Cryogenically Treated Apex Seals
 

Atkins cryogenically treats their brand apex seals and their semi-solid corner seals. They also cryogenically treat what appear to be OEM side seals. They end up costing an additonal $128 over the same non cryogenically treated parts. Are they really worth the extra expense? Engine will be boosted.

It really depends what your setup is going to consist of. Boost pressure, desired HP goals, and what kind of use the car will be getting. Also if you are going to run AI or not.

I do have access to cryo treatment and i treated apex seals, bearings, stat.gears, e-shaft, oil pump, all solid seals and springs and as well rotorhousings on my 20B. Time will tell if its for good or bad.....

I did pretty much same on other 2 13b engines which are already running.
No money for scientific data aquiring however, all this is basically on experimental basis.

Apex seals are a borderline item for Cryo treating IMHO.

Cryo treating does 3 main things to steels:

1) Increases martensite content in heat treated (quenched) steels. This makes the metal harder and more brittle, but adds to yield strength. In the case of apex seals, net necessarily a good thing since most apex seal failures are brittle failures.

2) Removes all internal stresses. This is always a good thing, but if the seals were well made in the first place, it shouldnt make a whole lot of difference.

3) Reduces surface roughness by filling in 'gaps' in the lattice. This would be the main advantage to cryo treating apex seals, as it reduces abrasion, and should also increase sealing.

Overall, I think it ends up being kind of a toss-up. Would I pay for cryo treating an eccentric shaft? Sure. would I pay for apex seals? Probably not.

Thanks for all the good info, everyone. I decided to purchase the regular seals. :)