How to know if my '01 and '02 V70s have mechanical or hydraulic lifters?

[jrschwit]

New member here but have owned an '02 2.4T for 10 years and just added an '01 T5. I've searched here and other sites but cannot find out definitively whether my cars have mechanical or hydraulic valve lifters/tappets/buckets. Both engines have the valve adjustment screws/ports in the cam cover and I've found the procedure for checking the clearance. But found nothing on knowing which style lifter my cars would have or how frequently they should be checked. Both my cars are high mileage; ~270K miles and from knowing something of their history, they are unlikely to have ever been checked.

I do my own maintenance and am familiar with DOHC solid valve systems having been an Alfa owner for 60+ years.
Thanks, Jim

[scot850]

Good question. I don't know if Volvo used hydraulic lifters after 1998- on the 5 cylinder engines. I am probably wrong, but looking at parts sited I think they all look like buckets not hydraulic lifters. Again not sure why there are about 30 options but I am going to think that perhaps it is to vary the thickness of the bucket so they are like shims.

https://www.volvocarstorontoparts.ca/a/ ... 89539.html

Neil.

[jimmy57]

2000 was a running upgrade to that family of engines. Solid tappets and single point oil supply to a drilled passage for inside crankcase piston spray jets were the noted changes. The solid tappet does not use a shim but the whole tappet is changed for adjustment as the shaft that is on under side of tappet is ground to incremental thicknesses. The solid (mechanical) tappets effectively never need a check or adjustment. The 4 valve arrangement uses smaller and lighter valves and good materials for seats and valve faces effectively do not wear nor stress cam enough for it to wear. Adjustments are only needed when head is repaired. The 2000 engines had screw in plugs for clearance check but that was eliminated with maybe a few 2001s having the plugs before those were used up.

[jrschwit]

Thanks for both replies. I'll check clearances in both engines simply for peace of mind when I get the opportunity. I read elsewhere that '03 and later had the adjustment plugs eliminated from which I assumed they went to some sort of hydraulic tappet adjustment which obviated the need for checking valve clearance. But I understand that lighter valve components and better wear characteristics could also obviate the need for checking clearance after initial build/rebuild.
Jim

[abscate]

Thanks jimmy! Hope you are well

I’ve got a the rare 2000 head with the adjusting ports in stock here, scavenged from Jane Bond



The break from hydraulic to mechanical lifters was mid 1999. I think all four of my 99s are hydraulic. Exact engine number is in the “ Bastards” thread

[jimmy57]

My post might be confusing in the "running upgrade" part. The engine had those updates in the middle of its life, not a running change during 2000 model year.