Abstract In this research paper, the phases identified by thermal and microscopic analysis of the piston alloy AlSi13Cu4Ni2Mg, which was solidified under different conditions, are presented and compared with different piston alloys. Piston alloys are a group of casting Al–Si alloys, well-known as wear resistant materials, which are widely used as the piston materials for internal combustion engines because of their low thermal expansion coefficient and high wear resistance when alloyed with other elements such as copper, magnesium and nickel. Depending on the combination of alloying elements and other impacting factors, pistons alloys with different mechanical and physical properties are obtained.