Learn how the hydraulic tank works and the main precautions with its maintenance

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Essential for providing compression in the engine and ensuring proper operation of the assembly, the hydraulic tappet is an old acquaintance of the repair expert. After all, every automotive engine has a large number of valves and each engine valve generally has an assigned tappet, a set of components that work in synchrony, aligned with the movement of the valve actuator.

This is because the tappets are the components responsible for finland phone number list the movements of the camshaft cams to the rocker arm pushrods and, of course, for eliminating that traditional free space in the assembly. In other words, it is an element whose performance can directly affect the capacity — and quality — of burning the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chambers.

Understand the role of the hydraulic lifter in the engine block
In another article here on the blog , we explained how the valve lifter works together with the rods, valves and springs to ensure greater precision and tightness for the intake and exhaust flows of the chamber. But, thinking about the operation of this component, it is worth a more detailed explanation.

To begin with, it is important to remember that the lifter is simultaneously connected to the rocker arm and the oil pressure channel. Through the pressure channel, oil passes through the lifter and is shot towards the rocker arm, creating lubrication at the point of contact between the rocker arm and the cam.

Its function is precisely to eliminate the clearance between the valve control and the valve stem, eliminating the need for adjustments to this component and other amplitude adjustments that, when not aligned and positioned with due care, can harm engine performance.

Technology to improve performance and reduce wear
As we have already seen, the repairman who is more accustomed to traditional mechanical tappets — solid and more robust components — may even find the structure of the hydraulic tappet strange, which is striking because it is completely hollow. But there is a reason for that! Here, the idea is that it forms, internally, a kind of cylinder with a plunger at the tip, just like a pen.

This plunger is held out of the valve tappet by the force of a spring while the hydraulic tappet is completely filled with the engine's own lubricating oil. This oil enters the part through a small hole located on the side of the cylinder.

This means that the space between the control and the valve lifter, which is essential in mechanical valve lifters, is not necessary in hydraulics. Remember that the oil pump causes the opening and closing operation of the valve to change the lubricant inside the valve lifter. This is what prevents the generation of air bubbles and allows heat exchange.

This is why it is so important to respect the indication of lubricating oil that the car manufacturer recommends for your vehicle, for example! Please note that the hydraulic tappet has extremely small holes for the passage of oil. They are designed to allow a specific flow of oil during operation.