Date:         Sun, 9 Sep 2012 08:35:58 -0700
Reply-To:     Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Low compression, more test results
In-Reply-To:  <504BE2CF.2000100@turbovans.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

The lash caps were added, so I was told (and from what I remember)
because there was not sufficient turn in the valve adjuster.  I know
next to nothing about adjusting valves, so I am also curious to know
if this sounds like a reasonable thing to do.  It apparently brought
compression in one cylinder back from 90 to 130 or something like
that.

Scott: would you add these additives after an oil change, or just
before an oil change?  I was considering adding a bottle of MMO or ATF
and then driving 100 miles or so before changing the oil.  Is it ok to
run the engine with that kind of additive all the time (and if so, how
much)?  Or is the general schedule something like give it a big dose
if it has not been done in a while/ever, change oil, then give it a
small dose.  A bit like a trip to the dentist for the first time in 10
years and then starting to brush your teeth every day...   I've also
been told to give it a dose of Seafoam - but it sounds like it's all
the same type of thing, detergents that clean out the crust.

Tom



On Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 5:29 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans
<scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> It's good to add a hydrualic lifter additive to the oil on old
> waterboxer engines.
> It's not just from sitting ..
> it's from being goo-ed up over time.
> I always put in some treatment or cleaner..
> CD-2 , marvel mystery oil etc.
>
> last caps aren't usually needed in my experience, fwiw.
>
>
>
> On 9/8/2012 5:05 PM, Larry Alofs wrote:
>>
>> " and adding lash caps."
>>
>> Can someone explain about lash caps?
>>
>> Larry A.
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 10:56 AM, Tom Carchrae <tom@carchrae.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Stuart,
>>>
>>> My van had low compression on one cylinder when I bought it earlier
>>> this year.  I took it to a mechanic (here in Vancouver) and he was
>>> able to restore the compression on my engine by adjusting the valves
>>> and adding lash caps.  This included adjusting one to 0 lash.
>>>
>>> I'm not convinced my engine is well just yet.  I've had a series of
>>> coolant issues, possible minor head gasket leak, but not confirmed.
>>> Anyway, van runs quite well, although certainly not fast, it seems to
>>> have a reasonable amount of power.  I did get overtaken by another
>>> vanagon going up a very steep mountain hill; after that I started to
>>> get engine envy/doubt again. :)
>>>
>>> The worst scare so far has been starting it after it sitting for a few
>>> weeks.  Oh the horrid tapping!  A quick Google said lifters are prone
>>> to draining if left sit, so I crossed my fingers and drove it for a
>>> while and now it sounds fine again.
>>>
>>> Tom
>>>
>>> On Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 7:52 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Well, for those who have been following by email thread about making the
>>>> mistake of checking compression on my 140k mile original engine
>>>> (90-150-100-130) I’ve done some more tests.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 1.       Valves were zero lash or 1 turn in, no valve noise, timing dead
>>>> on
>>>>
>>>> 2.       Manifold vacuum is 12” Hg with ±1” tick (should be steady
>>>> 17-21)
>>>>
>>>> 3.       No detectable vacuum leaks (propane test), all vacuum hoses
>>>> new.
>>>>
>>>> 4.       22% leak down on #1, could hear leakage all three places, but
>>>> exhaust and intake were louder than the dipstick, with the exhaust being
>>>> the
>>>> worst.  (Should have used the decibel meter on my iPhone, but I didn’t
>>>> want
>>>> to get it greasy ;-) ).  Didn’t bother testing the others after this
>>>> result.
>>>>
>>>> 5.       Does not burn oil (in 1000 miles at least)  Plugs that came in
>>>> it
>>>> were clean.
>>>>
>>>> 6.       PO installed reman AFM recently
>>>>
>>>> 7.       Idles smooth (as any of them anyway), runs well, no coolant
>>>> leaks,
>>>> but has poor acceleration and poor gas mileage (~15 mpg highway).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Looks like it’s got some leaking valves. No surprise this rig is worn
>>>> out, I
>>>> assumed it was, but I could drive it home at least.  I hope I can get a
>>>> few
>>>> thousand more miles out of it so I can save some dough for a conversion!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but never for long.  I waited until after
>>>> my
>>>> planned summer trips to check the engine condition, so I was blissfully
>>>> ignorant on purpose.  I’m still planning a couple of fall trips nearby
>>>> though.  What the hell, I’ve got AAA premier.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Stuart
>>>>
>>>> ’85 Westy, purchased in May