I pressed down on every pushrod by hand. 5 lifters can easily be moved down. I don't believe this is normal. I never beat on my engine. it has around 10,000 miles and is 6-7 years old. The car runs strong. no strange noises. Any ideas as to why this is? Do I replace??? I took the manifold off pressed in the lifters with my finger. it goes in about 1/4 inch very easily then starts to get tighter.

 

Yes this is normal. All of these lifters will be able to be compressed but some of them are already being compressed against the forces of the valve spring acting on them as they try to open a valve. This means some will feel hard and other soft depending on which valves are working at that moment in time.

 

^^What he said. They don't firm up until oil is flowing.

 

Thanks! So as oil is being fed through it, they will pump back up.

 

Thanks! So as oil is being fed through it, they will pump back up. When is a lifter considered bad?