5 Symptoms of a Bad Hydraulic Jack
Your vehicle’s hydraulic lifters are small cylinders located right next to each of your engine’s valves that help keep your engine running smoothly and quietly. Over time, the lifter mechanism can wear out (especially if it’s dirty or low on oil) and cause noises like clicking or knocking from the lifter.
Ignoring this noise and other signs of a bad jack can make the problem worse and cause serious damage to your vehicle. To help you avoid the huge costs of overlooking a broken hydraulic jack, we’ve compiled a list of symptoms of a broken jack that you should never ignore.
How does a hydraulic jack work? A small rod called a rocker arm connects the hydraulic valve to the ram. Unlike other lifters, hydraulic lifters contain oil that powers a piston and spring.
The piston and spring work together to create clearance in the valve train, resulting in a smooth ride. Hydraulic filters also extend the life of your engine by reducing wear.
Low oil pressure in a hydraulic lifter can affect its performance and cause abnormal noises. If you ignore the problem, it can worsen until it damages the valve tips, rocker arms, and pushrods, all of which can lead to costly repairs.
What does a defective plunger sound like? Knowing what a broken tappet sounds like can help you identify and fix tappet problems early, saving you hundreds of dollars. A defective hydraulic lifter will cause a continuous knocking sound, rather than just an occasional knocking sound.
The knocking will occur in rapid succession and will worsen over time. Depending on the exact problem, the noise can occur whether the engine is hot or cold. For more serious jack problems, you may hear loud knocking or banging noises.
Symptoms of a Failed Lifter
In addition to valve tappet noises, a faulty hydraulic lifter can have the following symptoms:
1) Stuck Jack
A stuck jack will not move up or down and will remain in a folded position. With the lifter unable to move, it will not be able to maintain hydraulic pressure. This will cause the internal parts of the jack to bang against each other, creating more noise.
2) Noise gets louder at higher speeds
A defective part will cause the volume and frequency of tappet noise to increase when accelerating to higher speeds.
3) Misfire
A defective lifter will hinder the cylinder’s ability to mix and burn air and fuel. When this happens, it will cause a cylinder misfire, resulting in slower acceleration.
4) Dead Cylinder
A defective pushrod will cause it to bend or move out of position. When this happens, it will cause a dead cylinder, which can damage the valves and rocker arms, or even the entire engine.
5) Check Engine Light
If the problem gets worse, the check engine light will come on. You can diagnose the problem by checking the listed error codes.
How to Quiet Noisy Lifters
If you want to avoid valve lifter noise, follow these tips:
Regular Oil Changes
Changing your oil at the right time will prevent lifter damage caused by dirty oil or low oil levels. Use the right engine oil to prevent tappet noise.
Use Oil Additives
A good oil additive, such as Liqui Moly or Marvel Mystery Oil, can improve the quality of your engine oil and clean the tappets. These additives also clean rocker arms, valves, and other engine parts. This is the best case scenario, as it is a cost-effective solution.
Adjust the plunger spacing
If the tappet noise persists despite no abnormalities, have a professional mechanic replace the tappets and the clearance between them and other engine parts. Your vehicle’s manual usually specifies the ideal tappet spacing.
What causes a ram to break or collapse? Possible causes of plunger malfunction include:
– Sticking check valve
– Plunger clearance problems
– Worn tappets or dirt in the system
– Lack of lubrication or dirty engine oil
– High vehicle mileage
– Irregular maintenance
– Incorrect use of the correct engine oil
– Clogged/defective engine oil filter
