. Store the Piston Rings in a dry place, lay horizontally on a flat surface and
kept in their original packing. When preparing for use, avoid hard contact against other metal
objects. This is particularly important for CC-coated rings.
5.4

Gas tight rings

Gas tight top rings may be beneficial with partly worn liners. A large SC ring gap causes
excessive gas leakage resulting in disruption of the oil film and deposits forming on the ring
lands. This is prevented by the overlapping ends of the gas tight ring. In addition, there is a
tendency for reduced deposit formation on the piston crown lands when using gas tight rings.
Gas tight rings should only be fitted when the piston ring groove is in good condition. Before
fitting gas tight rings, the Liner may require to be honed in order to correct any dimensional
irregularities.
7 / 11

Service Bulletin RTA-43.3

5.5

Fitting instructions

To prevent deformation it is of the utmost importance not to open the rings more than is
absolutely necessary. For this purpose a special expander tool is available, which is also
provided with claws specially designed for CC-coated rings, to prevent coating being chipped
off at the ring ends. For ordering details see part list in chapter 6.

5.6

Cylinder liner condition

Prior to assembling the Unit, the liner should be thoroughly checked for wear ridges and sharp
edges of the lubricating grooves and the scavenging ports. For dressing-up instructions we
refer to the maintenance manual, Group 2, pages 2124-3/A1.

6 PART LIST
6.1

General

Part

Order Number (Code no.)

Piston Ring Expander Tool

94338

Chrome thickness gauge

94356

6.2

Piston Rings

Engine Type
RTA96C

RT-flex96C

Standard
Recommendation
1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20
or
1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP2CC18
1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20
or
1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP2CC18

Order Number
(Code no.)
D 34425
D 34428
D 34425
D 34430
DF 34425
DF 34428
DF 34425
DF 34430

8 / 11

Alternative
1x GTP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20
or
1x GTP1CC20
4x SCP2CC18
1x GTP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20
or
1x GTP1CC20
4x SCP2CC18

Order Number
(Code no.)
*)
D 34428
*)
D 34430
*)
DF 34428
*)
DF 34430

Service Bulletin RTA-43.3

Continued
Engine Type
RTA84C

RTA84T

RTA84T-B
RTA84T-D

RT-flex84T-D
RTA84M

Standard
Recommendation
1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20
or
1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP2CC16
or
1xSCP1CC16
4xSCP2CC16

1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20
or
1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP2CC16

1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20

1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP2CC20
1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
1x SPC1RC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
5x SCP1RC16

Order Number
(Code no.)
C 34420
C 34428
C 34420
C 34427
C 34429
C 34427

W 34424
W 34431
W 34424
W 34430

B 34425
B 34431

Alternative
1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP1RC20
or
1x GTP1CC20
3x SCP1RC20
or
4x SCP1RC20
or
1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
1x GTP1CC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
1x SCP1CC16
4x SCP1RC16
or
5x SCP1RC16
1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP1RC20
or
1x GTP1CC20
3x SCP1RC20
or
4x SCP1RC20
or
1x SCP1CC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
1x GTP1CC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
1x SCP1CC16
4x SCP1RC16
or
5x SCP1RC16
1x SCP1CC20
3x SCP1RC20
or
1x GTP1CC20
3x SCP1RC20
or
4x SCP1RC20

Order Number
(Code no.)
C 34420
C 34421
---------*)
C 34421
C 34421
C 34420
C 34422
---------*)
C 34422
C 34429
C 34422
C 34422
W 34424
W 34425
---------*)
W 34425
W 34425
W 34424
W 34426
---------*)
W 34426
---------*)
W 34426
W 34426
B 34425
B 34426
---------*)
B 34426
B 34426

BF 34425
BF 34426
Z 34437
Z 34439
Z 34438
Z 34439
Z 34439

9 / 11

Service Bulletin RTA-43.3

Continued
Engine Type
RTA84

RTA76

RTA72
RTA72U

RTA72U-B

RTA68-B
(RTA68T-B)
RTA68-D
RT-flex68-B
RT-flex68-D
RTA68

RTA62
RTA62U

RTA62U-B

RT-flex60C
RT-flex60C-B
RTA58T
RTA58T-B

Standard
Recommendation
1x SCP1RC20
4x SCP1RC16
or
5x SCP1RC1

Order Number
(Code no.)
U 34409
U 34408

1x K0P18
4x K0P14
or
5x K0P14

U 34409
U 34408

1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP1RC18
or
1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP1RC14
or
1x SCP1CC18
4x SCP1RC14
or
5x SCP1RC14
1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP1RC18
or
1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP1RC14
1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP1RC18

