One of the most common questions is about
which piston to buy. The marquee is one factor, but sometimes we have to
choose between a cast and forged piston. This article cannot give you the
definitive answer to which piston to use, but some facts must be shared
based upon experience.
A cast shaped component means that the material has been melted and then
poured into a mold that basically shapes the piston. The advantages are
many, for example: a possibility to add other components like silicone,
carbon, zinc and so on in order to gain certain properties. The aluminum
itself doesn't build up inner tension as much. It is cheap. The density
of the material doesn't increase which means it could be kept light.
There are disadvantages also, of course. The piston will be weaker in
structure. It is often heavier since the manufacturer has to increase
wall thickness in order to achieve sufficient strength. The heat
expansion cannot be controlled and is therefore often not completely round
since the piston pin requires some material on the inside. They are also
produced in bulk with most manufacturers only producing sizes that are
close to factory specifications. This also makes them more affordable.
Forged pistons are mechanically shaped into a piston shape. They are
hammered into a mold forming the piston and by utilizing state-of-the-art
CNC machines, most manufacturers can maintain exact specifications and
tolerances. This makes them structurally more durable. Forged pistons
are well known in the racing and performance industry because of their
ability to withstand more heat, higher rpm's, higher boost and higher
temperatures. Another advantage to a forged piston is that they can be
individually made to any custom size or specification without the high
cost of casting.
Here at LCE, the philosophy is quit simple. The choice between using a
cast piston or a forged piston is dictated by the application. If you
plan on running normal octane gas and it falls into our "street"
application, we recommend using the cast aluminum pistons. If you plan on
using high octane, high compression or high boost for your application,
then we recommend using a forged aluminum piston.
Please contact our sales department for specific information on different
applications at 928-855-6341.. |