Date:         Wed, 6 Feb 2013 10:37:56 -0800
Reply-To:     Jeff <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Noisy Valve lifters
In-Reply-To:  <02f601ce0493$c6aa8290$53ff87b0$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

I've run into this quite a few times with Vanagons.  Not sure if
foaming is the problem, or just that the oil in the crankcase gets
aerated which results in lower pressure.  Dropping the oil level fixed
the issue.

One really annoying one had the wrong dipstick in it.  Looked correct,
but when I finally compared it to dipstick from another 2.1l, I
noticed a substantial difference in the markings.  Replaced the
dipstick, sucked out 1 qt of oil, and voila... no more oil light after
freeway runs.

Cheers,

Jeff



On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 9:59 AM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
> Not enough people do, nor do they change oil until the light goes on. That’s what it’s for, right?   I’ve never had a problem with slight overfilling in the WBX, but it seems to be something VW is very concerned about.  My EVC had extensive warnings about not overfilling the VR-6 engine too.   Obviously foaming up the oil with a churning crankshaft is very, very bad, and needs to be avoided.   Modern oils have anti-foam additives now though, so I wonder what the real risk is today.
>
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> Stuart
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>
> From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans [mailto:scottdaniel@turbovans.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 2:05 PM
> To: Stuart MacMillan
> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Noisy Valve lifters
>
>
>
> Check oil level ?
> Do people do that really ?
>
> Speaking of, do you believe in the 'between the marks' as the better oil level ( waterboxer engine ) and the max line as the 'never exceed' mark   ?
>
>
>
> On 2/5/2013 1:41 PM, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>
> That’s the old school method, right off the instructions of the can, at least in those days.  It’s a light solvent oil, and will get past the rings more than motor oil (supposedly cleaning the oil sweep rings too).  I just want to be sure people check their oil every 500 mi if they do this, it usually lasted 2000 miles before it was half a quart low.
>
>
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> Stuart
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>
>
> From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans [mailto:scottdaniel@turbovans.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 12:03 PM
> To: Stuart MacMillan
> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Noisy Valve lifters
>
>
>
> That sounds like a lot of Marvel Mystery Oil to me..a whole qt.
> I don't think I ever use over 1/3 of a qt max as a treatment.
> I can't remember the last time I saw an engine use a qt of oil in 500 miles.
> I'm not driving 2,000 miles a month either though.
>
> On 2/5/2013 11:54 AM, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>
> Yep, I've owned a '78, '84 (three engines), and now an '85.  All five engines had this issue, including both a freshly rebuilt 2.0 air cooled and a 2.1 WBX engine, both with new lifters.  The '78 production shop rebuild also had piston slap, but that's another issue (crappy aftermarket pistons and cylinders, still the bane of any rebuild).
>
> It's best to drive at a decent speed until the lifters pump up, like on the freeway.  It can take my '85 20 minutes to stop clacking.  I've had some relief from using MMO in the past (a quart replacing a quart of oil at oil change, and topping off with oil every 500 miles or so as it burns off), but it could be my imagination.  I'll try it with the '85 and see what happens.  Shouldn't need to do this with a fresh rebuild though.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of John Goubeaux
> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 11:05 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Noisy Valve lifters
>
> Yes, I was not necessarily doubting anyone's explanation BUT rather since I paid good money for a rebuilt engine thought it a reasonable question to ask, especially of the folks who sell the rebuilt engines.
>
> Thanks for the input.
>
> -john
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