Need cleaning procedure for used hydraulic lifters prior to re-assembly
Re-assembling cylinder head of this 2005 Kia Optima.
Normally I find a way to actuate the lifters to force cleaning fluids out of them, then force clean oil into them prior to installing in the head. On this vehicle I do not find any way to do this besides using a vise to force the lifter to its collapsed position, and the force required to do this seems like it would damage the lifter. I may be replacing one of them already if I have damaged it.
I have tried poking a small allen wrench into the top hole of the lifter to see if I can release any check valve, but that does not seem to work.
I checked Identifix, and it does not even bring up anything under hydraulic lifters besides how to lift a motor out of a car.
Thanks in advance
I disassemble them when needed cleaning. They should be easy to pull apart.
Is it a common practice to do that on a 17 year old car .would it be worthwhile if just one failed .?
This was not due to a failure, this is just insuring no debris is in them prior to reassembly after rebuilding head. They never made any noise that indicated that any of them failed.
Hi David, This where small plastic snack baggies for individual storage and a felt tip maker come in handy. Aside from a wipe down and new oil coating during install there should not be any issues. The old saying of “If it isn't broken, don't mess with it” comes to mind. Not criticizing your approach, but sometimes people can risk creating issues by going too in depth when cleaning critical…
That is exactly how I stored and sorted them. Just never had any issues purging and priming before installation and thought there may be a trick to it. $120 for a full set of DNJ lifters may not be so bad for peace of mind.
Hi David, Compared to the labor involved and the risk of damage or reassembly issues, I think it would be money well spent to replace them. Is this some kind of personal low budget project you own? If it is a customer's vehicle, replace them. Why were the lifters placed in cleaning fluid to begin with? Alternate suggestion: If you are determined to clear them out, place them in an oven for…
This is a low budget personal project. Only 2 of them have been placed in cleaning fluid as I normally do not have any issues actuating them and priming with fresh oil. This is my first head rebuild that presented this problem. The balance of them are in numbered baggies awaiting assembly.
I worked w/ a fellow that had an odd lifter cleaning procedure. Place each lifter in a HD zip lock baggie and fill completely with diesel fuel. He would then put all the bags is a plastic 5 gallon bucket and close the lid. Twist, spin & shake. After an hour or so he would inspect the bags / lifters and then empty.
I remember there was a tool that looked like a s smaller roll pin punch that you could use to depress them and check the spring. Other than checking them just submerge them in room temp oil for 24 hours to bleed the air out and that’s all she wrote. I can only speak on a Toyota version of the tool btw. Cannot even remember the SST number but anything with a 2012 engine should have them in engine…
David, how do you imagine these hydraulic lifters adjust in normal usage? Squeezing them in a vise should bleed them down without damage. IMO, the idea of doing this doesn't really help you much though. You have no way to be certain foreign debris would come out of them. If you are concerned with a debris issue, get some new lifters as it has been suggested.
Are you sure they are hydraulic? are they a bucket style can you post a pic?
Those are hydraulic and will bleed down in a vise but they take time ( a couple or three minutes each) and patience something like a hydraulic tensioner but best done slowly and with a rag for the oil.
Dave, I usually just use the vise or sometimes my valve spring pressure tester. Some of them can be a bear to get started moving and you have to “work” them a few times but they always seem to loosen up after a while.