It's good to add a hydrualic lifter additive to the oil on old
waterboxer engines.
It's not just from sitting ..
it's from being goo-ed up over time.
I always put in some treatment or cleaner..
CD-2 , marvel mystery oil etc.

last caps aren't usually needed in my experience, fwiw.

On 9/8/2012 5:05 PM, Larry Alofs wrote:
> " and adding lash caps."
>
> Can someone explain about lash caps?
>
> Larry A.
>
>
> On Sat, Sep 8, 2012 at 10:56 AM, 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