Although modern engines have come a long way, many still fall victim to internal mechanical problems, such as failed lifters. In fact, some models, such as General Motors V8-powered pickups and SUVs with cylinder deactivation technology, are absolutely plagued by lifter issues,
Having an engine with one or more faulty lifters is a costly problem that can lead to additional concerns if left unchecked. You’ll want to fix the engine as soon as you notice any of the telltale signs of a bad lifter.
What are Lifters on a Car?
A series of engine lifters helps operate the valves inside of your car’s engine. There are a variety of lifter designs found in different types of engines.
Lifters in OHV Engines
Traditionally, the term “lifters” has been used to describe the components in an overhead valve (OHV) engine that follow the contours of the camshaft. As the camshaft rotates, the lifters act on a series of pushrods, which, in turn, operate the rocker arms to open and close the engine’s valves. The lifters also maintain the engine’s valvetrain lash (clearance).
Lifters can be either solid (mechanical) or hydraulic. With solid lifters, valvetrain lash must be adjusted mechanically from time to time. On the other hand, hydraulic lifters rely on pressurized engine oil to automatically adjust lash internally, so there’s no need for periodic adjustment.
What’s more, there are flat lifters (tappets) and roller lifters. Flat lifters, which are typically found in vintage vehicles, have a relatively flat face that slides on the camshaft. Meanwhile, roller lifters have a wheel-like roller that follows the camshaft’s outline. Since the 1990’s, nearly all OHV engines have come with roller lifters.
Lifters (Lash Adjusters) in OHC Engines
These days, the hydraulic lash adjusters found in overhead camshaft (OHC) engines may also be referred to as lifters. The lash adjusters correct the clearance between the valvetrain components. Depending on the engine’s design, each lash adjuster may be located between the cylinder head and a camshaft follower, inside of a bucket over the valve, or built into the rocker arm.
The video below describes lifter and lash adjuster operation:
Advanced Lifter Technology
It’s also important to mention the new lifter technology found in today’s engines. Some vehicles now have a cylinder deactivation system that can disable half of the engine’s cylinders to conserve fuel. For the technology to work efficiently, the valves must be disabled in the deactivated cylinders.
Automakers have several different ways of deactivating the valves, one of which is using special collapsible lifters. The engine computer, which is often referred to as the powertrain control module (PCM), changes the state of the lifters by routing oil pressure to them through solenoid valves. Collapsible lifters are often found in large OHV engines.
The Top 3 Bad Hydraulic Lifter Symptoms
Do you think you might be dealing with a bad engine lifter? If your vehicle is exhibiting one or more of the following symptoms, you might be correct.
Note: Because other problems can present the same symptoms as a faulty lifter you’ll want to perform a thorough diagnosis of the vehicle before replacing any parts.
Engine Lifter Noise (Ticking)
A worn or collapsed lifter can create excessive valvetrain lash. The extra clearance typically results in a ticking or tapping sound that has a frequency lower than engine RPM (because the valvetrain operates at half of the speed of the crankshaft).
Rough Running and Misfiring
For the engine to run properly, the valves must close completely to seal each cylinder. The valves must also open to let air in and exhaust gases out. An inoperative engine lifter can prevent one of the valves from operating as it should, resulting in an engine that runs rough and misfires.
Illuminated Check Engine Light
The PCM looks for engine-related problems, such as a misfire caused by a faulty lifter, that could lead to an increase in vehicle emissions. If the module detects such a problem, it turns on the check engine light and stores a corresponding diagnostic trouble code (DTC) in its memory.
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.
You can save money by replacing the lifters yourself if you have the tools and the know-how. CarParts.com has a wide variety of replacement lifters available for various makes and models.
Lifter FAQ
A faulty lifter should be replaced. The process is often labor-intensive, as some level of engine disassembly is always required to access the lifters.
A faulty lifter can cause an engine misfire that results in a loss of power and hesitation.
Some companies make oil additives that are designed to quiet noisy hydraulic lifters. The problem is, when the lifters are noisy, the damage is already done, and any attempt to quiet the lifters is just a temporary fix. What’s more, driving with a faulty lifter can cause additional damage to your vehicle, as we’ll discuss below.
A faulty lifter can cause costly problems, ranging from a deteriorated catalytic converter to a damaged camshaft and internal engine failure. So, if your car has one or more faulty lifters, you’ll want to address the problem right away to avoid additional damage.
Where to Find the Right Lifter For Your Vehicle
Car valve lifters play a crucial role in the valve operation of select engines, and damaged lifters can lead to costly engine damage. With the help of CarParts.com, you should be able to find the right lifter that will fit your vehicle like the original.
CarParts.com makes it easy to find the right lifter for your car, truck, or SUV, and you can do it right from the comfort of your home. Just use our vehicle selector and enter your car’s year, make, and model, and you’ll see a wide range of compatible parts, including lifters. Our selection of lifters comes from some of the most reputable names in the aftermarket industry, so you can be sure of their reliability. We also have strategically located warehouses throughout the United States,so you can get your order in as fast as two business days.
Why wait to replace your vehicle’s lifter? Check out CarParts.com’s selection of high-quality car valve lifters and enjoy our affordable prices when you shop today.
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The estimated cost presented in this article is wishful thinking…. I recently had an AFM lifter fail on my 2015 GMC sierra. I was just quoted $8600 by the GMC dealership in Huntsville AL to replace the lifters (both bays) and the VLOM… the VLOM is the network of valves that send high pressure oil to the lifters to activate them. The mechanic said that they now think that the VLOM is causing all of these lifter failures and it needs to be changed or the lifters will likely fail again. This quote assumed that the CAM was not damaged… something that they will not know until they take off the heads and get a look at it.
I declined the quote and had the truck towed to an independent mechanic (that the GMC mechanic recommended) to have a DOD/AFM Deleted. The independent mechanic will replace the lifters and cam with non-DOD/AFM parts and deactivate the function in the engine control module… this costs about $4500. Note that the dealership will not perform this job…
BTW in case you are wandering… a replacement long block crate L86 engine is $12000 plus installation.
GM really screwed this one up.
Hi Bill,
Yes, GM vehicles with the AFM system are well-known for lifter issues. Replacing all of the lifters and the VLOM, as technical service bulletins (TSBs) often suggest, is a costly repair.
The rough estimate listed here is for replacing one lifter and isn’t vehicle-specific. As was mentioned, the exact cost will depend on various factors, such as the year, make, and model of your vehicle.
2016 chevy Silverado 108,000 miles started making a noise,dealer said metal shavings in the transmission, and motor oil transmission just started coming apart,& metal shavings came from lifters,check engine light never came on,$14,000 for replacing motor,$6,500 an up for transmission never hard on this truck,any recalls happening?