The 3 piston rings are the compression ring, wiper ring, and oil ring, in order from the top of the piston to the bottom. All 3 work together to keep your engine clean.
There are also other reasons for high exhaust or low power. If you aren’t sure what the cause is, bring your car to a mechanic to diagnose the problem. These are also the symptoms of bad or broken piston rings. In this case, you’ll need to replace them entirely.
There is a specialized piston-cleaning tool called a groove cleaner, so this would be your best choice. Some mechanics also just use an old, broken piston ring to clean the grooves, since it fits perfectly into the slot already. Most part cleaner spray will work. Just make sure you use a de-greaser or carbon cleaner designed for automotive use. This is a complicated job that requires a good deal of automotive skill. If you haven’t worked on cars before, it’s best to leave this to a professional.
This doesn’t clean the rings entirely, but it could dissolve some of the gunk and make the car run smoother. Don’t spill any injector cleaner or you could overflow the engine. Use a funnel to avoid spills.
An engine flush is still a good way to clean the engine and keep it running well. It’s just not a good solution for dirty piston rings.
Use good quality gasoline to reduce the amount of buildup and residue in your engine. Make sure your car’s oil is always topped off to keep everything running smoothly. Change your oil and oil filter at the recommended times for your vehicle.
