Right. Ok. Got it.   :)

I"ll try the old "brake pedal down, accelerator down, clutch half way
up" trick and see if the sound gets louder. It's a subtle noise. I too
thought "rod bearing". Had van at Petersons in Pt. Angeles. WA. Of
course it didn't make the sound. His description of a rod bearing
going south was similar to yours.

It's running fine. Maybe I'll put in 15w40 next change when I get home.

Thanks for the help!

Neil in Langlois OR

On 11/1/10, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> What I'm saying is that both Golfs spun  fine with 15W40 oil at -20 degrees
> C.
>
> Main bearings don't 'clack',  they pound in a really low-frequency way.  It
> almost sounds like you're describing a bad rod bearing...can you induce it
> by unloading the rod?
>
> Jake
>
> On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 2:58 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Right on Jake. I should look into the larger capacity filter. Thanks.
>>
>> Am just south of Lincoln City OR. All good (except weather) but have
>> to wonder if the subtle intermittent low pitched clack is a main
>> bearing or related due to using 10w/30. This only happens after a hard
>> run up long hills, hotter weather.
>>
>> The starter wiring is fine. It spins real good with the thinner oil.
>> Only spun slower when dead cold w/15w40.
>>
>> NEil.
>>
>> On 10/31/10, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Hey Neil, maybe you should check your starter wiring.  I used to run
>> 15W40
>> > in the 1987 (486,000 km!) and then the 1990 Golf all year round here
>> > with
>> no
>> > problems.
>> >
>> > I used to use the Bosch filters, then the Mann - always in the diesel
>> size
>> > for the extra capacity.
>> >
>> > Jake
>> >
>> > On Sun, Oct 31, 2010 at 2:04 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Don. FWIW, I'm using a Mahle or Mann... think it's Mann, and 10/30.
>> >> Was using 15/40 but too thick it seems. Especially in colder months.
>> >> (cranking engine cold)
>> >>
>> >> Dennis Haynes has written lots about oil and filters.    :)
>> >>
>> >> Neil.
>> >>
>> >> On 10/31/10, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> >   I see the Mahle oil filter is what everyone says to use, but I have
>> >> been
>> >> > using Fram or whatever I can get easily.  I have always changed my
>> >> > oil
>> >> more
>> >> > frequently than most.  Until I swapped motors, only if my motor sat
>> for
>> >> > a
>> >> > few days would my lifters click on start up....now they seem to click
>> >> every
>> >> > time for perhaps 10 seconds or so...not so good, I imagine.  Is the
>> >> > Mahle
>> >> > filter supposed to help with this...some kinda drain-back valve in it
>> or
>> >> > something?
>> >> >
>> >> >   For complete disclosure...I have an inline VW motor, gas.  Mounted
>> as
>> >> > a
>> >> > diesel at 50degrees.  I kept the same head, unchanged and undisturbed
>> >> when I
>> >> > recently changed over to an ABA block, which also has the newer style
>> >> > oil/water interchange filter mounting.  Dunno if that changes
>> anything.
>> >> >
>> >> >   Don Hanson
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>> >>
>> >> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Jake
>> >
>> > 1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van'
>> > 1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie'
>> >
>> > Crescent Beach, BC
>> >
>> > www.thebassspa.com
>> > www.crescentbeachguitar.com
>> > http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>>
>> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>>
>>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
>
> 1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van'
> 1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie'
>
> Crescent Beach, BC
>
> www.thebassspa.com
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>

--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines