Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2021 21:52:59 -0400
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Van update and spring perches
In-Reply-To: <28EDD9E7-B345-4407-A63E-813181BEB5A1@gmail.com>
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Somewhere in the archives is a great post about this. I think Mark Drillock. The person had trouble when storing a van in Europe and had to repair the engine himself in the storage garage. Once done he started it up and it had terrible lifter clatter. He was sure it would sort itself out but the looks on the peoples faces around him said they felt otherwise. He clattered his way out and sure enough all was well after driving a bit.
I still smile remembering that story.
I try never to start my van for short trips but even with that I’ve had some loud trips recently. The other day a man at a ice cream stand asked me what was wrong with my van. I said it would stop soon. He said I think you need a new engine, how many miles on it? I said about 2,000. He said you better bring it back. I was not amused.
A few miles later, after climbing a very steep long hill easily at over 50 miles a hour, it was quiet and sounded great.
Lazy lifters are something I’ll need to continue to get used to.
It didn’t happen for over 3 months after van was returned. And, has not happened in the last 3 times I started it. Like most water boxers. The more we use the van and the less it sits the happier it is.
Luckily it is running so nicely and handles so well it is easy to get My main driver to take it just about any time.
But, it is a water boxer!
And, just as a side note, my old 1.9 is now powering a 78 Bay camper. The owner installer told me other than the day it first started he has had no lifter chatter. Engine has about 147,000 miles and main difference is he drives that van hard. And the darn engine seems happier then ever with that.
But, it will also chatter again one day!
Eric
> On Aug 8, 2021, at 8:24 PM, Richard Smith (Smirby) <smirby@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> I have the same experience; a short run (moving in the yard) seems to lead to clatter.
>
> Once it was so bad I almost pulled the plug on a major trip. Just driving 6 km resulted in a horrible racket.
>
> In retrospect, I had moved the van to pack it, the morning before. A short spin on the highway and it was back to normal, and I drove it to Alberta and back without incident.
>
> Richard Smith
> smith@sfu.ca
>
>> On Aug 8, 2021, at 5:18 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>
>> Yup Eric, in the next week or so we go camping
>>
>> Ab
>>
>>> On Aug 8, 2021, at 12:21 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>
