What is the piston skirt?

• A. Top of piston
• B. Side of piston
• C. Front of piston
• D. Inside piston ring groove

Answer: (B)

The piston skirt is the side portion of the piston that runs along the circumference inside the cylinder bore. It’s the part that keeps the piston stable and oriented as it moves up and down, guiding it in the bore and helping maintain a smooth, lubricated sliding surface. The top of the piston is the crown where combustion occurs, and the inside ring groove houses the piston rings, so those features describe other parts, not the skirt. That’s why naming the side of the piston as the skirt is correct.