Piston comparo: 2011, late 2012, and 2013

I now have each piston revision for the Coyote GT.

The late '12 piston appears to be the same as the 11-12 piston except it has the phosphate coating. The '13 piston has the coating, the extra oil drain back passages, and the gas groove in the second ring land.

From top to bottom: 11-12 piston (03/22/2010-12/08/2011)....Late '12 piston (12/08/2011-02/27/2012)....'13 piston (02/27/2012-current):


11-12 piston:




Late '12 piston:




'13 piston:

Very interesting. Nice to visually see the differences.

This is great information, man. I'm not sure anyone has said it yet, but thank you for doing this.

Now get some blocks.

46Tbird said:

This is great information, man. I'm not sure anyone has said it yet, but thank you for doing this.

Now get some blocks.

Click to expand...

I have blocks already, and they've been discussed.

Very cool. Thanks man!

Thanks for posting (and putting up your funds to get these for everyone to see)!

Thank you for the 1000th time

My car was built on 12/8/2012. I find it hard to believe that on the assembly line at 12:01 AM they made sure all 5.0 had the new pistons. Or is it more likely they just happened to run out of 5.0's with the old pistons on 12/7 so started using new ones on 12/8.

What are the pros of the '13 vs late '12 production model?

dmhines said:

My car was built on 12/8/2012. I find it hard to believe that on the assembly line at 12:01 AM they made sure all 5.0 had the new pistons. Or is it more likely they just happened to run out of 5.0's with the old pistons on 12/7 so started using new ones on 12/8.

Click to expand...

Built on December 8th, 2012?

Was that supposed to be 2011?

The 2012/2013 engine change happened February 2012.

dmhines said:

My car was built on 12/8/2012. I find it hard to believe that on the assembly line at 12:01 AM they made sure all 5.0 had the new pistons. Or is it more likely they just happened to run out of 5.0's with the old pistons on 12/7 so started using new ones on 12/8.

Click to expand...

When a part is revised, or an update implemented, those new parts are used starting with the first shift on that day. So, if your car's production date is 12/08/11, then your car most likely got the newer part number. I say most likely because nothing is absolute. Maybe they had one box left of the old ones and someone at some point decided just to use them. This is something you'll never know unless you tear your engine down.

woodga16 said:

What are the pros of the '13 vs late '12 production model?

Click to expand...

It's just a better design. The pros would be it'll hold up to more abuse. The cons, none.

Duh yes. I meant 12/08/11.

Aren't the engines built someplace else and the shipped to the assembly line??

So my engine build date would be earlier than car build date.

dmhines said:

Duh yes. I meant 12/08/11.

Aren't the engines built someplace else and the shipped to the assembly line??

So my engine build date would be earlier than car build date.

Click to expand...

Well yes, even though the engine was technically built prior, your build date got the new run of engines. So starting 12/8/11 all the engines on the assembly line should have been the updated versions. When a new run of engines hits the assembly line, on that day the "build of materials" for each car is updated with the new part number/s used. And again, this is not absolute, so even though your car should have the new stuff, doesn't mean it does.

Interesting to see gas porting on the second ring land. Old trick that's been used by racers for years, and I've wondered how it would fare in a production car. Thanks for the post.

If you were to order a crate motor or "Aluminator" from Ford Racing today, what pistons do you think would be in it?

Sky Render said:

If you were to order a crate motor or "Aluminator" from Ford Racing today, what pistons do you think would be in it?

Click to expand...

The Ford Racing Aluminator has Mahle pistons and Manley H-beam rods, and a new crate motor from Ford would be right off the assembly line, so it would be the latest production version going in the '13 Mustangs.