if I had any doubt about engine clearances..
I think I'd change oil immediately , just in case  a bearing is starting to
fail.

and if I was running a thin 10W30 I would immediately switch to 15W40.

"intermittent low pitched clack "

Makes me want to run the engine for a minute with no drive to the
accessories ..
make sure it's not belt or w. pump or alternator related.

for some reason intermediate shaft bearings are on my mind..
I do occasionally find them just eaten out in diesels.

i'm a day behind on emails.
perhaps there's new info by now.
scott
turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jake de Villiers" <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 5:10 PM
Subject: Re: Oil filter question

> Try backing off the throttle at a constant speed in order to unload the
> rod
> bearings - slightly on the gas, slightly off - and listen.
>
> That will show a bad wrist pin or big end bearing.  The wrist pin is more
> metallic/high frequency, the big end bearing somewhat lower in pitch.
>
> Good luck Neil!
>
> On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 1:38 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
>
>
>
> --
> 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