Oil line Left Behind on Cylinder Wall When Turning Motor Over by Hand. What’s Causing This?

[VT_4G63]

Prior to installing the cylinder head on my short block after doing a refresh with some upgrades on it, I coated the cylinder walls with a bit of oil to keep them from rusting as I am not sure how long the engine is going to have to sit before i end up using it.

When I did so and turned the motor over by hand I noticed there was one spot on each of three cylinder walls where a line of oil was consistently left behind as the piston traveled down in its bore. Also there are little specks of what looks like carbon in the trail as well.

What does this indicate? I can’t imagine it is good. Issue with the rings? Debris trapped in-between the rings and the cylinder wall?

I have been working on this motor on and off for a while now and thought I was on the home stretch, but I’m thinking this issue is going to change things.

What are everyone’s opinions on what this could be? Have you all seen it before?

I have included pictures with the oil line circled. It is a little hard to see, but it’s there.

Thank you for any help and/or opinions.

Ron

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[DSMPT]

It's normal, because you applied oil above the top rings and don't get scraped down. And the line is oil in the first ring gap. It would be fine but wipe the excess oil before instal the cylinder head if you would like.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

Agreed it's the ring gap.