rocker arms

I have a 1996 Mits. Eclipse 2.0L DOHC and have a seemingly compelling problem... I was recently on the interstate and the car died, I was sure it was because of an oil leak that I had found around the seal to the valve cover because my oil pressure was significantly low. However what I did not know until I towed it home and took the cover off, was that 8 of my 16 rocker arms had been thrown off. I was blown away by this but more so by the fact that I could simply set some of the rocker arms (where the hump was not facing down on the camshaft) back into place, they were not being pushed up against the shaft. What is going on? the best I can assume is that I need new hydraulic lifters??? Somebody help!

I took my valve cover off to paint it and noticed the same thing. I didnt think anything of it at the time. I would also like to know if this is a bad thing.


Jeff

Is your timing belt intact? It sounds like your timing belt broke and the valves made contact with the pistons. With automatic transmission, the engine will usually die once the tbelt breaks. With manual transmissions, the engine will keep rotating (due to the solid link with the transmission) causing the pistons to repeatedly beat up on the valve train (which often ends with the rockers falling out of position). With a manual gearbox, the WORST place your belt can break is while driving on the freeway. This is a common result when a 4G63 timing belt breaks.

Joel, CA