Working on the P38 engine for my D2: I found 4 hydraulic lifters where the piston is stuck. The other lifters and the camshaft look very good actually, barely any wear visible. The engine has 112k miles on it. So what should I do?

1) Try to fix them
2) get 4 new lifters
3) get 16 new lifters and a new cam ($$$)

I already spend so much on new parts.

 

A few years ago this was an easy decision, but quality of new parts - particularly lifters - on the decline, I'd say try and get em moving.

Soak those 4 in gas for 24 hrs, agitating them once in a while. See if they'll free up. Soak em in a light oil for 24 hrs after that if they free up. ATF or the like.

 

I could get the piston out by letting it soak in WD40 overnight. Then using a wall anchor in a vise to grip the piston from inside. Pushing, wiggling and pulling. There was a lot of black gunky oil in the lower reservoir.

 

I put the disassembled lifter into my ultrasonic cleaner. The carbon deposits get ripped off, you can literally watch it. It came out nice and shiny.


I use it for cleaning nuts & bolts, spark plugs and fuel injectors too. Parts get much cleaner than with other methods and it saves me a lot of time.

 

I use Simple Green in mine, what solution are you using?

 

The one from Dollar Tree. Cheap and it works like a charm. I use it to manually clean engine parts too.

 

LA's Awesome Products by any chance?

 

Yes, that's the brand name.

 

Man, someone must have had a plugged valve cover baffle and gone a long time between oil changes. Reduced sludge/Coking was one of the major benefits of the PCV valve back in the 50s when it was invented. I still cannot believe LR did not use it.

 

The block was completely soaked in oil from valve cover leaks. Yes, the oil separator was clogged. Actually the engine oil didn't look that bad, not worse than on my D2 engine 4,000 miles after oil change. On the other hand I think most lifters will look similar to mine at this mileage. The design of the lifter doesn't allow for much replacement of oil in the lower reservoir.