In a message dated 1/16/2003 5:06:22 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

> I let my 87 Westy sit unused for a couple of months.  When I started it up I
> heard some loud valve (I assume) ticking that I expected to go away after a
> few seconds, but did not.  Later I let it idle for awhile to get up to
> "operating temperature" and it still didn't go away.
> 
> Any suggestions for the mechanically challenged before I take it to my 
> local
> Mr. Fixit?
> 

       The valve lifters have lost their oil pressure.  This is very common 
on the waterboxer engines.  Drive it and after a good run 1/2 hour or more 
the noise should be gone.  If not it may be due to sludge in the lifters or a 
bad lifters.  You can always try the Marvel Mystery Oil trick.  One bottle of 
MMO in with the engine oil and one bottle of MMO in with a full tank of gas.  
Drive till the gas tank is nearly empty, change the oil and filter and 
hopefully your problem will be solved.  I've cured many noisy valve lifters 
this way.  Do not work the engine hard during the time the MMO is in the oil 
as it dilutes the oil.

Cheers��

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15, 2003
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: <A HREF="http://www.vanagon.com/">Vanagon List</A>, <A HREF="http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/">LiMBO</A>, <A HREF="http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/">IWCCC</A> & Capital City VW Club 
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers</A> �
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli & Associates</A> or http://frankcondelli.com