Engine lifters are all seized?

FORDSMB454

MEMBER
1996 FORD F-150
5.0L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
190,000 MILES

Hey, just had question. Just sat for 4+ months was working on something's here and there. Anyways fired her up got her idling semi okay, was getting ready to time her and notice some taping nothing too crazy. I know some tapping is okay but then realized was getting louder. Turned back off ASAP everything's okay, but instantly thought rockers/lifters.
so I pulled the valve covers off and pulled the intake off, pulled the rockers out as well and the push rods. All rods are straight and solid! Rockers 100% good but my lifters are all seized I cannot press them at all except for 2. This concerns me so either because of the sit it seized them all? Or is oil inside and locking them? Or are they suppose to be squishy? If I pull all the lifters out soak them in pen fluid over night and nothing changes. Can I just buy new ones? And put them in or is there more to it? Like do I need to pull the cam or we so on? Or can I just buy them both pull them out and put new ones in put everything back together so on? Thanks

2 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

There is a spring inside the lifter and you should be able to compress them. It is not easy but if you put the push rod in the cup, you should be able to compress them.

Normally people will pump them up and fill them with transmission oil before installing them.

Since the engine is sitting for a while, I would replace all the lifters and retest for the noise.

Also, after you do this, I would go ahead and check the compression as you may have larger issue or make sure you are working with a good base engine.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

If compression is okay, then I would drain the oil and look for metal if the noise is still there because it is most likely a bearing issue.

You could go ahead and replace the cam but if the cam is damaged then so are the bearings in the engine and they would require replacement.

Let's start with this info above and go from there.

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