Could it negatively affect other factors, such

as heat absorption rates (since the surface is now more mirror-like)?

Regards,
Chad

Chad, as Paul said; The housings are hard chromed. The reasons
are probably to retain heat in the unusual combustion chamber shape,
and to get hardness levels adaquate to tolerate the ceramic tip seals
without wearing out quickly.
In reguards to your question about "shine" preventing heat transfer,
you need a good polish to reflect radiant heat.  I do vacuum work now
and we use heat lamps to heat substrates in vacuum. Even a light
"haze" will allow trapping heat.

The reason piston engines use some hatching is reasonable oil retention
durring operation. Finer than 600 grit could be used, but not much.
To understand the oil retention idea check out an engine with moderate
run time at tear down sometime. Unless there was execptional pressure
(ie a top fueler) the hatch will usually remain untouched on the cylinder
surface. Very few of my racing engines showed any measureable wear.
If the did it was often due to some disaster. Fortunately a rare occurance!
Bill Jepson

 
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