How to Build Up Lifters

Hydraulic lifters have a chamber inside of the body that is supplied with oil from the oil pump. A plunger fits in that chamber. The purpose of hydraulic lifters is to eliminate the need for periodic valve adjustments, as is required with engines that use solid lifters. The pushrod sits on top of the plunger. When the valves are adjusted, the plunger is actually pushed down into the lifter body by a very small amount. The ability of the plunger to move up or down in the lifter body compensates for wear in the valvetrain. New lifters do not have any oil in them and should be built up, which means they need to be prefilled with oil.

Instructions

1

Fill a small metal coffee can with clean motor oil to a level slightly higher than the lifter.

2

Submerge the lifters in the can. The oil must be above the top of the lifter. You may want to do two or three lifters at a time so you dont get mixed up.

3

Place a pushrod in the pushrod seat of the lifter. Holding the pushrod in your hand, firmly and slowly, repeatedly push down on the lifter until you do not feel the plunger move anymore. This usually only takes three or four pushes.

4

Repeat this process for all of the lifters.