I find that a small amount of Marvel Mystery Oil will cause the noise to go away
and to stay away for a good while. About a half pint, whenever I have lifter
noise.

Jim

MDC Vanagon wrote:

> Heya-
>
> I was thinking about this today, and I never have come up with a good
> conclusion as to what it may have been, and I never have seen anyone else
> write about it.
>
> When I was driving my '86 Vanagon, I remember that some times there would be
> a very harsh metallic knocking sound when the engine would start. At first I
> thought that it may be low on oil and then would shut down the engine
> immediately, check the oil- everything fine. sometimes it would simply go
> away, sometimes it would come on and stay on until the engine was completely
> warmed up (sitting in the driveway with no stress on it other than idle.)
>
> This would happen so rarely, that I wasn't concerned about it- once every
> two- three months. sometimes with fresh oil, sometimes with medium and
> sometimes near oil change time.
>
> any ideas what that problem may have been? any ideas on how I would have
> fixed it?
>
> just curious...
>
> thanks!
>
> Myles

--
Jim and Lois Henry
Durham, NC

www.jchgis.com   (Jim)  dull work stuff
www.foxcarving.com (Lois) really neat stuff

84 GSL-SE
85 GSL-SE (parts car)
84 Vanagon Westfalia camper
95 Oldsmobile Aurora
93 Geo Prism
87 RX7 na

jch@jchgis.com
lkhenry@vnet.net