Key Takeaways
The following are the key takeaways from this article:
- Distributor O-rings are designed to create a seal at the distributor bay.
- These rings are made of silicon/rubber to enhance their temperature-resistant properties.
- The common problems with the distributor rings can be abrasion, chemical attack, failed spiral, poor ignition, and accumulation of dirt in the O-rings.
- The symptoms of failed O-rings include oil leakage around the bay and low engine performance.
- The typical replacement cost of an engine distributor can be around $130.
Introduction
Engine distributors are responsible for routing the high-voltage to the sparkplugs to ignite the air-fuel mixture within the combustion chamber. An important part of the engine distributor is the O-ring fitted at the bottom, avoiding oil leakage at the base of the distributor.
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It also prevents the entrance of moisture within the distributor, enhancing its lifespan (1). This article will further shed light on distributor O-rings’ function, characteristics, and common problems.
The function of the Distributor O-ring
The distributor O-ring is an important part of the engine system, and its purpose is to create a seal in the distributor. This seal helps maintain the engine’s health as it does not allow moisture to enter the distributor system (2). Thus, this part helps generate the maximum amount of power in the vehicle. These rings are arranged in a circular manner around a distributor, generating a closed loop. This part prevents oil leakage and improves the efficiency of the engine system.
Characteristics of Distributor O-ring
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Distributor rings are O-shaped and are usually made of rubber. Initially, the distributor rings were made of rubber, but they get damaged easily due to high temperature and pressure and thus cause damage to the engine performance.
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In order to solve this issue, the distributor O-ring is now manufacturing silicon. Rings made of silicon are highly efficient and can deal with high pressure and up to 205 degrees temperature (1).
Moreover, these distributor rings are highly durable and not affected by chemicals. This part plays a vital role as it saves the engine from cylinder misfires and leakage issues. These distributor rings are placed on the engine’s camshaft and create a loop till the engine’s manifold. It prevents oil leakage and plays a vital part in the ignition system. The distributor O-ring supplies the required voltages to the spark plugs, which help ignite fuel in the combustion chamber (3). Therefore, it is very important to keep the correct shape of the distributor ring; otherwise, the fuel and engine oil leakage can poorly impact the engine’s performance (2).
Common Problems with Distributor O-ring:
Distributor rings are an essential part of the engine system and are responsible for creating a seal between the combustion chamber and engine valves. But these parts may get damaged due to the following reasons:
1. Abrasion
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Abrasion is a major reason for defective distributor rings. This problem usually occurs due to the constant friction of the parts.
The continuous rubbing causes scratches on the surface of the rings and the seal between the combustion chamber and the valves. This impacts the engine’s performance as the seal is damaged (4). Thus, it allows the moisture to enter the combustion chamber, ultimately delaying the spark ignition. Also, the minimum amount of power is generated, and the vehicle fails to accelerate at high speed. So, it is concluded that damaged distributor rings create multiple issues for the engine.
2. Chemical Attack and Swelling
The distributor O-ring may get impacted due to the chemical effect. The fluids flow through the distributor, which reacts with the O-ring material.
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These chemicals sometimes enlarge the o ring’s size and make it lose. As a result, their shape gets destroyed, and the seal becomes damaged. The oil starts leaking from the base of the distributor onto the engine (4). Due to the constant oil leakage, the engine’s level becomes, and engine parts are not well lubricated. This ultimately impacts the overall performance of the engine.
3. Failed Spiral
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Another reason for the damaged distributor ring is the faulty installation. Sometimes, the Distributor O-ring is not well installed in the vehicles, which ultimately creates high pressure and stress on the rings.
And the damage is caused. Besides, the O-ring sometimes gets damaged during the installation and is not properly sealed. This creates multiple issues in the engine. The oil can enter different valves and hoses, and this can cause serious damage to those parts. The vehicle may experience poor acceleration and lack of power.
4. Poor Ignition System
Another reason for the poor performance of the damaged distributor ring is the poor ignition system. The ignition system is responsible for creating high voltages and currents.
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These voltages are then transferred to the spark plugs with the help of distributor rings. But due to less generation of voltage, the required amount of power is not transferred to spark plugs (5). Also, the heat produced during the spark’s ignition damages the distributor cap. Therefore, a faulty ignition system is considered one factor damaging the performance of distributor rings.
5. Dirt and Debris
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One of the major reasons for the faulty distributor of O-rings is dirt and debris. The debris may get accumulated in the rings and make it damage.
Thus, the rings become hard, and as result, they break down. The seal generated is damaged, and the oil drops on different engine parts. The cylinder catches misfire due to the damaged distributor rings. Also, the engine check light is illuminated due to the destroyed O-ring. It is necessary to replace the damaged distributor rings on time; otherwise, serious complications can occur in the engine system.
Symptoms of Failed Distributor O-Rings
Following are a few symptoms of failed distributor O-Rings:
i. Oil Leakage around the Engine
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Oil leakage around the engine is the most common symptom of failing O-rings. The main function of the O-ring is to prevent oil leakage at the base of the distributor.
So wearing out will mean that these rings can no longer seal the distributor. This will result in a rapid decrease in the engine oil level that can impact other engine components. Further, this will also create a mess at the engine bay, impacting the performance of other counter components.
ii. Low Engine Performance
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Another symptom of bad distributor O-rings is low engine performance. Firstly, the leaked oil can find its way into the engine hoses/wiring, which can cause them to deteriorate.
This can lead to vacuum problems, short-wiring, and other issues like reduced power/acceleration. The engine might also experience reduced fuel economy as the distributor will malfunction (5). Similarly, if you are experiencing misfiring cylinders, it can be a sign that the O-rings have gone bad, and the distributor might need replacement.
Common Cost to Resolve the Ignition Problems
The following table illustrates the cost of resolving bad ignition issues:
| Common Issues | Cost Required to Resolve the Issue |
|---|
| Bad Engine Distributor | $70-130 to replace the bad engine distributor |
| Bad Spark Plug | $60-140 to replace a single sparkplug |
| Bad Ignition Coil | $150-300 to replace a bad ignition coil |
| Bad Starter Motor | $80-350 to replace a bad starter motor |
Conclusion
To conclude, it can be said that O-rings constitute an important part of the engine distributor. Not only do these rings seal the base of the distributor, but these rings also function to assist the distributor’s performance. However, the rings can be impacted due to abrasion, failed spirals, swelling, poor ignition, and accumulation of dirt/debris. The oil leakage around the engine bay and low engine performance can be common signs of failing distributor O-rings.
FAQs
Common causes of a bad engine distributor include carbon buildup inside the distributor. The erosion due to high-voltage sparks can build up carbon inside the distributor. It will likely fail shortly if you see carbon building up around the distributor.
Engine distributor is not an expensive part and can be replaced at $70-130. So, it is recommended to replace the engine distributor rather than the replacement of the O-rings. O-rings are also difficult to find, so you should replace the distributor instead of the rings.
The purpose of O-rings is to seal the distributor, preventing oil leakage. Loss of sparking is mostly caused by damaged plug wires or cracked distributor caps instead of the damaged O-rings.
