The hydraulic tappets or lifters of your car are small hydraulic cylinders located next to every valve in the engine. They function to make the engine operate more smoothly and quietly. The lifter mechanism will wear out over time, especially with inadequate oil or dirty oil, resulting in lifter ticking or tapping noise.
Ignoring this sound can lead to further problems getting more expensive over time. In order to assist in avoiding this expensive outcome, we have created a list of bad lifter signs that are simply impossible to ignore.
What are Lifters on a Car?
A set of engine lifters assists in operating the valves of your vehicle’s engine. Different types of engines have different designs for lifters.
With the movement of the camshaft, the lifters perform on several push rods, which subsequently work the rocker arms to, in turn, open and close the valves of the engine. The lifters also automatically set the valvetrain lash (clearance) of the engine.
Lifters in OHV Engines
For as long as anyone can remember the word ‘lifters’ has been associated with the parts which are mounted to the shaft of the cam in an overhead valve engine. The components are located in the Overhead Valve (OHV) Engine and are known as cam followers.
When the camshaft turns, the pushrods perform on the increase of the shelved rotating element known as cam. The pushrods rotate the rocker arms that are responsible for opening and closing the valves of the engine. The engine will also open the valvetrain lash.
There are two different types of lifters: solid (mechanical) and hydraulic. Solid lifters require some sort of mechanism to adjust the lash, which means they must be set once in a while. Alternatively, there’s no need for hydraulic lifters, which use pressurized oil to adjust the lash, make frequent adjustments.
In addition, lifters (tappets) can be subdivided into flat and roller types. Vintage cars incorporate flat lifters which have a low profile face that competes against a camshaft. On the other hand, roller lifters are equipped with a cylindrical roller that rides on the contour of the camshaft. Roller lifters have been standard in almost every OHV engine since the 1990’s.
Lifters (Lash Adjusters) in OHC Engines
These days, the lash adjusters are sometimes called ‘lifters’ in relation to hydraulic systems and an overhead camshaft (OHC) engine.
The valvetrain gaps are adjusted with lash adjusters. Each lash adjuster may either be between the cylinder head and a camshaft follower, inside a bucket on top of the valve, or integrated into the rocker arm, depending on the engine design.
What Does a Bad Lifter Sound Like?
If you’re aware of how a defective lifter sounds, it can help you take care of a problem on time and save you hundreds of dollars in repairs. Unlike the occasional knocking, bad hydraulic lifters will produce consistent tapping sounds.
This perfomance will worsen with time and increase in frequency. Regardless of whether the engine is cold or hot, the sound will change depending on the problem at hand. A more severe complication will lead you to experience extremely strong banging or knocking sounds.
Bad Lifter Symptoms
Along with noisy valve lifters, other signs indicative of a malfunctioning hydraulic lifter are:
#1. Sticky Lifters.
Tightly compressed sticky lifters remain collapsed instead of moving up and down. When the movement is restrained, the system fails to maintain oil pressure, causing excessive banging of the lifter’s inner components. This leads them to generate much more noise than they normally would.
#2. More RPM Causes More Noise.
Due to a change in certain components, increasing to higher RPM will mean a higher frequency and volume of lifter noise.
#3. Misfires.
Due to the remains of a faulty lifter, a cylinder’s capacity to blend and burn air with fuel is extremely disrupted. Because of this, you are likely to experience a misfire consistently occurring in the cylinder, and will also reduce acceleration speed.
#4. Dead Cylinder.
Failure of a lifter will make the pushrod either deform or become displaced within the mechanism. This may result in a dead cylinder which is capable of breaking valves, rocker arms or even destroying the whole engine.
#5. Check Engine Light.
In case the situation is becoming worse, the check engine light will activate. This will allow you to track the issue with the help of the error codes provided.
How Much Does a Lifter Replacement Cost?
Replacing one or more lifters is a costly and labor-intensive repair. If you choose to have a professional do the job, you can usually expect to pay somewhere between $1,000 and $2,500 to get the job done. Of course, the exact cost will depend on various factors, such as the year, make, and model of your vehicle.
If you are hiring a skilled mechanic, they would charge $60-$150 per hour for lifter replacement. A professional mechanic can charge anywhere between $1,000-$2,500 for the entire replacement. These charges tend to fluctuate depending on factors set forth such as the make, model, and year of the vehicle.
If you have considerable expertise and the required tools, you can undertake the replacement on your own to reduce costs.
The table below shows the cost of engine lifters for different vehicle models.
| Vehicle Model | The average cost of an engine lifter |
| Volkswagen Jetta 4 Cylinder | $550 to $875 |
| Ford F150 8 Cylinder | $1,100 to $1,500 |
| Dodge Charger 8 Cylinder | $1,900 to $2,300 |
| BMW X5 8 Cylinder | $1,200 to $1,800 |
| Hyundai Sonata 4 Cylinder | $750 to $1,000 |
You can save money by replacing the lifters yourself if you have the tools and the know-how.
How to Quiet Noisy Lifters
To avoid noisy valve lifters, consider the following:
Timely Oil Changes
Regular oil changes are critical for maintaining appropriate oil level and preventing dirty oil from accumulating, which can damage the lifter. Take note of the engine oil you’re using and the lifter’s noise.
Use of Oil Additives
An oil additive that works well such as Liqui Moly or Marvel Mystery Oil can enhance the engine oil’s quality and unclog the lifters. These additives also help to unclog rocker arms, valves, and various other engine components. This is a best case scenario since it is a cheaper solution.
Alter the Lifter Spacing
In case the noise persists, have a qualified mechanic check if the spacing between the lifter and other components needs adjusting. This is normally covered within a servicing contract. Manuals from automobiles offer guidance about perfect spacing.