If you have been driving a vehicle for quite some time now, you might already know that no matter how careful you are, the components of your car will stop working efficiently after a certain has passed. The 5.3l lifters in your vehicle are no exception.
Lifters, if you don’t already know, play a crucial role in the functioning of the car’s engine. They ensure that the engine valves open and close when needed to maximize the efficiency of the air intake and exhaust process.
When the lifters are not working correctly, they can lead to several problems, which makes changing the lifters quite crucial. However, it isn’t a piece of cake to change 5.3l lifters without removing heads.
If you are worried about how much money it will cost you to change the 5.3l lifters of your vehicle as you aren’t really sure “How to change 5.3l lifters without removing heads?”, this write-up has it all for you. So, keep reading to find it all out.
What Are 5.3L Lifters?
Before moving towards the steps you can follow to replace the 5.3l lifters without removing heads in your vehicle, it’s important first to understand the meaning of 5.3l lifters and why they are important.
Lifters in a car are typically responsible for controlling the opening or closing of the engine valves to keep a check on the air intake, especially during thermal expansion. They are crucial in checking the valve timing so the engine keeps functioning efficiently.
A 5.3-liter lifter is a term used for a lifter used in a car with a 5.3-liter engine displacement. This kind of lifter is commonly seen in luxurious SUVs and heavy-load vehicles like trucks. In addition to checking on the engine’s valve timing, lifters also reduce the valvetrain noise and help optimize the overall performance of a car’s engine.
Why Replace Lifters?
Let me now walk you through some reasons that can compel you or make it crucial for you to replace the lifters in your vehicle.
- Damaged Lifters
As mentioned earlier, like all other vehicle components, lifters also tend to wear out over time. This happens due to their constant contact with the pushrods and camshaft. Due to this, the lifter might be unable to function appropriately, making changing them crucial.
- Annoying Noise
If the lifters are damaged or have worn out over time, you will constantly hear a ticking noise in the engine. This noise can sometimes be annoying, and you might be unable to focus on your driving well. Replacing the damaged lifters with new ones can eliminate this problem.
Note: The engine noise you will hear when there is some problem with the lifters is different from the beeping sound you hear when locking your car.
- Poor Engine Problems
Damaged or worn-out lifters affect the working of the engine valvetrain system, which can also influence the engine’s performance badly. Due to this, you might be left with no other option but to replace the lifters with new ones.
Note: You can check out this guide to explore some common battery problems you might encounter occasionally.
- Contaminated Oil
Lifters of an engine, if you don’t already know, rely on engine oil for lubrication. If worn out or damaged, they might contaminate the engine oil, leading to multiple other vehicle problems.
- Reduced Efficiency
When lifters are damaged, the engine’s ability to produce power also gets affected badly, which can lead to an overall reduced efficiency of a vehicle.
How To Change 5.3l Lifters Without Removing Heads?
You must have already realized how important it is to change the lifters if you don’t want to end up with other severe issues. Here are the steps you need to go through to change the 5.3l lifters of your vehicle without removing the heads.
Step #1: Gather All Tools and Materials
Before moving towards the main part, where you have to remove the lifters and replace them with new ones, you must have all the tools and equipment needed for this. Here is a breakdown of all the tools you need to replace the 5.3l lifters.
New Lifters: Before removing the current lifters, ensure that the right replacement lifters are ready. Check out the vehicle manual to get the right lifters.
Removal Tool: To remove the 5.3l lifters without removing the heads, you must have a ready lifter removal tool.
Screwdrivers: Keep a screwdriver kit having different screw heads and sizes to unscrew and assemble different vehicle components.
Torque Wrench: Needed for tightening the screws and bolts.
Oil Filter and Engine Oil: As the engine oil can get contaminated due to worn-out lifters, changing it and installing new filters is also a part of the process.
Safety Gears: Ensure to have safety glasses, gloves, clothing, and other safety gear ready to keep yourself protected throughout the replacement process.
Step #2: Examine the Engine
Once you have all the tools and equipment ready, examine the engine. Ensure to get yourself well-versed in the engine of your car. Check all the engine components and become informed of their location.
You can also take pictures of different engine components for help in the future. Examining the engine is a crucial part of this process as this way; you will know how intense the problem is and can make a better execution plan.
Step #3: Disassemble the Components
Start by disconnecting your car’s battery to ensure complete safety during the replacement process. As the lifters are present under the intake manifold of the car within the valley area, you need to remove some components like the intake manifold, valve covers, and pushrods to reach them.
To remove the intake manifold, you must first unplug the electrical connectors, disconnect the hoses, and unscrew the bolts securing it. Now, leave the manifold away and keep it aside.
For the next part, loosen up the bolts holding the valve covers and remove them from both sides of the engine. If there are pushrods in your car’s engine, you must remove them to examine the lifters.
It’s best to label each part you remove and organize it according to their removal order to avoid confusion later on.
Step #4: Replace the Lifters
Now that you have removed all the components coming in the way of the lifters, you can easily remove the faulty lifters. Once the old lifters are removed, install the new ones into their sockets. Ensure to follow the correct pattern when installing new lifters to prevent them from wearing out easily.
After installing the new lifters, change the engine oil and, if possible, replace the filters with new ones.
Step #5: Reassemble the Components
After installing the new filters, changing the engine oil, and replacing the filters, you now need to assemble all the components. Start in the reverse order of their removal. Here the labels and organization you did at the time of disassembly will help you.
When you have successfully installed all the components back, use the images you took earlier for reference and check if all the wires and ducts are connected correctly. Don’t forget to check for any oil leakages in the end.
Note: If this is your first time trying to replace the 5.3l lifters without removing heads, check out the below YouTube video for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Safe to Drive with Bad Lifters?
Though it’s possible to drive with bad lifters, it isn’t recommended. Doing so will only compel the engine to make too much noise, which can annoy you when driving. It can also contaminate the engine oil leading to other serious issues. So, if possible, avoid driving with bad lifters and replace them with new ones.
Is Replacing the Lifters Hard?
Well, not really. If you have a little bit of knowledge related to engines and automobiles, you can perform the replacement on your own. However, you need to be patient and attentive throughout the process to avoid any mistakes.
How Much Time Does Replacing the Lifters Take?
You can replace the lifters in around 60 to 70 minutes. But it totally depends on your efficiency and speed. It’s best to be calm throughout the process to ensure everything flows smoothly.
Conclusion
With this, the guide on “How To Change 5.3l Lifters Without Removing Heads?” finally concludes. In this guide, I have provided you with a brief introduction to the 5.3l lifters and taken you through some reasons that can compel you to change the lifters.
I also walked you through a step-by-step method you can follow to replace the 5.3l lifters without removing the heads and answered some questions you might have in the end.
Hopefully, the next time you find your car’s lifters acting up, you won’t sit idle and can do exactly what’s needed!
