Hydraulic Lifter Question for 02 Ford 3.8L Windsta
- Thread starter BubbaFL
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Were you getting any lifter tick?
Soak them in a quart or so of clean motor oil
Good ones pump up with oil and become virtually solid. Squishy ones aren't completely filled with oil which means they aren't sealing properly. If you take one apart you'll see what's going on inside. Basically there's a one-way check valve (a little spring loaded ball bearing) that should let oil into the lifter but not let it out. If for some reason the check valve isn't able to close fully it allows oil to leak out and the lifter won't pump up. Usually it's just an accumulation of varnish or a piece of dirt preventing a full seal and cleaning will restore proper function
Good ones pump up with oil and become virtually solid. Squishy ones aren't completely filled with oil which means they aren't sealing properly. If you take one apart you'll see what's going on inside. Basically there's a one-way check valve (a little spring loaded ball bearing) that should let oil into the lifter but not let it out. If for some reason the check valve isn't able to close fully it allows oil to leak out and the lifter won't pump up. Usually it's just an accumulation of varnish or a piece of dirt preventing a full seal and cleaning will restore proper function
Soak the in Berrymans Chemtool, if there is any varnish sticking them it will dissolve quickly.
Usually if they're hung open, they cause a rough idle.
Those are probably gummed up or just slightly bound up and stuck where they are at.
Do they have a pin hole in the body for pressurized lube feed? If so, you can first try putting the tip of oil can up to them and trying to pressurize them apart. If that fails, try shop air, BUT- BE CAREFUL!!! Those little pistons can come out of there with surprising speed and force with 100+ psi air behind them!
Those are probably gummed up or just slightly bound up and stuck where they are at.
Do they have a pin hole in the body for pressurized lube feed? If so, you can first try putting the tip of oil can up to them and trying to pressurize them apart. If that fails, try shop air, BUT- BE CAREFUL!!! Those little pistons can come out of there with surprising speed and force with 100+ psi air behind them!
I was afraid to suggest that.
A lifter makes for a good oil filter, they catch the small stuff. Problem is it cant get out.
Seeing as how you can get a set of lifters for this engine for fairly cheap, I wouldn't bother cleaning the old ones unless it is a science experiment.
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Seeing as how you can get a set of lifters for this engine for fairly cheap, I wouldn't bother cleaning the old ones unless it is a science experiment.
+1.
I rebuilt the engine in my daughter's Mustang and I didn't bother reusing the old ones. I hate doing repair work on something that could have been avoided.
Seeing as how you can get a set of lifters for this engine for fairly cheap, I wouldn't bother cleaning the old ones unless it is a science experiment.
+1.
I rebuilt the engine in my daughter's Mustang and I didn't bother reusing the old ones. I hate doing repair work on something that could have been avoided.
Submerge them in oil and then push on them with a push rod by hand . . . they should pump up.
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