Lifters through valve cover? - United Bimmer Community

**Mercenary(FH)** · 08-24-2007, 11:07 AM

Quick question to u mechanic guys out there. have a 93 325is. and my question is can you get to /see the lifters (and lifter passageways) by taking off the valve cover. I may be inspecting my lifters with a friend.

thanks!

**RSF5** · 08-24-2007, 12:19 PM

They'll be under your cam shafts.

**Mercenary(FH)** · 08-24-2007, 12:49 PM

so i'd need to take off the valve cover then take out the cams?
is that a very hard process or not too bad?
I mean would their be any other "MAJOR" parts besides the valve cover to take off to get to the lifters

**RSF5** · 08-24-2007, 01:43 PM

You'll have to remove the valve cover (easy) and the cams (difficult and dangerous if you don't know what your doing) to access the lifters. Cams are brittle, there is a good chance you can break them if your not using the BMW Camshaft removal tool (Which is expensive). Pelican parts offers a DIY on removing the Cams without the tool but you have to remove the head. What exactly do you want to do anyway?

**Mercenary(FH)** · 08-24-2007, 02:07 PM

I was going to check the lifters, my car makes a tick noise on the passenger side , whats weird tho is that is that u can hear it better from the bottom of the passenger side door near the engine, also I have ticking in the middle of the engine, where the 6 black thingies go to the engine, on the right side of the engine, near the air intake. my buddy who owns an M3 says his car ticks like that where it's old. im using 5w-30 oil which he said was WAY to thin, so im changing it today to 10w-40
he also said it could be my fuel injectors ticking cause he said if I had lifter tick I'd like Hear it more towards the left side of the engine. (if u were looking at the engine from the front of the car)

confused? lol
my writing sucks I know

**Mercenary(FH)** · 08-24-2007, 02:17 PM

actually go to this picture
http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...asket/pic3.jpg

im guessing those green things are injectors, thats where the idle tick comes from, but the accelerating tick comes from the left side?

underneath the injectors there arent lifters are there?
or are those more towards the left of the engine (if u were looking at engine from front of car)

i guess injectors can tick cant they?

would it be ok to have the stuff pulled off so i can see the injectors? but still have my car running so I can identify it?

thanks

**Mercenary(FH)** · 08-25-2007, 10:58 AM

anyone know if U can take the cover off to see the spark plugs with the engine still running?

**Mercenary(FH)** · 08-25-2007, 12:11 PM

hmmm this is weird, I cannot hear it at my engine, like even when i rev it?
theirs no reason why if I had lifter tick it wouldnt do it idle, but would when im driving would it?

perhaps it is an exhaust leak?

witeshark · 08-25-2007, 12:22 PM

There may be slightly less oil pressure at idle. Then when reving or driving, the higher engine speed my build a bit more oil pressure and quiet any ticking

**Dudesky** · 08-25-2007, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercenary(FH)

anyone know if U can take the cover off to see the spark plugs with the engine still running?

Never take the cover off unless you're replacing the gaskets because it will not reseal properly when you put the cover back on, and you'll end up with an oil leak.

**Mercenary(FH)** · 08-25-2007, 12:34 PM

oh shit Im dumb I meant take the cover off to see the fuel injectors. like that black plastic thing, so i can locate which one is making the noise, that'd be alright with the engine running wouldnt it?

and if I were to take the cover off i'd need that sealant crap right?

thx

**Mercenary(FH)** · 08-25-2007, 12:38 PM

this is true whiteshark about higher pressure. BUT i also rev the engine quite high and I still cant hear any ticking. now thats basically like driving, so if I revved it pretty damn high and I didnt hear any ticking (vanos knock i do hear and squeeky belts) but no tick? that'd be the same as driving wouldnt it?

witeshark · 08-25-2007, 12:43 PM

I would think so, the only difference being that the engine is under no load

**Mercenary(FH)** · 08-25-2007, 01:01 PM

but that would be the same as far as engine lifter ticking is concerned correct?
revving the engine, and driving?

so if I cant here it under revs, then it isnt gonna be lifters more than likely

EDIT: and would it be ok to take the little plastic cover off so I can see my fuel injectors so i can narrow down which one making a noise.

thx

witeshark · 08-25-2007, 01:19 PM

AFAIK yeah on the first bit. On the second, I dunno and I'm not sure I'd wanna try it