Ford Valve Lifter Buyer's Guide
Do you own a Ford with valve lifters that need to be replaced? Or are you just curious about valve lifters? Either way, you may benefit from this buyer's guide. In this guide, you'll find all the information you need about valve lifters.
We encourage you to contact us with any questions that weren't answered in this guide.
1. What Are Valve Lifters?
Few people have heard of valve lifters (also called valve lash adjusters). They're small parts buried deep in the engine. They're small hydraulic tubes found in engines that use pushrods. Valve lifters help transfer the motions of the cab lobes to the pushrod or rocker to open and close the valve. Here's a much more in-depth explanation of valve lifters.
2. How To Find Out If One Of Your Valve Lifters Is Failing
Valve lifters last a long time, but they do sometimes go bad. When that happens, you'll notice some symptoms like a rapid tapping noise coming from the engine. You don't have to bring your Ford to a shop to find out if you have a failing valve lifter. This tutorial will walk you through the process of diagnosing a bad valve lifter. The process involves using a stethoscope to figure out where the noise is coming from.
3. Deciding Between OEM And Aftermarket Valve Lifters
When it's time to replace a car part, the most common question Ford owners ask is, "Should I get an OEM or aftermarket replacement part?" When it comes to valve lifters - or any Ford part for that matter - OEM is always better. It's because OEM valve lifters:
- Are built with quality materials
- Have the right dimensions
- Are exact replicas of the original lifters in your engine
For a more thorough comparison between OEM and aftermarket valve lifters, check out this post.
4. How To Replace A Ford Valve Lifter
Have you determined that you have a bad valve lifter? You don't have to bring your Ford to a shop. In most Ford engines, replacing a valve lifter is pretty easy to do with the right tools. This tutorial will help walk you through the process.