Hope someone can help.
I just finished replacing the camshaft seals, and have re-installed the rocker shafts. While I had the shafts off the engine, oil from the tappets might have leaked out when I was cleaning the camshaft holder mating surfaces. Then I noticed that the service manual has a page which shows how to bleed the tappets in a glass jar.
Before I finish the job, I would like to find out if the hydraulic tappets will recharge (bleed) when the engine runs. Seems to me that running the engine should replace the oil, but I would like to be certain before completing the re-assembly.
Thanks.

 

Once they've been bled and reinstalled, they will be filled when you start the engine and the oil galley that runs through the middle of the lifter holes fills with oil and is pressurized.

 

Thanks HP11. Is it possible to determine if they need bleeding when the shafts are back on the Engine, such as if there is a gap between the rocker and valve stem?
The shafts are back on the heads, and torqued down. I don't want to take them back off, but also don't want to find out when starting the engine, then have to redo the whole job.
with oil flowing to the tappet though the rockers, wouldn't the tappet eventually fill with oil anyway?
Thanks again.

 

If some of the oil leaked out you should be fine when you reassemble it but bleeding all of the oil out of them first is just the right way to do it. Being hydraulic, when they fill with oil or 'pump up' they will fill that gap. If you don't bleed them and install them full they could actually be too tight if you have replaced any of the components. A new cam, new rockers, valves etc. can change the relationship of the valve train components and actually requre less oil to fill that gap. The check ball will only let oil in; not out......