Jim wrote:

> The hydraulic lifters on my 90 Carat 2.1 have started
making very loud
> noises if the van sits for a few days.
>
> I noticed when I drove it VERY heavily loaded with stuff
to New York
> (from Alabama) a few weeks ago. I pulled into a rest stop
and heard the
> clacking, so I slowed it down the rest of the trip. It was
quite hot
> those two days.
>
> When I backed off on the highway speed, everything sounded
good again.
> I parked the van for a week in NYC. When the parking lot
guy brought it
> around, I heard the clacking again, which disappeared once
the car
> warmed up.
>
> That was a few weeks back. I'm usually in it every day for
something,
> but I haven't been outside the home office for a couple of
days.
> Tonight, I went to the store and the clacking was back.
Didn't drive it
> far enough to make it quit altogether, but it did subside
a bit.
>
> What to do?

Hi Jim,

What to do?  The best thing to do is stop worrying, because
all WBX Vanagons do that after standing for a few days.

My Vanagon does it, my friends' Vanagons all do it, even
when a new VEGE (top quality European engine reconditioner)
engine has just been fitted.  It's normal.

The reason for it is that VW used hydraulic valve lifters
that work best in the vertical position.  In the horizontal
position, oil gradually drains out of the lifter when
standing idle.  After a couple of days, enough had dribbled
out to cause the knock you heard.

The first time I heard it I was deeply worried.  I posted my
fears here on the Vanagon List and people (lots of them!)
told me not to worry, everything would be OK.  And it was.
Now I return the favour by telling others on the List not to
worry ... which is were you came in.

You only need worry if the noise *never* goes away.

After three weeks standing still, my Vanagon is noisy for
the first 15 minutes' driving.  After that it becomes quiet
again.

After nine months standing still it took over an hour to
become quiet, and there's still a little noise there.  On
Monday I am taking it to a Vanagon specialist to have some
work done, and that's a 2 hour drive from here.  By the time
I get there, it will be as quiet as a mouse.  Trust me!

Best regards,

Tony