Hydraulic lifter replacement: cost & effort.

Hello, dear community!

I've actually had this slight ticking noise in my car's engine when it's cold for a few years now, which indicates that the hydraulic lifters aren't quite perfect, and I finally want to address the issue.
"By 'cold' I mean that the noise only decreases to an acceptable level after a really long drive (like 20-30 minutes), even at idle. Shouldn't it disappear after a short drive, when the engine is only slightly warm? Also, using different types of oil only made a small difference."
Anyway, all the evidence (the noise disappears at high RPM) points to the hydraulic lifters, and I want to replace them now.

My actual question is whether a replacement of the hydraulic lifters can be accomplished by an ambitious DIYer like myself. What should be particularly considered during the replacement, and what are the pitfalls of this undertaking? Is it better to replace all eight hydraulic lifters at once, or should I put in the effort to precisely locate the supposedly defective ones?

Thank you very much for your help.

CU, thanks.

If, then all.

For ambitious DIYers, the camshaft bearing replacement can often be a daunting task.
It makes 10 distinct cracking sounds, and you only realize a few milliseconds later whether it was a thread stripping or if some bolts have sheared off.

So far, nothing bad has happened to me.
A JP, a JX, and an AAB were the victims.

Greetings.
m;

danko wrote:

Hello dear community! My actual question is whether a more experienced DIYer like myself can successfully replace the hydraulic lifters. 2) What should be particularly considered when making the exchange, and what are the pitfalls of undertaking this endeavor? 3) Is it better to replace all 8 lifters, or should I put in the effort to pinpoint the supposedly defective ones?

1) Yes, you can probably do it yourself, assuming I can even assess your skills... I would get a good repair manual, for example from Erwin.
2) If you follow the instructions carefully. Pay attention to the order in which you loosen and tighten the NW flange halves, and remember the order and orientation in which they are installed. They must be reinstalled in the same way.
3) All 8 (you're lucky, I had 12 (G3) or 24 (3BG) ). The others might also break soon, and since you're already doing the work...

"Please be careful and don't just buy the cheapest options from online marketplaces. Opt for a reputable brand like INA or FEBI. Also, make sure to buy from a retailer where you can be certain that you're getting the brand that's actually printed on the packaging. I've been tricked before..."