Washing down a cylinder

I have heard the term used very often, but I can't find a true meaning of this engine problem.

What does it mean when someone says "They washed down a cylinder"

Does this have something to do with the rings not seating? A bad hone job? Excessive oil blow by?

Experts, please share your knowledge.

 

I've always used it to reference, when gas washes the oil film from the cyl wall thus leaving no lubrication between the piston and the walls, alos causing a poor ring seal. biggest cause is a VERY rich running carb and flamethrower kits. Keith

 

What he said, except IMHO the most common occurrence is during the initial firing of a new engine...either the engine is flooded while trying to start it...or the guy, thinking he's being "safe", deliberately jets the carb very rich, to "save" it from possible detonation caused by a rough-guess timing setting.

At any rate, once this happens, the rings are unlikely to ever seal properly...though sometimes you get lucky.

An old-timer's rule of thumb used to be "The only two USED parts on a new rebuild should be a KNOWN GOOD carburetor and distributor." Not bad advice even now...especially to all the guys that try to start their new engine with their "rebuilt" 6x2 intake manifold & carbs...use the old 2 or 4 barrel to initially start it.

 

All great comments and thank you Homespun and 383.

Would the damage be to the rings or the cylinder wall?

 

Usually the walls will clean up with another honing session, but the rings are always junk. At least from what I've seen on teardowns of other people's stuff...usually they are out around $300, with new rings, gaskets, the hone job, & oil/etc. More aggravating than anything. Occasionally the pistons will have a minor score or two which the owner elects to ignore.

I should add that if there is a problem with an existing engine...the carb has a major problem, etc....and the owner catches it pretty quickly...a lot of times the rings will survive. Lifespan might be somewhat shortened...hard to say for sure. I have seen guys do the "Bon-Ami" trick if they wanted to dump the car off on somebody else. Sometimes it even works for a while.