How do you break in a new hydraulic lifter?
Christopher Martinez
Published May 30, 2026
How do you break in a new hydraulic lifter?
Installation Tips
- New lifters are not always required with a new roller camshaft.
- Use an Assembly/Break-In Lube to coat the cam lobes and distributor gears.
- Use Break-In Oil.
- Use a finer micron filter during break-in.
- Do not “pump up” hydraulic lifters.
- Do not exceed Recommended Valve Spring Pressures.
Do you have to break in a hydraulic roller camshaft?
Roller cams do not need to be broken-in, nor do they need any zinc in the oil, but ALL flat tappet cams need both. Do NOT break-in your cam or engine with non-detergent oil!
How do you break in a hydraulic cam?
Procedure
- Install the Camshaft.
- Set the Valve Lash or Preload as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Prime the Oiling System.
- Set the Initial Ignition Timing.
- For carbureted engines, make sure fuel bowls are full and any air is bled from the fuel lines.
- Start the engine and immediately raise rpm to 3,000.
How long does it take to break in a new camshaft?
This process should only take about five minutes but can sometimes take longer. A big-block Chevy will take much longer to pump oil to all the rocker arms-perhaps as long as 20 minutes. Now replace the distributor by positioning the engine at No.
Why do you break in a camshaft?
Perhaps the most important step in the break-in process is to bring the engine immediately up to a minimum of 2,500 rpm or more. This is vital because most V8 pushrod engine camshafts are not pressure-lubed. A higher engine speed for the first 20 minutes ensures plenty of oil reaches the camshaft.
How long does it take to break in a cam?
This process should only take about five minutes but can sometimes take longer. A big-block Chevy will take much longer to pump oil to all the rocker arms-perhaps as long as 20 minutes.
How do you break-in a hydraulic cam?
How long should you break-in a cam?
The most critical time in the life of a flat tappet camshaft is the first 20 minutes of break in, during which time the bottoms of the tappets mate-in with the cam lobes. This is true for both hydraulic and mechanical flat tappet camshafts.
Do you need a break-in procedure for hydraulic lifters?
While many think break-in procedures are just for flat-tappet cams, testing has shown that today’s close-tolerance hydraulic lifters greatly benefit from a dedicated break-in procedure. A recent two-year study of valve train break-in procedures has discovered a new direction in proper cam and lifter break-in.
What is the best oil for hydraulic roller cam break-in?
Why the correct viscosity and a proper break-in oil is important for hydraulic roller cam break-in: 1. Today’s hydraulic roller lifters respond best to 10W-40 oil (Driven part number 03706). Many noisy lifter complaints are actually from using the wrong viscosity.
Why do I need new lifters with a new camshaft?
NEW CAMSHAFTS NEED NEW LIFTERS The biggest cause of edge contact on cam lobes is installing worn lifters with a new camshaft. Even if the lifters look OK, the spherical shape may be worn flat. If so, the lifters’ with a new camshaft will result in will result in improper contact and early lifter and cam lobe failure.
Can I use synthetic oil to break-in my camshaft?
Use of synthetic oils is not recommend for break-in. Prior to installing the camshaft and lifters, it is recommended that the crankcase be drained and filled with new, clean oil as listed above. The oil filter should also be changed at this time. Proper flat tappet camshaft break-in starts with the cam installation and includes the following steps: