I am now rebuilding my engine H22A2 (new rings) and have a question about my cylinders. There is something strange on the cylinder walls, that I have never seen before.

On the "piston track", where the piston rings contact with the cylinder, there is some strange gray layer, it is really a layer with some little thickness, you can see it in the pictures. What could that be? I've never seen that, every time the cylinder walls were completely metal-like color. This gray layer has sharp edges, nothing smooth. It looks like it was ther from the factory? Is this common?

It is 1995 H22A2 Prelude VTEC.

Look at the pics. On the last pic you can see where the gray layer starts (aprox. 5mm below the head gasket) and where it stops. Above and below this layer the cylinder wall seems to be like every other cylinder, looks like a metal.

 

can you feel the scrathes?? my cylinder walls looked like that when i pull my head off too, i couldn't feel the scratches, so it's all good if you can't feel them

 

i have a guess...
Is it possibly some sort of block guard...that has been machined into the block?
Just a guess

Adaddo

 

the top is a ridge from where the ring stops, and that looks like just the color the frm gets after heated, oiled and dried from what i can tell. Mine was the same color after I tore it down. Have you wiped down the cylinder walls with anything, like auto tranny fluid? Lots of detergents in it, usually will clean any excess metal or grime. I would recommend a fine hone, just for sealings sake. Why have to tear it down again.

Mike

 

It's entirely normal. Like h22apwrd95 suggested, it's just the FRM.

http://www.higginstribe.com/ga...k.jpg

 

thats one dirty engine bay.....sorta