Hydraulic Lifter Install - Bleed Process?

[danelectro]

I'm getting set up to install new lifters in my VG30E, I'd like to figure out the proper bleed process. Out of the box, the lifters haven't got any oil in them and are spongy... I've read conflicting advice in different places, and the EM doesn't specify any bleed process.

Do I want to just install them empty and let the oil pressure bleed them, or should I soak them and/or somehow make sure they are "hard" before installation?

Thanks for the advice!

[EdBwoy]

Sounds like an interesting project. How many miles on the vehicle and what else are you doing to it "while in there"?

Unfortunately, I have no direct experience. However, my guess based on how I'd install the tensioners in the chain driven engine, variable valve timing components etc...(you know, the things that are full of oil during operation) Is that I just lube them with oil and then turn the crankshaft a few times by hand to send oil around by whatever little pressure that motion can generate.

Upon startup, oil will go where it needs to and will bleed off when the engine is shut down and sits for long enough.

My opinion is that the FSM doesn't mention it because its not too crucial, but having no direct experience, I'm going to have to do some research on it.
Hopefully someone who has done it or is more certain chimes in.

[danelectro]

Thanks for the response. The motor has 135,000. I'm also replacing the rocker arms and shafts since they're worn beyond their wear limits.

The symptoms of the problem leading me to replace them - whenever I'd driven the car above 2500 rpm for too long, the engine would begin making a loud tap from the top end. I'd pull off to the side of the road and idle the engine for a bit, and the tap would continue for a few minutes before slowly quieting.

I couldn't find any other threads with similar behavior, my best educated guess is that one of the lifters was dirty, clogged, or worn, and wasn't handling the higher rpms well. Hopefully somebody can confirm the lifter installation process before I piece it back together - I'll post my results when I do.

[danelectro]

I've installed the new lifters and rockers, and everything went together well. I installed them just with fresh oil on the contact surfaces, and put everything back together. They made a loud clatter for a few minutes upon startup, I ran it at ~2000rpm to provide higher oil pressure.

After the lifters filled up and bled themselves the motor was as quiet as a mouse