Piston and Connecting Rod - Installation

1. Install the oil control ring expander.

2. Install the upper oil control ring side rail. To install the side rail, first fit one end of the rail between the expander and the piston ring groove. Then, holding that end, press the side rail into the groove with your finger, as shown in the illustration.

Do not use a piston ring expander when installing the oil control ring side rails.

3. Install the lower oil control ring side rail following the procedure in step 2.

4. Apply engine oil to the piston and the piston ring grooves around the entire circumference.

5. Using a piston ring expander, install the No. 2 compression ring.

6. Install the No. 1 compression ring.

7. Position the piston ring end gaps as far apart from each other as possible. Make sure no ring end gap is on the piston pin axis or in a direction perpendicular to that axis.

8. Using a special tool, securely hold the piston rings on the piston before installing the piston assembly into the cylinder.

9. Install the upper main bearing inserts into the cylinder block.

10. Install the lower main bearing inserts into the connecting rod caps.

11. When installing, make sure the "front" mark on the piston and the "front" identification mark on the connecting rod face the front of the engine (toward the timing belt).

12. When installing a new connecting rod, make sure the bearing locking tabs on the connecting rod and the connecting rod cap are on the same side.

13. When assembling, tighten the connecting rod cap bolts using the angle-tightening method as follows:

1) Apply oil to the threads of the nuts and to the contact surfaces between the nuts or bolts and the connecting rod.

2) Tighten the connecting rod cap bolts to the initial torque.

Connecting Rod Cap Nut Torque: 50 - 53 N·m

Do not reuse connecting rod cap bolts that have been removed during disassembly.

When installing new connecting rod cap bolts, do not tighten them more than three times.

14. Check the side clearance between the lower connecting rod eye and the corresponding crankshaft web.

Lower Connecting Rod Side Clearance [Standard Value]: 0.10 - 0.25 mm [Service Limit]: 0.40 mm