Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:50:35 -0800
Reply-To: BRENT CHRISTENSEN <bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: BRENT CHRISTENSEN <bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM>
Subject: Re: lifter noise
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
First of all, make sure you are using the right oil filter (Mahle or Mann
with anti-drain back valve).
That being said, I don't know about Vanagons, but this sounds like classic
"sticky lifter" syndrome caused by carbon/dirt/sludge that builds up in the
lifter valving.
The cheapest fix for this that I know of (and have used on older American
cars) is to drain the oil out of the engine and refill it with a blend of
fresh oil and ATF (believe it or not). The ATF is very high in detergents
and tends to help break up the sludge. You run it like this for a few hours
(I don't recommend sustained freeway driving, as the lubricating properties
of ATF are not the same as motor oil!). Just let it sit and idle for a
while until it gets good and hot. Then drain and repeat this process.
I have run about a 60% success rate using this method on the following cars
(as best as I can remember):
Corvairs (3)
'66 Plymouth Fury Wagon
Ford 2.3L Pinto
Jeep V-6
A couple of misc. Oldsmobiles and Buicks, and I think a Nash Metropolitan...
The other alternative is obviously to replace all the lifters. Not
expensive (usually) but a major PITA, since it involves about the same
amount of work as rebuilding the engine entirely.
Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Mark Rissman
> Sent: Monday, March 27, 2000 9:19 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: lifter noise
>
>
> I think I have a similar problem on my 83.5 water cooled. If
> I start the
> motor up without driving (moving in driveway), I get a noisy
> lifter. The
> only way I fix it is by taking it out on the freeway for 10 minutes.
>
> - Mark Rissman
> 83.5 Westy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Animal [mailto:terrapin@HALIFAX.COM]
> Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 9:15 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: lifter noise
>
>
> Due the purchase of a 78 scirocco to serve as my daily driver, I
> haven't been driving my 80 westy for about three weeks.
> I went out to fire it up the other day, one of my lifters
> wouldn't pump up.
> I let it run for awhile, but it still raised all manner of noise.
> I realize this has probably been covered somewhere in the past, but
> any quick suggestions on what I can do to get that puppy to pump back
> up would be greatly appreciated.
> On another front, while I have your attention, the ignition switch
> has gone out on my 85 vanagon and I can't for the life of me figure
> out how to get that fool thing out.
> For the moment it's just sitting, the key turns, but none of the
> magic noises happen. I think its more of the actual tumblers worn out
> than anything else, cause there are no clicks that you would normally
> run into when turning the key.
> Once again, suggestions appreciated.
> And finally, unrelated to the vanagon, but volkswagon related
> nonetheless, anyone know where you can get speedometers repaired.
> The one on the scirocco, the speed works, but the odometer is busted.
> I took it out and the main gear on the shaft, where the numbers are,
> won't spin.
> The gear that you can remove from the shaft, is tight and spins the
> shaft, but that first gear just spins.
> I haven't been able to a drop of glue on it to see if that would lock
> it down, and I haven't had any luck searching boneyards for a used
> one.
> It wouldn't really matter except at work I'm reimbursed for mileage
> and if the numbers don't spin, I don't get paid.
> Also the gas gauge doesn't work so every 24 hours, I fill up the car.
> I'm located in southside Virginia.
> Help.
> Onward thru the fog
> David Conner
> terrapin@halifax.com
>
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