What does it mean to be a lifter? Can the lifter sound disappear? What is the difference between a hydraulic and a mechanical lifter? What are the signs of lifter failure What are the causes for lifter failure ?….
What is Lifter?
The lifter is a cylindrical part that is attached to the camshaft. It moves from the camshaft and activates the intake or exhaust valves. You can also call it a pusher, cup, cup, tappet, or a goblet. Each valve has its own lifter because the intake and exit valves (valves), must open at different times.
There are many ways to design lifters depending on what vehicle you have. Lifters push a rocker arm, which opens the valves in overhead valve engines (OHV). It directly depresses valves in overhead camshaft engines (OHC).
Hydraulic and mechanical lifters can be divided into two categories. For certain maintenance, mechanical lifters must have the valve train clearance manually adjusted. Hydraulic lifters adjust the valve clearance automatically with pressurized oil. These hydraulic lifters do not require regular maintenance.
Lifting machines
The term “lifter” This term was first used to describe components in an overhead-valve (OHV) engine. The cam lobes control the lifters by rotating the camshaft. Lifter movement presses and propels pushrods that actuate rocker arms to open or close engine valves. The engine’s valvetrain slack can also be adjusted by lifters.
Although they are louder, mechanical lifters have some advantages over hydraulic ones. They are affordable and easy to maintain, making them great for budget cars. Because they are reliable at higher revs, they are also great for performance cars.
Two types of mechanical lifters can be distinguished: the straight and the roller. Flat lifters have a flat surface near the ends of their cam lobes. Roller lifters have wheels at their ends. This wheel greatly reduces noise through reducing friction. This wheel also gives you a boost in power. This allows for valves to be raised faster, higher and with longer open times. This improves engine performance as it allows for more fuel/air to enter and exit the engine. These are more costly than flat lifters, but last longer. Sometimes they can even be reused after being replaced.
Hydraulic Lifters
The lifters in overhead camshaft (OHC), engines are often referred to more commonly as “hydraulic lifters” Or “hydraulic thrusters” .
Hydraulic lifters were first invented in 1930 to reduce noise from older mechanical lifters. Due to their high cost, hydraulic lifters were not available until the 1950s. Nearly all cars used this technology after it was introduced to the market. They enjoyed their peak years until the 1980s but some vehicles reverted to mechanical lifters.
Hydraulic lifters are cylindrical bodies with an internal piston that protrudes from the top. To minimize valve clearance, they use oil pressure. A small hole is made in the body to allow pressurized oil to flow through the channel. The cam seals the oil channel while the piston presses the valve train. The piston in the lifter will rise again once the pressure has passed. This allows the oil to flow again.
Because they were easier to maintain and produce less engine noise, hydraulic lifters were popular in mass-produced vehicles. A high-quality hydraulic lifter kit can reduce the valve clearance to around 0.006 inches. This is a small range. These lifters do have one major drawback. These lifters may not be capable of compensating for the fine tolerances at high engine speeds. The oil won’t have enough time to pressurize the valve completely and could lose pressure. This can cause the valves to stop opening completely. This causes reduced airflow and reduces performance. The valves may not close fully due to excessive pressure. This can lead to leakage which can lead to ignition or misfire.
Advanced Lifter Technology
It is worth mentioning the new lifter technology in today’s engines. To save fuel, some vehicles have a cylinder activation system that can disable half the engine cylinders.
These engines are also known as Variable-Displacement Engines Or Cylinder deactivation . No matter what the name may mean, all refer to the same technology. Some cylinders can only be used when absolutely necessary. They are passive in other circumstances. The goal is to save fuel.
To make the technology work effectively, it is necessary to disable the valves along with the cylinders. The purpose of the technology will be defeated if the valves open and close continuously. Each stroke of the air pump will waste energy and fuel by putting more air into the cylinders.
There are many ways to do this. The camshaft may have different lobes depending on the vehicle. Consequently, each valve can be activated or deactivated separately.
In other vehicles, advanced hydraulic lifters can be used. These lifters can collapse or fold if the roller is removed, thereby preventing contact with camshaft. These lifters come with a secondary oil feed hole which is more complex.
All these functions can be controlled by the powertrain controller module (PCM). The good news is that all of these functions are automated so that you don’t have to manually adjust anything.
Unfortunately, this hydraulic lifter system is equipped with multiple sensors and solenoids. If something goes wrong, troubleshooting can be costly and difficult.
What causes lifter failure?
- – Valve clearance problem
- – The pushers may become contaminated over time.
- – Low lubrication and dirty engine oil
- High vehicle mileage
- – Irregular maintenance and controls
- – Use the wrong engine oil
- – Filter blockage/faulty engine oil
What are the Signs of Lifter Failure?
Delay in replacing a damaged lifter can cause rocker arm, valve end and pushrod failures. You need to know when your lifter is broken or needs to replaced.
Not all problems can be attributed to a malfunctioning lifter. It is important that you inspect your vehicle before you replace any part.
- – A noisy lifter in your engine is the most common sign of a problem. You will hear the engine make knocking noises due to increased valve clearance. These sounds can increase or decrease depending on the engine speed. The beat rhythm is fast. The sound intensity will increase as the fault progresses.
- To ensure that the engine runs properly, it is essential that all valves are closed securely and open in a timely fashion. Failing lifters can cause engine misfires or irregularities by preventing one valve from properly opening and closing.
- A faulty lifter can cause increased engine problems such as misfires and increased emissions. This causes the check engine light to flash, which results in a fault code.
Does Lifter Sound Cut Off?
It is necessary to replace defective lifters. Some oil additives can be used to reduce the noise of lifters. It is not a good idea to use oil additives if lifters make too much noise. You can’t reduce their volume by plugging your ears. Failing lifters can lead to costly problems such as engine component failure, camshaft damage, and catalytic converter failure. If you suspect your lifters may be malfunctioning, get them checked immediately and fixed as soon as you can.
