Simply put, hydraulic tappets, also known as valve lifters or lash adjusters, are small pistons that use the rotational movement of an engine’s camshaft to open and close the intake and exhaust valves.
A defective tappet will impact the engine’s ability to complete the combustion cycle, resulting in several poor lifter symptoms.
What are the signs of a bad lifter?
The most typical include:
- Excessive engine noise that worsens at higher RPMs
- Misfiring, causing a rough idle, poor acceleration, and black exhaust
- Check engine light displays due to poor combustion
Regarding lifter replacement expenses, expect to pay $600 to $2,500 to replace one or more tappets at a service facility.
This article examines these symptoms and costs in more detail. We’ll also cover why hydraulic lifters fail and what can happen if you keep driving with a broken lifter.
Learn more about how hydraulic lifters work in our detailed rundown of the combustion engine. Prefer a visual example? This video from Canada’s National Film Board is as simple as it gets.
Note: Prices mentioned in this guide are estimates. The exact cost of replacing hydraulic lifters depends on the make and model of your vehicle, shop rates, and parts pricing.
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Bad Hydraulic Lifter Symptoms
Excessive Engine Noise
How to identify a bad lifter? The most usual indication is a noise that resembles a “tick” or “tap” and gets more noticeable as RPMs increase.
In fact, this symptom is so common with tappet problems that it coined the term “lifter tick.”
Cylinder Misfire
Another sign of a subpar hydraulic lifter is a cylinder misfire, which presents several symptoms, including a rough idle, sluggish acceleration, and dark exhaust smoke.
You may also hear “popping” or “banging” sounds from the engine, usually between 1,500 and 2,500 RPMs.
Check Engine Light
Defective lifters impact the motor’s ability to properly mix and burn air and fuel, often leading to the check engine light displaying.
Before performing any repairs, technicians will scan for error codes using an OBD II sensor to verify if lifters are the cause. Some of the most common codes from a faulty lifter include P3486, P3400, and P3416.
What Causes Lifters To Go Bad?
Old motor oil, or the incorrect grade for your vehicle, can prematurely wear down the camshaft and lifters. In fact, oil-related problems are the leading causes of lifter failure.
As time passes, the lifters may struggle to maintain constant contact with the camshaft (or pushrod, depending on the design). This leads to the familiar “ticking/tapping” sound when they hit each other.
It’s also possible that the lifter “collapses,” meaning it’s stuck in a depressed state and can no longer hold pressure. This issue is often referred to as a “sticky” lifter. As for collapsed lifter symptoms, the most common is lifter tick.
If left for too long, a tacky tappet can also cause a “dead” cylinder, which is when the cylinder no longer fires properly. This can lead to the many symptoms of cylinder misfire, like black exhaust smoke and lethargic acceleration.
In general, tappets shouldn’t cause much trouble before 100,000 miles. Yet, lax on routine service, and you’re more likely to prematurely run into any or all of the above-mentioned bad hydraulic lifter symptoms.
Hydraulic Lifter Replacement Costs
Hydraulic lifters can be found at any reputable online auto parts store for just $5 to $30 each. Techs usually suggest replacing all lifters if one fails, primarily due to how long it takes to perform a replacement.
Most engines have two lifters per cylinder, so a V4 will have eight lifters, a V6 12 and a V8 16. This means components costs should range from $40 to $480.
As for labor costs, most shops estimate the job to take seven to 15 hours and charge $75 to $130 per hour. This totals $525 to $1,950, depending on your vehicle’s engine arrangement.
Add parts and labor together, and the overall cost of lifter replacement ranges from $565 to $2,430.
You could reduce the overall costs by replacing just the faulty lifters. Just know that you’d only be saving a few hundred dollars, something you might regret if another lifter fails soon after.
Can You Drive With A Broken Lifter?
Yes, you can actually operate a vehicle with a defective lifter…
However, doing so nearly ensures the issue will progress beyond a simple ticking noise, likely to the point where the cylinder stops firing, and the rest of the car becomes affected.
Your optimal bet is to address a bad hydraulic lifter as soon as you notice symptoms. Yes, repair costs are high, but they can exponentially grow if you ignore the issue for too long.
Protect Against Lifter Failure By Following A Routine Maintenance Schedule
Now that you know how harmful (and costly) lifter failure is, you’ll see why it’s best to protect against the issue altogether.
The most effective option for drivers is following a routine maintenance schedule. Regarding the prevention of lifter failure, standard services involve regularly changing the motor oil and filter using the grade recommended by the manufacturer.
Want more information on servicing a car? Check out our regular maintenance guide.
