[RESOLVED] Do I need to prime my lifters with oil before putting them in when re-usin

[Spoolin4Ever]

Do I need to prime my lifters with oil before putting them in when re-using them?

OK I had a couple of valves replaced on the head. I am now ready to put the cams back on so I can re-install.

I am re-using my lifters, they are 3g (or at least 2g, the have big holes).

I have not put any oil in them or brake cleaner or anything, they are just straight out of the head the way they were, I kept them clean. Been sitting out of the head for about 3 weeks.

Can I just put them in with some assembly lube, or do I have to do the thing with the oil and paper clip?

Also, it won't be going back onto the block for about 2 weeks. Does it matter how long it sits afterwards, as far as lube is concerned?

 

[4g64fiero]

The oil will wick away after that amount of time so you *should* prime them again.

That being said, I used play dough to see if any valves would hit my pistons when I install new lifters in my rebuild. None were even close without priming. Its probably because the lifters were left in the head for a few days before I tried and the cams depressed them. I believe its a narrow chance it will damage any thing but the lifter itself from oil starvation and even then the effect wont be obvious. Just make sure the lash adjusters are lubricated.

 

[toyotaturbo]

Take your time and bleed those lifters. I've seen a few bent valves from not bleeding them. It's not worth not doing those 15 minutes of work. You will be able to just drop them in once they're bled. When you fire the car, they'll tick for less than a minute. Then when the motor gets some heat in it, everything will quiet down and run like a top!

 

[toofast82]

I installed a set of cams this week. I didn't bleed the lifters out, but the car sat overnight with the cams bolted in. I cranked the engine with no spark/fuel to build oil pressure first.
The RRE site says it takes ~3hrs for the lifters to bleed themselves back down

 

[Spoolin4Ever]

I did prime and bleed them.

 

[MY1GDSM]

I've always on my own cars(Because I had the time) let them soak in fresh oil for part of a day then installed them and let them bleed down on thier own overnight.
Never had to listen them tick away. ...
I would never install them in the head or put a head on with them pumped up,I've always if time was a factor bled them down and spun the oil pump up to prime everthing up or crank the engine like toofast82 said so they are not started dry. ...

Whether a lifter is "bled" or not should have no bearing on the piston hitting the valve.

That's completly wrong if you installed a set of pumped up lash adjusters(lifters) in a removed head you would understand why. ...