Hydraulic lifters

DWAIN JONES

MEMBER
2003 FORD ESCAPE
3.0L
V6
4WD
AUTOMATIC
180,000 MILES

A couple of months ago you helped my greatly after I replaced the head gaskets on my car but could not get it to start afterwards. The pulse wheel was the problem. Now I have valve noise. When I had the heads off I bought four new lifters to replace some not so good ones. The company I bought them from is the same company that later rebuilt the heads (a reputable local company). The new lifters had springs in them, as I thought all should. However, I could not get any of my other lifters to squeeze closed, even with a c-clamp. Curious, I ripped the top cover off one I had replaced and did not find any spring! That is when I tried to push down on a few of my old but good ones and found that none of them were movable. I talked with the people at the rebuild shop about it and they assured me that all hydraulic lifters have springs in them. Am I hallucinating?

5 Replies

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

Yes, all hydraulic lifters have springs in them. They use oil pressure to pump themselves up. Whenever you replace the hydraulic lifters they should be replaced as set, not a few at a time. It is also advisable to replace the camshaft(s) at the same time. Please keep us informed as to how everything turns out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Friday, August 23rd, 2019 AT 1:04 PM

DWAIN JONES

MEMBER
27 POSTS

So, what is the difference between a lash adjuster (that is what my Haynes manual calls it, ) and a hydraulic lifter?

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Saturday, August 24th, 2019 AT 7:13 PM

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello again,

A hydraulic lifter uses oil pressure to keep the valve adjusted properly and mechanical lash adjusters have to be adjusted by hand usually by loosening a lock nut and adjusting the valve lash with a feeler gauge and tightening the lock nut.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Monday, August 26th, 2019 AT 1:56 AM

DWAIN JONES

MEMBER
27 POSTS

Hey guys, sorry it has been so long in getting back to you. I replaced all of the hydraulic lifters on my Ford escape 3.0L V6 so everything is quieter except for a exhaust leak. I ordered a new exhaust manifold. My question this time is; can the idle air control cause a large drop (?) In vacuum? Sense I replaced the lifters the engine has been idling rough, even to loping. I removed the control and cleaned it but that didn't do any good. I did notice the shaft was in a middle position. I could move it both ways. I checked ohm's and got a 9.2 reading. I also applied twelve volts to the leads and got sound but no movement of the shaft. My vacuum reading was only 5 to 6 inches. Thanks for your help.

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Monday, September 9th, 2019 AT 7:25 PM

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello again,

Absolutely, your vehicle's IAC can cause a vacuum leak. Here is a link below for you to go to with a guide on vacuum leaks:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

Here is how Honda trains there tech's to find vacuum leaks. You will need a propane torch to do this. Start your vehicle. Crack open the propane torch barely open so the minimum amount of propane is coming out. Do not light the torch. Run the torch along the air intake duct, throttle body, intake manifold, vacuum and EVAP lines. If there is a leak anywhere(A vacuum leak is described as any unmetered air entering the combustion chambers from the Mass Air Flow(MAF) sensor to the combustion chambers.) the engine's RPMs will pick up when the propane is ingested into the combustion chambers and burned in the normal combustion process. Please go through the guide and get back to us with what you are able to find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros