Chad, I had an '85 GL and it did the same thing. After sitting for a few days one lifter would loose it's prime and go flat. On startup, it would clatter like the very devil. Was always a little scary until I fully understood what was happening. ALL if the van engines that are 1.9 or 2.1 L are subject to this flat lifter syndrome. They are very twitchy. Even my 88 GL with a relatively new engine does it once in a while.It always pumps up in a bit and all is well.One thing, you must have a proper oil filter or you will be plagued with this problem and the oil pressure light will be coming on. I run Mahle filters exclusively. It has the right spring pressure setting in the filter. Nothing else works as well for me.

Change the oil, put in a Mahle filter (Get from Ken or Ron) and go for it. Most likely the problem will clear up.

Good luck.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Chad wrote:

I have recently acquired a 1985 Vanagon GL. After having replaced a large list of parts I have one last thing (I hope) that I'm concerned about. While running there is knocking noise in the engine. I was told that it may be a problem with one of the lifters. If this is the case (which I don't know for sure) how big of a job is it to replace the lifter at fault???The van has not been running in 3 months due to a busted clutch. Once I got that replaced and back together I noticed a crack in the engine coolant overflow bottle. So I'm not able to run the engine for too long until the overflow bottle is replaced (tomorrow). Any ideas that the lifter is possibly screwed??? Are there some other things I should do once I get the leak fixed and engine going??? Is this common with the Vanagons???thanks,Chad