Camshafts, Lifters & Parts for Ford Expedition

Ford Expedition Camshafts, Lifters, and Parts

Ford Expedition camshafts, lifters, and parts assist in the process of combustion in a gasoline engine. The parts open and close valves in synchronization with the movement of the cam in the camshaft. If you are going to be repairing or replacing lifter parts and accessories in your Expedition SUV, here are some things you should know to ensure you choose the right parts for your vehicle model.

Lifters are designed to open and close the valves covering the camshaft on a combustion engine. The valves allow the gases built up during combustion to be released and for fresh air that aids combustion to enter into the shaft. On the cam are a series of parts called lobes. Lobes are oblong-shaped rings that slide over the camshaft and are placed so they touch the bottom of the lifters as they turn. As the camshaft turns, the oblong section that sticks out push the lifters up and when the oval narrower section spins around on the part the lifters drop back down. Connected to the lifters are pushrods. The pushrods go through the engine block and push up on rockers to open the valves. The valves close when the pushrod drops back into the engine block.

There are three main types of lifters:

• Hydraulic lifters: Hydraulic lifters are the standard type of lifters. These Ford Expedition parts are self-contained units that have a spring, plunger, and oil inside the housing. The plunger in the lifter pushes up when the camshaft turns around and the spring pulls the plunger back down into the lifter. Oil is used as a buffer and a lubricant. The oil keeps the lifter from rattling and making loud noises. One of the main benefits of the hydraulic lifters is that they also don’t have to be manually adjusted.
• Hydraulic roller lifters: Hydraulic roller lifters also use a plunger and oil. These parts are typically used in high-performance engines like those found in a Ford Expedition. The lifter uses a rolling ball to soften the shock of the plunger in the lifter going up and down.
• Solid lifters: Solid lifters are typically used in racing vehicles and they do not have any internal parts. A solid lifter is essentially a circular piece of metal that makes a pushrod move up and down to open and close the valves.