Before I would start replacing parts, I would add a can of Marvels Top
Overhaul to the oil and run it for a couple of hundred miles, then change
oil. When I change the oil I would switch to a 20W50 oil and install a Mahle
oil filter, the latter being available from numerous list vendors.  This
nearly always works.

Good luck,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver.

Dennis Haynes wrote:

> Sounds like a lifter that bleed down and is resisting pumping up.
> Probably a sticky ball valve. Allow engine to idle and warm up. Then
> drive van at various speeds until it clears up. After the noise stops,
> avoid short cycling the engine, (starting for short periods of time such
> as moving it in driveway) and you should be okay. If it continues,
> locate the bad lifter and replace the single lifter using a 2-piece push
> rod tube.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Matthew Libby
> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 5:44 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Guess That Sound!!!!!!!
>
> Somy 2.1 is making a tapping sound.  My local mechanic friend says it
> sounds like a valve.  What does this indicate?, what can I do about it?
> Otherwise van runs fine, burns no oil, good power, stumbles a little bit
> at higher rpms with no load.  Any ideas?
>
> Matt
>
> 89 GL Westy