Every customer has different requirements and preferences in relation to pistons. We have already highlighted some pistons and piston brands on our website and social media, but our range is always growing. Our specialists will give you the best advice regarding suitable piston options for various applications, coatings, tools and more in this blog!

The match between application and piston

The way a piston works, the clearance and its size are very important when fitting a piston. Different applications require different sizes, materials, brands and options. All, of course, based on your requirements for your engine block. Our specialists have listed some popular applications.

Passenger cars

The stock and range for passenger cars is very extensive. Pistons for these applications are often made of aluminium: cast or forged. In most cases, our pistons are delivered complete with piston rings, piston pins and circlips; popular brands include MAHLE and Kolbenschmidt, but our private label is also very popular.

Commercial vehicles

Our range also includes various pistons for commercial vehicles. We, for example, offer pistons with a steel top and aluminium bottom, making the piston more resistant to high pressure and temperatures.

One application for which we supply many pistons is the Mercedes Sprinter commercial vehicle. These engines often have problems with pistons. Contact our specialists and they will be happy to give you advice and tips on how to avoid these problems.

Agriculture and industry

We supply pistons for the most common agricultural and industrial engine brands such as Yanmar and Perkins engines. We also supply many pistons directly from stock for fast delivery ensuring agricultural or construction vehicles can get back to work quickly. Well-known brands for these applications are MaxiForce and Nüral, both of which are known for their quality and expertise for these applications.

Pleasure craft and shipping

For pleasure craft, engines from Yanmar, Cummins and Volvo Penta are very popular. For these applications, we mainly supply sets (more on this later) from the Kolbenschmidt and MAHLE brands.

We also have parts available for more special applications such as yacht or ship engines for which we offer, for example, pistons with cooling channels. In relation to parts for heavier applications, our specialists will be happy to provide appropriate and personalised advice.

Performance

MAHLE Motorsport, CP Carrillo and UEM Pistons are THE piston brands when it comes to performance.

Mahle Motorsport is a real performance quality brand, which delivers at a competitive price and even offers pistons for engines with Alusil. The CP Carrillo brand offers the option of tailor-made pistons and is the cream of the crop with its 'standard' range of pistons alone. And we are left with the UEM Pistons brand (Icon Pistons, Silv-O-Lite and KB), which, for example, is known for its Line2Line coating.

Of course, there are several applications in relation to performance. Our performance specialists are therefore happy to help you find a suitable piston for your vehicle.

In addition to these applications, there are many other engines for which we supply pistons such as for generators, trucks, motorbikes and even locomotives. Feel free to ask our specialists for more information.

Coatings

Coatings are not an unknown option and are especially popular among performance customers. However, the coating is not only for improving performance but also for other purposes. For example, to increase the life and resistance of your piston.

We look at the coating options of three of our brands in this blog. Each brand has its own types of coatings with its own applied qualities and techniques. We have created a list of some of these special coatings.

Piston skirt coatings

Usually a black coating that is mainly applied to prevent wear and friction. As this coating is very popular, it is also used by several brands. Examples include:

• GRAFAL® skirt coating (MAHLE)
  Primarily for the prevention of wear, friction and noise, the coating also reduces contact between the piston skirt and the cylinder wall, resulting in less wear on the bore and the piston.
  
• Skirt Coat / Moly Dry Film Coating (CP Carrillo)
  This coating is used, for example, to reduce friction between the piston and the cylinder and protects during cold starts.
  
• UltraWear M42 (UEM Pistons)
  Reduces engine noise and protects during cold starts.
  
• Line2Line coating (UEM Pistons)
  The Line2Line coating is a striking one among piston skirt coatings and is applied to the 'Extreme' series of ICON pistons. This coating has a major impact on the performance and durability of pistons and provides a significant improvement. What makes this coating special is that almost no play has to be applied during installation. Find out more about Line2Line in our performance blog on ICON Pistons.
  

Piston head coatings

Coatings on the piston head are often used to influence thermal conduction and therefore ensure a better service life and performance. Some of the benefits are:

• Thermal Barrier Coating (MAHLE)
  Thermal conduction is reduced to protect the piston head.
  
• Ceramic Crown Coating (CP Carrillo)
  Heat is transferred through this coating to the combustion chamber, reducing piston temperatures and improving service life, performance and combustion.
  
• UltraTherm CM (UEM Pistons)
  Improves the service life and thermal conduction.
  

Coatings on the entire piston or on several parts

• Anodising spring grooves (MAHLE and CP Carrillo)
  By anodising spring grooves, micro welding is prevented. This increases the service life and reduces the risk of piston ring wear.
  
• Anodising the entire piston (MAHLE and CP Carrillo)
  This coating is mainly used to reduce wear and tear. This coating is particularly popular among drag racing applications due to the extreme situations in which pistons must perform.
  
• ASF treatment (CP Carrillo)
  This coating makes for an extra shiny piston with a smooth surface, which also reduces carbon build-up and helps repel oil on the underside of the piston. The coating can be applied over the entire piston or certain sections.
  
• WPC Treatment (CP Carrillo)
  The surface of the piston is more resistant to friction and wear from small foreign particles shooting against the piston or pin. The surface becomes stronger, which improves the resistance and durability of the piston. In addition, friction is reduced and oil can be retained longer.
  
  

Also see the interview below with MAHLE Motorsport for more information on different coatings. You can always contact our specialists for advice and more information on coatings.

Custom Made service

Is your required piston no longer available? Or is this product no longer produced? No problem for Wilmink Engine Parts! Together with the CP Carrillo brand, we also offer a tailor-made service.

A perfect solution for exactly reproducing the piston of a classic car or optimising the performance of your vehicle. Our specialist will look at the possibilities together with you and give you advice on the various options and recommendations for your application. Based on our expertise and experience, we can give you just the tip that makes the difference for your application. There are various options ranging from different valve recesses to different coatings.

We discuss your requirements with CP Carrillo and, next, your piston is carefully produced. It is possible to send the old piston along with the data so that the engineering team can reproduce the piston in detail.

Several customers have already opted for this tailor-made service to reproduce an old piston including for a Porsche 924, an Aston Martin Lagonda and even a 1929 Peugeot De Dion-Bouton!

Assistance with assembly

Our specialists can also help you during assembly. We offer useful tools to make the installation a lot easier and we are happy to give advice on replacing other piston-related parts.

Piston assembly kit

For the assembly of pistons, Wilmink offers a handy piston assembly kit produced by Kolbenschmidt with which you can easily safely install the piston. This tool can be used for various piston and piston ring sizes. The practical, sturdy plastic case contains the following items:

• A feeler gauge
• Piston ring clamps for piston rings with a 50-110 mm diameter
• Piston ring clamps for piston rings with a 110-160 mm diameter
• Piston ring compressor with a 53-125 mm piston diameter and height "3"
• Piston ring compressor with a 90-175 mm piston diameter and height "4"
  

Parts from the kit can easily be ordered separately. The piston assembly kit can be ordered from our specialists or the web shop by quoting reference WG1814892.

The complete package

When assembling the piston, it is important that the other related parts are also of the same quality. Would you like advice on matching cylinder liners, piston rings or connecting rods? Our specialists will be happy to help you put together the best package! In addition to a personalised package, we also stock complete assemblies. In addition to the pistons, an assembly also contains the piston rings, piston pin and piston liner.

Does any of the options sound appealing? Contact our specialists and they will be happy to help or provide information!