Date:         Tue, 6 Mar 2012 21:34:12 -0800
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: The New Vanagon Bentley Manual is Awesome!
Comments: To: mcneely4@COX.NET
In-Reply-To:  <20120306124752.OZTEV.823470.imail@eastrmwml301>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

What you are experiencing is normal ...if not driven very much ..
the lifters bleed off,
  and it takes some runing to get them pumped up again.

I would not let it idle until it stops though.
I'd let it idle a minute , then drive gently.
I'd also add a cleaner additive like Marvel Mystery Oil ..
or CD-2...another hyd lifter cleaning addtive.

Ken is talking about them being adjusted on the loose side..
even when the lifters are full of oil.

short term lifter clatter until they fill up is fairly normal.

there is also discussion going on about if 'two turns' is right ..
or 'half a turn in' after rocker arm screw touches valve stem ..
or even zero turns in after contact.
I'm a half turn guy myself.
It's important that the oil in the lifters be clean ..and that a cleaner
additive is used once in a while.
scott

On 3/6/2012 9:47 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
>> At 09:50 AM 3/6/2012, Ken Wilford wrote:
>>> Here is a typical call, "My van idles funny."  I ask, "Did this start
>>> after you had some head work done?"  Customer thinks I am clairvoyant.
>>> I tell them to adjust the valves to zero lash and see if this helps.
>>> They email me a few days later saying the problem is gone and the van is
>>> running better than ever.  If you have a little clacking adjust it to
>>> half a turn preload and you should be good to go.
> This confuses me a bit.  My '91 waterboxer has "a little clacking" on startup, especially if it has sat for a couple of weeks (I try to get it out and drive it a bit at least that often to keep up with what might go wrong, and keep it running).  It is my understanding that that is not a problem, since the lifters fill and the noise stops.  I let it idle until that happens.
>
> Are you saying that that indicates the valves are out of adjustment?  It runs very well, and gets around 20 mpg at highway running (usually 60 mph).
>
> mcneely
>