John,

I'm not familiar with the Aircooled vanagons, but it sounds to me like
you have the infamous "Vanagon Clattering Valve Lifter Syndrome.".

On the water cooled models with the 1.9L and 2.1 L, the clattering issue
is addressed by using a 20W50ST oil and a Mahle/Mann oil filter
specifically. Not shure that would work but certainly investigating it
would be a worthwhile endeavor. Those are hydraulic lifters in the 81,
so it is very likely subject to the same leakdown problems, which in the
WBX engines is addressed as above.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Anonymous Digest wrote:

>Just to pass along something interesting, mine is an 81 air cooled with
>lots of miles on it. Often when it sits more than a few days, it is one
>noisy bugger when I start it up, summer or winter, regardless of the oil
>of choice. Lifters or whatever are really loud.
>
>I am used to it, and what I have noticed is that it has sat for about six
>weeks outside, on a very slight incline in the driveway, nose up. Not a
>lot of hill, but its enough of an incline to make the basketball games
>interesting.....
>
>Anyway, when I would start it up after sitting on this small tilt, no
>excessive noise, clatter, or banging. Did it about three or four times in
>six weeks. Nothing. Sounded just perfect.
>
>I put it in the garage a few days ago for the CV joint adventure, and when
>I started it up today, the racket was back, and the clatter was pretty
>intense for about fifteen minutes.....
>
>The oil level is fine, so it almost looks like, in my case, sitting on a
>slight incline appears to nearly eliminate the "lifter syndrome" or
>clattering, or whatever one wishes to call it.
>
>Nothing spectacular, but I guess maybe I should get a pair of ramps and
>park it nose up when its in the garage. Can't really leave it out on the
>hill, as last year someone shot out the back window....
>
>Anyway, just something to say that is not related to the CV joints.
><shrug>
>
>John
>
>
>
>