Thanks Jason....you are confirming everything I think. hydro valves not an
issue.

Mechanic put an oil pressure guage on the motor yesterday morning when it
was cold. Apparantly the  needle went off the guage. 100lb/in+ Conclusion:
high oil pressure forcing the lifters to hold the valves open, giving no
compression. ( Scott's initial suggestion!) Mechanics suggested cause:
additive he'd put in the oil to ensure good lubrication when engine was
first started up.  He's drained & flushed oil, replaced.  Motor running as
of yesterday evening. I heard and saw it. Quiet and smooth. OK oil pressure.

Now, putting my stick on the ice and having a good look around......

1)  oil pressure relief valve could be sticking when the motor is cold.

2) too high oil pressure may compromise the oil seals- flywheel and at the
timing belt end- anywhere else? Symptoms of this- other than oil dripping
out of the bellhousing/timing belt cover ?

3) is there anything else I should be looking for ?

Thanks all......

Bill M

On 4/15/08, Jason Ewing <uberhare@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I used an 86 1.6TD with hydro lifters in my 82 diesel van.  Never any
> problems with them.  Sounds like the replacement engine has issues.
>
> Jay
>
>
> On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 4:04 PM, Jake de Villiers <
> crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Bill, if your 'mechanic' thinks that leaking lifters will cause low
> > compression, he has a serious misunderstanding of engine internals and
> > should be replaced!
> >
> > Where did the donor engine come from?  Was it seen to be running well
> and
> > show good compression then?
> >
> > On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 12:30 PM, Bill MacLachlan <billmacla@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Thanks for the comments Scott....good thorough reply.
> > > I understand that if  compression is lost because a valve is open,
> > >
> > >   - it's excess oil pressure that's opening the valve, not the angle
> of
> > >   the lifter.
> > >   - Check the oil pressure and the pressure relief valve
> > >
> > >  Correct?
> > >
> > > Bill
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 4/14/08, Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > He only time hydraulic lifters with an oil or hydraulic problem
> could
> > > ever
> > > > keep an engine from starting is if they get held 'too open' by
> > excessive
> > > > oil
> > > > pressure.  I've seen it and read about it in various makes of cars.
> > > >
> > > > I'm pretty sure that if they don't get any oil pressure, the valves
> > will
> > > > still be held open enough to make the engine start and run, but with
> > > very
> > > > noisy valves.
> > > >
> > > > Waterboxer and all inline 4 VW hyd. Lifters are not related in any
> > way.
> > > > Nothing to do with each other except the principle under which they
> > > > operate.
> > > >
> > > > Hyd. Lifters do not start in VW diesel engines until 86, maybe a
> year
> > > > earlier in Audi - or something close to this.
> > > > 82 diesel vanagon most definitely never had hyd. Lifters.
> > > >
> > > > I wondered/was concerned about diesel hyd. lifters at 50 degrees
> when
> > I
> > > > did
> > > > my first TD engine conversion, but it's not a problem, and
> I've  have
> > > run
> > > > many many thousands of miles with vw diesel inline 4 hyd. Lifters at
> > 50
> > > > degrees.
> > > >
> > > > For your situation here, it's  not hard to check the compression,
> > > > Or observe the valves being opened and closed with the vale cover
> off.
> > > >
> > > > And if you do think something is going on with the oil and/or air
> > > getting
> > > > into the hyd. Lifters from the oil pump ........you check the oil
> > > > pressure,
> > > > ( to make sure it's not excessive, like from stuck pressure relief
> > valve
> > > )
> > > > and for air in the oil from the oil pump ( which I've never heard of
> > on
> > > a
> > > > VW
> > > > ) .....if that's going on, then you think about the oil pump itself,
> > but
> > > > it's extremely unlikely in a VW diesel as far as I know.
> > > >
> > > > Scott
> > > > www.turbovans.com
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > Behalf
> > > Of
> > > > Bill MacLachlan
> > > > Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 11:51 AM
> > > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > > Subject: 52 degree Inline 4 hydraulic lifters leaking down
> > > >
> > > > Hi all...
> > > > I have an 82 diesel converted to inline 4  with CIS injection about
> > ten
> > > > years ago- just before I bought the vehicle.
> > > > I've just had a local VW shop install a replacement 1800cc inline
> >  motor
> > > > in
> > > > my van.... I believe they are a good well experienced shop.
> > > >
> > > > They are having an issue with the replacement motor. If the motor is
> > > left
> > > > for a few hours, apparantly there is no compression, it won't start
> > and
> > > > the
> > > > mechanic is thinking this is the hydraulic lifters leaking.
> > > > My old motor had hydraulic lifters ( well, at least that's what the
> > > > sticker
> > > > on the valve cover said and I have no reason to believe otherwise)
> and
> > I
> > > > never had an issue with it.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Here are some questions:
> > > >
> > > > Has anyone else out there had experience with hydraulic lifters in
> I4
> > > > setups-  when tilted at 52 degrees?
> > > > Are the lifters in a waterboxer  the same as the ones used in an
> > inline4
> > > ?
> > > > Did the 82 vanagon deisel motor use hydraulic lifters? If so were
> they
> > > the
> > > > same as the ones used in more upright deisel motors?
> > > >
> > > > Is  there anything  I should suggest to the mechanic that would help
> > him
> > > > get
> > > > this thing fixed?
> > > >
> > > > btw current oil filter is a Mann - the black one - and I think they
> > have
> > > > 10-40 oil in the motor.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks all
> > > >
> > > > Bill M
> > > > 82 I4 GL
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > > > Checked by AVG.
> > > > Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.13/1375 - Release Date:
> > > > 4/12/2008
> > > > 11:32 AM
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Jake
> > 1984 Vanagon GL
> > 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> > Crescent Beach, BC
> > www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> > http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
> >
>