In upgrading your engine or building a racing engine from scratch, it behooves any tuner to look individually at the parts and components that will lend themselves to the overall function of the finished product. One such component—and an invaluable one at that—is the piston, and it’s something to scrutinize closely when you’re considering performance engine parts in Hesperia, CA.
Cast vs. forged
Traditionally, pistons are manufactured through their namesake process, by casting and tempering billeted steel alloys. This is an economic way to mass produce pistons and thanks to the high resilience of cast steel, it makes for reliability and efficiency. Really, there are no downsides to cast pistons.
But while there might not be any downside to cast pistons, there’s a tremendous amount of upside when you consider, alternatively, forged ones.
Again, named after the production method, forged pistons are just as easily fabricated, but come with a myriad of options pertaining to application. Not only are these pistons extremely customizable, they’re also tremendously durable and offer high compression ratios that make them ideal for superchargers and racing engines.
Benefits of forged pistons
The first difference you’re likely to notice between cast and forged pistons is the weight of the latter. Forged pistons can be quite a bit heavier due to the metallurgical process used in fabricating them, but this is part of what gives them such a strong array of benefits. This additional density means resistance within the engine environment, including to extreme heat, fuel combustion and the sometimes overwhelming pressure that can occur in a modified engine scenario.
Another upside, as mentioned above, is the customizable nature of forged pistons. Because cast pistons are a stock standard, you’re liable to really only find OEM options on the market. Due to the desire for customization among performance engine parts in Hesperia, CA, forged pistons have become the answer for aftermarket part buyers. Ironically, forging custom pistons can actually be more cost effective than casting them, depending on your specifications!
When to choose forged pistons
Just because there is upside to choosing forged pistons over cast ones doesn’t mean this is a simple decision for just anyone to make. Unless you’re looking to extensively modify your racing engine or have modified critical engine components that would further benefit from forged pistons, cast options should suit you fine.
On the other hand, if your engine has high compression or you’ve installed a turbocharger, forged pistons are a quality investment that can and should be made. Or, if you’re looking to customize the performance of your engine via a modified piston design, forged products would be a viable solution.
Consult with the engine experts at Rezurxn Speed And Marine today to learn more about forged pistons and what they could do for your racing engine. Or, if you’re interested in learning more about how forged pistons can enhance the efforts of other performance engine parts in Hesperia, CA, consult with us before you make a purchase.