Steel piston with fourth land guidance and improved friction characteristics

Steel pistons used in many internal combustion engines are generally composed of a skirt and a crown. The skirt's function is to reduce the lateral and rotational movement of the piston in the cylinder while the engine is in operation. Lateral and rotational frictional forces imparted to a piston during engine operation cause the piston to scrape off the lubricating oil film present on the cylinder wall. The reduced oil film thickness increases piston and cylinder wall wear due to metal to metal contact. The subsequent metal to metal contact produces a phenomenon called scuffing. This disclosure incorporates several design modifications to the piston and results in a significant reduction of the lateral and rotational motion of the piston during engine operation. The reduction of piston motion reduces the amount of oil film removed from the cylinder wall and increases lubrication efficiency. The Increased lubrication efficiency realized reduces frictional wear power loss and scuffing.