Yes, the knock that the lifters make when drained disturbed me the first few times, but I learned better how they work, mostly from folks on this list and experience.  It is not a problem.  I had had little experience with vanagons, or VWs generally, when I bought this one.  I had done enough homework to know I was getting a good one, or thought I was anyway.  But I was unprepared for all the things I'd have to do to be happy with it, or just for it to be reasonably reliable, and for a while deemed it the beast from hell. Some folks on this list became impatient with my complaints.   I have spent more money on it than I like, but now I like the camper, and will live with the inordinate expense and trouble of having an old vehicle.  And I think that is mostly where the trouble lies.  My inexperience has also caused me to spend money that I probably could have saved by doing things differently (putting in a new oil pump when the problem was a bad sensor and a badly installed gauge, plus oil that was wrong for the season, for one, quite an expensive mistake). They are not new.    mcneely

---- Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET> wrote: 
> Hi Stuart,
> 
> My van had low compression on one cylinder when I bought it earlier
> this year.  I took it to a mechanic (here in Vancouver) and he was
> able to restore the compression on my engine by adjusting the valves
> and adding lash caps.  This included adjusting one to 0 lash.
> 
> I'm not convinced my engine is well just yet.  I've had a series of
> coolant issues, possible minor head gasket leak, but not confirmed.
> Anyway, van runs quite well, although certainly not fast, it seems to
> have a reasonable amount of power.  I did get overtaken by another
> vanagon going up a very steep mountain hill; after that I started to
> get engine envy/doubt again. :)
> 
> The worst scare so far has been starting it after it sitting for a few
> weeks.  Oh the horrid tapping!  A quick Google said lifters are prone
> to draining if left sit, so I crossed my fingers and drove it for a
> while and now it sounds fine again.
> 
> Tom
> 
> On Fri, Sep 7, 2012 at 7:52 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Well, for those who have been following by email thread about making the
> > mistake of checking compression on my 140k mile original engine
> > (90-150-100-130) I’ve done some more tests.
> >
> >
> >
> > 1.       Valves were zero lash or 1 turn in, no valve noise, timing dead on
> >
> > 2.       Manifold vacuum is 12” Hg with ±1” tick (should be steady 17-21)
> >
> > 3.       No detectable vacuum leaks (propane test), all vacuum hoses new.
> >
> > 4.       22% leak down on #1, could hear leakage all three places, but
> > exhaust and intake were louder than the dipstick, with the exhaust being the
> > worst.  (Should have used the decibel meter on my iPhone, but I didn’t want
> > to get it greasy ;-) ).  Didn’t bother testing the others after this result.
> >
> > 5.       Does not burn oil (in 1000 miles at least)  Plugs that came in it
> > were clean.
> >
> > 6.       PO installed reman AFM recently
> >
> > 7.       Idles smooth (as any of them anyway), runs well, no coolant leaks,
> > but has poor acceleration and poor gas mileage (~15 mpg highway).
> >
> >
> >
> > Looks like it’s got some leaking valves. No surprise this rig is worn out, I
> > assumed it was, but I could drive it home at least.  I hope I can get a few
> > thousand more miles out of it so I can save some dough for a conversion!
> >
> >
> >
> > Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but never for long.  I waited until after my
> > planned summer trips to check the engine condition, so I was blissfully
> > ignorant on purpose.  I’m still planning a couple of fall trips nearby
> > though.  What the hell, I’ve got AAA premier.
> >
> >
> >
> > Stuart
> >
> > ’85 Westy, purchased in May

--
David McNeely