Mahle piston/rings for 240D

[engatwork]

I am in the process of putting the 240D engine back together and have run accross something I am unfamiliar with. On the spring for the oil ring on the Mahle pistons (set included pistons, rings, pins and clips) there is a yellow "sleeve" around the spring underneath the ring. It looks like it is permanent and also like it is made of plastic type of material. Is it supposed to stay on the spring? If possible I need an answer this weekend to allow me to continue with the assembly.
thanks

[TimFreeh]

I left the yellow plastic tube on my pistons why I rebuilt my 240D. I'm pretty sure they are supposed to be left in place but I don't have anything to back up my assumptions....

My car has been running 7 months and 19K miles on the rebuild and is running great.

Have fun

Tim

I work for MAHLE and I'm pretty sure that the plastic sleeve has to stay under the ring.
I Think this Piston set is made in our facility in Germany, and if you want me to I can call them to make sure.

Let me know

Gunter

[engatwork]

Based on looking at it real close it looks like I would probably tear the spring up if it tried to remove it. Scuba - if you don't mind find out what it is there for. It looks like it is supposed to protect the spring where the ring comes together.
I got the crank in this afternoon and will start putting the pistons in tomorrow. Everything is looking good. I washed the engine four times today and went through 1 can of WD40 prior to starting the reassembly.
thanks

Jim,

I'll call MAHLE in Stuttgart on Wednesday, I think that the first day back at work in Germany.
Them Germans just have to many holidays............lol.

I'll let you know what I find out.

Gunter

Jim,

I talked to a couple of people today and apparently those pistons are not assembled in one of our plants, but everybody said that those plastic sleeves have to stay on the rings.
I hope this helped you a little.

Gunter

[engatwork]

thanks Scuba - after reading the post in the weekend I buttoned the bottom end up. Waiting on some rental tools now to get the head on.
thanks again