I did a search and some said transmission fluid and some said soak them in oil. They are stock roller lifters out of vortec 350 that intake gasket leaked antifreeze. Would like to reuse them. Right now they are soaking in trans fluid. Will that hurt them?

fj

 

no the trans fluid wont hurt them... i am a fan of kerosene for cleaning then soaking them in engine oil

 

You should check the bleed down on them while you have them out.

 

well why dont you explain how to do that...

 

I used parts cleaning solvent (parts washer). Then blew them dry with compressed air, then dropped them in a coffee can of clean motor oil, and just let them soak in it for several days.

 

How to dissasemble and clean hydraulic lifters.

Always do one (1) lifter at a times as parts are matched with tight tolerances to the specific lifter.

1. Remove the plunger retainer ring with pliers or the special tool designed for this purpose. It may be necessary o depress the plunger to release the retainer ring. This can be done with a push rod.
2. Remove the push-rod cup, metering valve, and plunger and spring assembly.
3. Invert the plunger and spring assembly and remove the check-valve retainer. Next remove the check valve and spring.
4. Clean all parts in a suitable solvent that will remove all carnish and carbon. (seafoam)
5. Thoroughly wipe off all parts with a clean lint-free cloth, using a hard wiping action to remove any deposits. Rinse in clean kerosene.
6. Inspect the parts and discard the entire lifter assembly if any part shows signs of pitting, scoring, or galling. Replace the entire assembly if the plunger is not free in the body. The plunger should drop to the bottom of the body by its own weight.
7. Reassemble the lifterif all parts appear to be in good shape.

Checking leakdown rate.

1. Remove the push-rod cup and completely submerge the lifter in an upright posistion in clean kerosene, or other liquid reccomended by manufacturer.
2. Allow the lifter to completely fill with kerosene.
3. Remoce the lifter and replace the push=rod cup.
4. Hold the lifter upright and force the plunger down with either a push rod or special pliers. If the plunger collapses alomst instantly as pressure is applied, dissasemble the lifter clean and test again.
5. If the lifter sitll does not operate satisfactorily, replace with a new unit.

wow thats a lot of typing, got it out of an old shop manual of my dads. Hope thats clear enough.

 

Note incidentally, that the internal parts of hydraulic lifters are matched (selected) to each other; they should not be interchanged.

That means, do them one at a time. As opposed to, disassemble all 16, clean them all, put 16 lifters back together.

 

Very true, I'm going to add that in sofakingdom

 

I sprayed em down in WD40 to get most of the grime and grease out from within, then clean em off with paper towels, and soaked them in oil over night.

 

I've used brake clean and soaked them in oil, worked fine.

 

Thanks
I will take one apart to see what they are like inside. I looked in bucket and I am amazed how much dirt has soaked out of lifters with trans fluid.

fj