From what I've seen, it seems that for most people here who have had a lifter or lifters go bad, it has been on the exhaust side. For me it's exhaust side and drivers' side. Anyway, just curious if there's a pattern so if you know the details, please respond to the poll.

It could be interesting to break it down by intake vs. exhaust too, but there would be too many combinations!

 

Intake, drivers side for me..

 

Just curious...but how do you know that your lifters require changing? Signs to look for?

 

Listen for a ticking sound that varies with engine speed. You can differentiate between intake and exhaust by listening from both the engine compartment (for intake) and by the rear wheelwell or beneath the car (for exhaust). A collapsed lifter will also degrade power due to decreased valve lift, and someone noted that it could fool the knock sensor into retarding timing as well.

I first noticed my clicking when driving next to a concrete barrier, which reflected the sound, where normally I wouldn't hear anything from inside the car.

 

how much is this fix going to run? parts and labor?

 

Have not replaced them but I do have a ticking from the drivers side exhaust...is it just a performance issue or can it damage the valves?

 

I got the lifters for about $18 per from EuroEast (no affiliation), and I got 6, just planning on doing exhaust on both sides (DIY, so no labor charges), even though I only have ticking (knock on wood!) on the driver side. It may be just one lifter but since I'm in there... I think doing the intake side would be difficult and you'd probably need to drop the engine.

Oh, the valve cover gaskets are about $40, IIRC.

Someone here once said you could damage valves, though I'm not sure how that would be since the problem is that the valve does not open as much as it should. If it opened too much, or didn't close properly that could be a problem. Mine's been ticking for a while though.

 

Tony Callas at Callas Rennsport in Torrance, CA suggests going back to mechanical lifters (964 lifters maybe?) if any significant track work were contemplated. I have also heard this suggestion from Mark Hergesheimer at Hergesheimer Motorsports in Lake Fores, CA Its Sunday, let's drink!!!

 

I can't imagine going with mechanical lifters in a 993. Adjusting valves is a PITA in older 911's and it would be a nightmare in a 993.

 

hardy track applications, that is what some of the experts recommend.

I remember the "good ole days" of 911 manual valve adjustments, usually every 12,000 miles or so. PITA...and about $500 if you let someone do it for you.

I track my car about 6 times a year. So far the hydraulics have been trouble free. I ain't changing. I wonder what the GT3 and GT3 Cup Cars use, mechanical or hydraulic lifters? I suspect the latter.

 

I didn't vote, but my former 993 had a strong ticking sound from the driver's side only, which I'm quite sure were the lifters.

 

Not sure which side to tick as for us downunder the driver's side is on the right side of the car... for others it's on the wrong side of the car

That said, I'm sure I have a lifter ticking at the moment on the left side of the car looking at it from the back...

 

Thanks Kevin - we'll call that drivers' side for the purpose of this survey! Seems like the left-hand bank far and away has the most issues, at least in our small sample. Steve, or anyone familiar with engine internals, care to venture a guess as to why that would be?

 

there is no option for "no problems"?

 

Right, the poll is for "people here who have had a lifter or lifters go bad", trying to see if there's a pattern.