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Date:         Fri, 27 Aug 1999 23:39:02 -0700
Reply-To:     Hans Brouwer <hbrouwer@ISTAR.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Hans Brouwer <hbrouwer@ISTAR.CA>
Subject:      Re: I hear ya tappin
Comments: To: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Comments: cc: Jim Cain <jcain@MINDSPRING.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi,

The day after our holidays, one of the lifters start tapping very loudly. So loudly that the mechanics at my brothers' garage feared the worst. I showed them Mr. Bulley's sugestion (see below). Some laughed but others said that's what they did to some older Chevy engines as well.

Before I followed the instructions we took the head covers of and cranked the engine one turn at a time (special push button gismo hooked up directly to the starter? that does not actually start the engine). We could clearly see which lifter was not working properly. We kept cranking it for a few turns and it seems that the lifter started the work better. At this point, we briefly started the engine without the head covers on and the tapping sound was gone. The mechanics think that by cranking the engine a turn at a time primed the lifter/cylinder.

We put the head covers back on and I followed the instructions below (same ratio's) and the engine has never sounded better. I wil do a compression test next week.

I was using Castrol 5W50 synthetic oil which might have lead to this problem (mechanics do not like it since it is to runny). Perhaps I should stay with 20W50. Any suggestions on this?

By the way when we took the head covers of there was very little oil in them is this normal?

Thank you,

Hans Brouwer Cumberland, Ontario hbrouwer@istar.ca 86 Westfalia

> Sticky lifter...no big deal. Here is a repost of a cure I posted last week: > > Warm up motor by driving. > Drain engine oil. Change filter to any brand. > Refill with 1/2 & 1/2 engine oil and Automatic Transmission fluid, any > brand. > Start motor, BUT DO NOT DRIVE THE VAN!!!! > Allow the motor to idle, and rev it gently every once in a while (like to > 2,000 rpm) for about 20 minutes. > Drain Oil. Change filter to MANN or VW brand filter (NO Fram, Autocrap, AC > Smelco, etc.) > Refill with Castrol 20w50, and about 8-16 oz of Marvel Mystery Oil. > In 1,000 to 1,500 miles change your oil again and use a MANN or VW filter. > Kiss your ticking lifter goodbye. > > The ATF is HIGHLY detergent, and will clean out the lifter. The Marvel > Mystery oil will continue the process. The good filter will prevent the oil > from draining out of the lifters overnight. > > After all of that is done, run a compression check to verify that you > don't have any bum valves. You prolly don't. > > Cheers. > > G. Matthew Bulley > Director > Bulley-Hewlett & Associates > www.bulley-hewlett.com > Cary, NC USA > 888.468.4880 tollfree >


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