How much horsepower does roller lifters add?

Roller lifters are exactly what they sound like, as there are literally little wheels attached to the ends of the lifters. The biggest benefit from this roller system is the reduced friction between the lifter and the camshaft, and this can be an easy 15-horsepower by itself.

Are roller lifters worth it?

That being said, roller lifters will offer major power advantages, along with a smoother operating engine. One reason is that roller lifters have less friction on the camshaft, which makes it easier for the cam to spin. Additionally, lobe profiles can be much more aggressive.

Is synthetic oil good for roller lifters?

While there are a great number of benefits to using synthetic oil, using it to break in a new engine isn’t one of them. However, we can say this, from our experience we’ve found that noisy hydraulic roller lifters result from using oil of the wrong viscosity.

What is the advantage of a roller cam?

The big advantage roller cams have over their flat-tappet cousins isn’t the reduced friction most people immediately think of, it’s increased tappet velocity (i.e., faster ramp rates). This increased velocity, as much as 30 percent, equates to more power.

Can I put roller lifters on a flat tappet cam?

It is possible to run hydraulic flat-tappet lifters on a solid flat-tappet cam, and hydraulic roller lifters on a mechanical roller cam. Running hydraulic lifters on a solid grind raises the rpm points at which peak power and torque occur compared to using solid lifters on the same solid cam.

Does a roller cam need assembly lube?

Roller cams do not need any special assembly lube because of the rollers. It should tell you this in the cam instructions. The most important thing is to completely clean the lifters, then soak them in oil to lube the roller bearings.

Which is better roller cam or flat tappet?

The flat-tappet cam lobe is more pointed at peak lift, while the roller cam nose tends to be rounded; this means the roller is holding the valve open at higher lift for a longer period of time, which results in a greater fuel/air charge. The lobe shape also opens the valve much faster.

Does a roller cam have to be broke in?

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! This is old school and these days you can’t even get good non-detergent engine oil.

What is a disadvantage of a roller follower?

Because of small contact area, there is excessive wear; therefore it is not frequently used. Whereas in roller follower there is rolling motion between contacting surfacing and more contact area, therefore rate of wear is greatly reduced.