Z 34433
Z 34334

1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP1RC18
5x K0P13
or
1x SCP1RC18
4x K0P13
1x SCP1CC17
3x SCP1RC17
or
1x SCP1CC17
3x SCP1RC13
or
1x SCP1CC17
4x SCP1RC13
or
5x SCP1RC13
1x SCP1CC17
3x SCP1RC17
or
1x SCP1CC17
3x SCP1RC13
1x SCP1CC16
3x SCP1RC16
1x SCP1CC16
3x SCP1RC16
1x SCP1CC16
3x SCP1RC16

MF 34425
MF 34426
U 34408

U 34408

U 34408

Z 34433
Z 34435
Z 34433
Z 34435
Z 34435
A 34428
A 34329
A 34428
A 34430
Q 34434
Q 34425

U 34409
U 34408
Z 34430
Z 34431
Z 34430
Z 34432
Z 34430
Z 34432
Z 34432
A 34422
A 34423
A 34422
A 34424
NF 34420
NF 34421
W 34422
W 34423
Q 34422
Q 34423

10 / 11

Alternative
1x SCP1RC20
4x K0P16
or
1x SCP1RC16
4x K0P16
1x GTP1CC18
4x K0P14
or
1x SCP1CC18
4x K0P14
4x SCP1RC18
or
1x SCP1RC18
3x SCP1RC14
or
1x SCP1RC18
4x SCP1RC14

Order Number
(Code no.)
U 34409
U 34408
U 34408
U 34408
U 34409
U 34408
U 34409
U 34408
Z 34434
Z 34434
Z 34435
Z 34434
Z 34435

4x SCP1RC18
or
1x SCP1RC18
3x SCP1RC14

A 34429

1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP2CC18

Q 34434
Q 34425

1x SCP1CC18
3x SCP2CC18

MF 34425
MF 34426

4x SCP1RC17
or
1x SCP1RC17
3x SCP1RC13
or
1x SCP1RC17
4x SCP1RC13

Z 34431

4x SCP1RC17
or
1x SCP1RC17
3x SCP1RC13

A 34423

4x SCP1RC16

W 34423

4x SCP1RC16

Q 34423

A 34429
A 34430

Z 34431
Z 34432
Z 34431
Z 34432

A 34423
A 34424

Service Bulletin RTA-43.3

Continued
Engine Type
RTA58

RTA52
RTA52U

RTA50-B
RT-flex50
RT-flex50-B
RTA48T
RTA48T-B
RTA48

RTA38

Standard
Recommendation
1x SCP1RC16
4x K0P12
or
5x K0P12
1x SCP1CC15
3x SCP1RC15
or
1x SCP1CC15
3x SCP1RC12
or
1x SCP1CC15
4x SCP1RC12
or
5x SCP1RC12
1x GTP1CC15
3x SCP1RC15

Order Number
(Code no.)
U 34409
U 34408

1x SCP1CC15
3x SCP1RC15
1x SCP1CC15
3x SCP1RC15
1x SCP1RC15
3x K0P11
or
4x K0P11
1x K0P13
3x K0P10
or
4x K0P10

W 34420
W 34421
Q 34420
Q 34421
T 34411
T 34409

U 34408
Z 34427
Z 34428
Z 34427
Z 34429
Z 34427
Z 34429

Alternative

Order Number
(Code no.)

4x SCP1RC15
or
1x SCP1RC15
3x SCP1RC12
or
1x SCP1RC15
4x SCP1RC12

Z 34428

4x SCP1RC15

W 34421

4x SCP1RC15

Q 34421

Z 34428
Z 34429
Z 34428
Z 34429

Z 34429
IF 34420
IF 34421

T 34409
T 34408
T 34407
T 34407

*) At the time of issuing this Service Bulletin, the Part Codes for these Piston Rings were not
available. When ordering replacement Piston Rings, please use the ring designation and
engine type.
For example, if you have engine RTA84C then place an order by quoting "1x GTP1CC20 for
RTA84C"

7 RELATED SERVICE BULLETINS

RTA-18.3
RTA-26
RTA-38
RTA-39
RTA-63
RTA-65
RTA-66
RTA-70
RTA-72
RTA-73
RTA-76
RT-flex-03

Running-in of Cylinder Liners and Piston Rings

Loss of Material on Piston Crowns due to High Temperature Corrosion
Piston Crowns, Loss of Material on Combustion Side
Overhaul and Reconditioning of Pistons
Cylinder Oil Feed Rates
Daros Chromium-Ceramic Piston Rings
Cylinder Lubricating Oils
Bolts for Piston Crown Spraying Plate and Piston Skirt
Piston Assembly, Piston Skirt and Piston Ring Tensioning Device
Cylinder Liner and Anti-polishing Ring
CLU Cylinder Lubrication for RTA and RT-flex Engines
Idem RTA-76
11 / 11

Service Bulletin RTA-43.3