I have a car with top end noise. Cam in block, pushrod, ohv rocker arm design. Not a tap but more like a light rattle. I removed the hyd lifters and noticed I could push plunger down with my finger and oil squirted out side oil port on 2 of the lifters. The other lifters were pumped up and I could not compress plungers. Car was run yesterday so it had not been sitting days/weeks. Is this typical lifter action or does this point to the 2 lifters having issues?
To check for a bad lifter, you can remove the valve cover and wiggle the rocker arms; if you feel play or sponginess in a lifter, it may be bad. Additionally, you can soak the lifter in oil and try to push the plunger down; if it moves easily, the lifter is likely defective.
Tester
I replaced lifters and motor is quiet now. Always something.
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