Well I think I used the wrong word. "Rattle" is
incorrect.

Though it doesn't always happen, it's actually more
like a dull thudding or clunking sound.
Unfourtunately, I'm sure it's not a lifter or rod
bearing sound. I know those sounds.

Will be running thicker oil when oil changed.

Thanks for info.

Neil.

--- Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET> wrote:

> Engine bearings do not rattle. Hey may bang or clunk
> but no rattle. Most
> likely, you are hearing a lifter that is bleeding
> down and clacking
> until it fills. 10w-30 is way to light for the air
> cooled or water boxer
> engine for summer operation. The leaky exhaust sound
> on a cold engine
> may be a leaky exhaust but on the air cooled engine
> usually indicates
> loose heads and failed upper gaskets.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List
> [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of neil
> Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 1:21 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Engine bearing rattle at warm restart
>
> Hi all.
>
> An engine bearing noise question. (yes did search
> archives for this one  :) I'll try to be brief  ;)
>
> Warm restart; sometimes bearing rattle (main?) until
> oil light goes out. Oil light flickers 1 or 2
> seconds
> but goes out/stays off. I let it idle til sound goes
> away before revving/putting load on engine. Cold
> start
> there are different sounds, (almost like a leaky
> exhaust gasket) but no bearing noises that I can
> hear.
> Oil light same. Experience tells me the "warm" sound
> is a warning of things to come.
>
> So here's my question:
>
> How long can this "warm" sound go on before main or
> rod (think sound is main) bearing fails? I
> understand
> it's hard, nay almost impossible, to answer this
> online, but any real life experiences with this
> symptom, and how long others had this go on before
> engine teardown/rebuild, would be helpful.
>
> Engine details:
>
> 2 litre AC engine/4 spd. in 81 Westy. Pretty sure PO
> put in 10W/30W oil. (will change soon) Sounds/runs
> well. On 10 day trip used little if any oil.
> Compression test healthy/even. Heads were replaced
> by
> PO, engine had some kind of "rebuild" before heads
> replaced. No idea how many km's on these parts as
> odometer has intermittent operation, don't know what
> was replaced, or machined for "rebuild". Quite
> likely
> only some internal parts replaced due to a cracked
> head, and not a total rebuild. Pretty sure about
> that
> but can research PO's invoices more thouroughly if
> need be....
>
>
>
> Neil Nicholson.
> 1981 air cooled Westfalia.
> Cheap-o web site:
>
>
http://www.members.shaw.ca/tubanick/welcomewesty.html
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
> protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>

Neil Nicholson.
1981 air cooled Westfalia.
Cheap-o web site:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/tubanick/welcomewesty.html

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com