My engine recently developed a problem I can not fix. It is a 85 Vanagon with a 1.9 WBX engine with 140k miles. There was work done to the cylinder head gasket about 10 years ago. It runs very well still. I made a 200 miles trip yesterday and everything appeared OK except this problem.

Every time I got off a freeway and came to a red light the oil light would either blink or turn on steadily. Continue to drive a few blocks the symptom would go away. A few times one or more of hydraulic lifters would collapse and make clapping noise. They would recover if continued driving for a a minute. Temp gauge showed normal. There was no coolant leak or anything. It ran absolutely no problem if drove back on to freeway. In fact it ran very well with plenty of power yesterday during the 200 mile trip.

Is it developing a serious problem now? I am running 10w40 oil. But changing to 20w50 made no difference. I have had two oil filter changes already. No change. I am not ready to give up this engine at only 140k miles. I don't think it is an oil pressure sensor issue. At one time I was in a stop and go situation for a while the oil light came on. So it does not have to be driven on the freeway to have the problem.

This engine has been very reliable with no problems for the past 10 years. I don't drive it much but do occasionally took it to trips of a couple of hundred miles. Am I dealing with an engine that is ready to quit? Thanks for any suggestions.