Is there any way to find out if a lifter is collapsed without removing anything more than the valve covers? I'd really not like to set valve lash again, and I am 90% sure that I have a collapsed lifter and the sound is audible and embarrassing.

actually I'm sure I have a collapsed lifter. The sound is worst at startup. I just need to know how I go about finding which one it is.

is it really that difficult of a question to answer, or are you people not replying because it's blatantly obvious when a lifter is collapsed??

Sorry no ones replied yet, but this is the procedure for checking your lifters.

Take off the valve covers and use a piece of vacuum hose or mechanics stethascope and place them near each valve while listening for the noisy lifter.

Once you've located any and all problematic lifters, push down on the rocker by hand and see if it goes down. If it does, you have a lifter collapse problem.

The test for the lazy lifter I posted is usually used on Mercedes vehicles, but it should work here as well.

That's what I was afraid of. Not a big fan of getting oil everywhere. I know I can fabricate beer boxes to catch the oil, but still, it's really annoying. Thanks for the help.

Let me know how it goes.

can i ask you what it sounds like? my car is making a ticking noise. it's bad at start up and under hard accelleration. i'm wondering if it could be the same thing.

This post is probably for you Token, but I'll let you know that it's a ticking noise that seems like it's coming from under tha valve cover. Lifters won't set a trouble code either. Sometimes they clack a little bit if the lash is out of adjustment, which can happen around 75-100k miles. It is worth noting that some T.P.I. cars have fuel injectors that tick too, but that's usually with new injectors from what I've heard. Never ran across it myself, but it is a problem others say they have run into.

thanks for the info.

a collapsed lifter will make the most sound at startup, when all of the oil has drained out of it and the spring retainer slaps the bottom of the lifter body.

is the noise consistent or does it come and go? what's your oil pressure guage read? is it steady or does it move around a lot? does it change sound at all?

it very well could be a collapsed lifter. funny how i ask a question and end up answering a simialr one