Date:         Sat, 11 Apr 2015 11:33:37 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Post winter storage sticky valve noise
Comments: To: Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <68D53E4F-13BD-4C46-9499-590F74A7D76F@eoni.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

To paraphrase Shakespeare "The slings and arrows of outrage . . ." will certainly follow any discussion of MMO.

I've used it many times in both Vanagons and my other old cars. No problems with it, but no real improvements I can point to either.  I still eventually had sticky lifers again. 

Follow the directions on the can if you want to try it. It's just a light oil with solvent properties.  It thins out the oil, so just run it for a short time in easy driving conditions. 

Stuck lifters are a fact of life in old WBX engines.  A combination of low oil pressure, worn lifter guides, and clogged lifter check valves.  They pump up eventually as long as the lifter internals aren't broken.

It's best to hit the open highway (if you can find one) and keep the lifter "floating" to minimize any potential cam wear.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Jim Arnott
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2015 10:32 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Post winter storage sticky valve noise

The obligatory mention of Marvel Mystery Oil. Search the archives for “MMO” to find the decade long discussion.

Jim


> On Apr 11, 2015 11:52 AM, "Richard Smith" <richard_smith@gnwc.ca> wrote:
> 
>> Mine developed this noise, too, after a long storage the winter before
>> last. It would *sometimes* go away if I got the engine warmed up
>> completely and then shut it down for 20-30 minutes. A more experienced
>> engine person than me attributed this to different metals all getting to
>> the same temperature and then cooling together.