It’s not my opinion on how rings seal. That’s the facts.
What your test doesn’t show is why nothing got past the rings. That’s a sure sign the results are skewed by something.
Even if the gaps are not lined up (and they do line up while running) the gaps leave a leak space. So the solvent SHOULD get past the rings.
If it doesn’t that tells me carbon or some other **** us stopping the solvent from getting past the rings.
Your test proves nothing. The guy now thinks he knows what he has but he doesn’t.