Operating tests of a cryogenic helium installation show that, at normal operating-mode parameters, the temperature of the gas flowing out through the gap between the piston and cylinder of a piston-drive expansion machine is much higher than its inlet temperature to the machine. The fact that preheated gas enters the expansion engine in line with a reverse current increases the temperature differnce between the direct and and reverse streams in the heat exchanger, thereby lowering the refrigeration capacity and the efficiency of the installation's operation as a whole. Shown, is a diagram of the DPG-4-24/0.2 piston-drive expansion engine, and figures of the warmup of helium flowing out of the expander cylinder vs. inlet temperature to the expander, and heat flow to the helium flowing out of the cylinder vs. temperature at the inlet to the expander. It is concluded that the design of the cylinder piston unit widely used is not an optimal design since gas circulation that develops from the reciprocating motion of the rod results in an additional refrigeration loss for the entire cryogenic helium installation.