RE: Valve Lifter Noise
Patti, that describes a common situation with the VW Waterboxer engines (and
a lot of others in the world).  Part of the mechanism that controls the
valves in the engine is known as an hydraulic lifter or tappet.  It uses oil
from the crankcase and is filled with oil acting like an hydraulic cushion
for the moving parts that open and close the valves.  To maintain the oil
the tappets 'pump up', fill with oil.  When the engine sits for some period
of time the oil pressure in the tappets can be lost. go down.  So when the
engine is started there a a lot a clatter (the cushion effect is lost) until
the tappets have a chance to pump themselves up again.  And it can sometimes
take a few miles of driving before the noise will go away.