Friday, February 7, 2014
How to Remove a Hydraulic Valve Lifter
A hydraulic valve lifter lets the valve train ride on a cushion of oil, and automatically adjusts the valve clearance to compensate for changes in engine temperatures. Dirt and sludge build up over time, and the lifter parts gradually wear out. When the vehicle sits for a time, such as overnight, the oil inside the lifters leaks out. When you start the vehicle, the valves tap and rattle until the oil pressure builds up. Removing the valve lifters requires the disassembly of major engine components and caul attention to details.
Instructions
- 1
Remove the air cleaner, carburetor or throttle body injector, fuel lines and linkages. Remove any vacuum lines or electrical connectors attached to the intake manifold. Label all wires or vacuum hoses to ensure they can be put back into their original locations later. Place a shop rag over the exposed intake manifold where the carburetor or throttle body was removed. Ensure no dirt or other items fall into the intake manifold.
2Remove the valve covers and set them aside. Loosen the valve adjuster lock nuts and turn the adjuster screws counterclockwise on all valves. The valve rockers should be loose enough to rotate sideways using only your fingers.
3Drain the radiator coolant into a drain pan. Remove the intake manifold bolts and lift the intake manifold off the engine. Clean any residual gasket material or dirt off the mating surfaces of the manifold and cylinder heads using a scraper or putty knife and shop rags. Use caution and work caully to ensure no dirt or gasket material falls into the exposed engine or cylinder head intake ports.
4Rotate the valve rocker arms to the side and remove the push rods. Arrange the push rods in order of removal to ensure they can be replaced in exactly the same position later. Remove the valve lifters from the bore using a strong magnet. Organize the lifters in the same way as the push rods, keeping them in order.
5Inspect the bottom of the lifters for excessive wear. A lifter that is scratched or gouged indicates a worn out camshaft that should be replaced.
