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

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