Checking hydraulic valve lifters (VW Golf 2)

Hydraulic valve lifters have been installed on engines since 1986. Improper maintenance of hydraulic lifters can result in damage to engine parts: Therefore, after removing the hydraulic lifters, the following recommendations should be followed:

Store the tappets in the position in which they are installed in the cylinder head.

Replace all tappets at the same time, as they cannot be adjusted or repaired.

Noisy operation of the tappets when starting the engine is a normal phenomenon. If the noise does not decrease after the engine warms up, it is necessary to check the tappets in the following way:

• start the engine and warm it up until the fan turns on;
• increase engine speed to 2500 rpm for two minutes;
• if the tappet noise is still audible, you should find the faulty tappet. To do this, remove the valve cover and turn the camshaft so that the cam protrusion above the tappet being checked is facing up;
• press the plunger with a sharp stick as shown figure 61, and if it turns out that the gap is more than 0.10 mm (until the valve opens), the pusher should be replaced.

Warning! Do not start the engine for 30 minutes after replacing the tappets, as this may cause the valves to hit the pistons.