Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 16:36:28 +1000
Reply-To: Stephen Overmyer <S.OVERMYER@UWS.EDU.AU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Overmyer <S.OVERMYER@UWS.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Lifter Noise
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I have found over the years, the best way I have avoided getting that
annoying clacking sound of the lifters was to never
start/run the van for short periods. Besides it's the worst for you
vehicle and pollution.
After quite some time attempting to determine exactly what conditions
led to the situations that I experienced the syndrome I related it back
to two events...
One was after that occasional short start to drive the van out of the
garage to give myself more room to work on something or do something on,
or perhaps wash the van.
The other was a short drive of only 2kms to go to band rehearsals at
another member's studio after we switched from rehearsal space some 20
minutes drive away.
I had to drive, despite my dislike of short drives for environmental
reasons, since I had two keyboards, an amp and a Santur to take with me.
The van never warmed up and then several hours later, late at night I
had to drive back again.
The lifters inevitably clacked the following day after either of these
two events.
Wasn't long before I just pushed the van out of or in again from the
garage without starting....situation 1 eliminated.
I don't play in that particular band anymore = no short hop to
rehearsals.....situation 2 now eliminated.
Never had a lifter problem since....and have always just ran dino
20W50...
I echo all of John's comments below should anyone have persistent
problems however avoiding the above situations has been
100% successful...at least in my case :)
Cheers,
Steve O
NSW Australia
'92 Transporter WBX Kombi
'00 Transporter Double Cab
'03 Transporter Double Cab (work truck)
'78 Landrover Series 3 Soft top (ex-Aust Army)
From: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
VANAGON LIFTER SYNDROME!!!!
This has been discussed a zillion times and is all in the archives.
However, for newbies and anybody else that wants a refresher.......
The lifter noise is scarey, aggravating, frustrating, but can be avoided
mostly.
1) Drain a quart of oil - add a quart of Marvels Mystery Oil and run it
a couple of hundred miles.
2) Change oil to a Dino 20W50 or a Synthetic equivilent.... I use 15W50
Mobil 1 Synthetic. I recommend it, though others disagree.
3) Install a Mann or Mahle oil filter, and ONLY a Mann or Mahle. Buy
them in a fourpak from the list vendors for around twenty bucks - Order
copper crush gaskets for the drain plug when you order the filters.
Install new plug gasket every time you change the oil.
The MMO is a very fine cleaning oil, and cleans up varnish and other
crud that may make a lifter sticky inside. Give it a run to clean
things up before changing the oil. The lifters tend to leak down becasue
of the design of the oil system. By using a filter with a strong
internal relief valve spring, the pressure holds the oil in the engine
oil galleries and the lifters do not lose their prime and begin
rattling. on startup. The system seems to manage a bit better on the
heavier oil, and it is one recommended by VW. Experiece garnerd by many
on this list suupport the notion that the 20W50 seems to give the best
general performance. Other grades can be used under a varity conditions
but this seems to be the best over all. Regularly scheduled oil changes
will also healp against valve clatter. The WBX is particularly snsitive
to this issue.