A system includes a reciprocating engine having a cylinder liner and a piston disposed within the cylinder liner. The cylinder liner includes an inner wall and extends around a cavity. The inner wall includes a first axial end, a second axial end, a piston travel portion, and a top portion. The top portion is nearer to the first axial end of the cylinder liner than to the second axial end of the cylinder liner. The top portion has a first surface finish with a first roughness average (Ra1) greater than approximately 2 μm and a total waviness (Wt) less than approximately 0.1 mm. The piston is configured to move in a reciprocating manner within the cylinder liner. The piston includes a top land configured to be radially opposite the top portion of the inner wall of the cylinder liner when the piston is at a top dead center position.