Check oil level. Do not flush. Put thickest engine oil in there you can, maybe some oil additive.  BMW dealerships carry 10W60 synthetic oil for the M3 if you need thicker than 20W50 at high temps. 

I used to have an issue with lifters bleeding down on the highway for a long time in one of my 1.9 Westies. It clattered like mad until I slowed down to below 60 and lifters pumped up. It could have been related to oil temp shooting up during highway driving and/or worn lifters. I replaced the oil pump with a high volume model.  This had limited effect. I thought about replacing just the lifters, but that would not have been cost or labor effective.    I replaced that engine with a good used 2.1 engine. That fixed it. 

Chris. 

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Dnia 14 sie 2015 o godz. 13:07 Tyler Hardison <tyler@SERAPH-NET.NET> napisał(a):

> So last night when we pulled into Walla Walla, we noticed the engine was
> noticeably louder. Like the noise when the valves have temporarily lost
> hydraulic pressure.
> 
> There was no noticeable power loss, just noisy and disconcerting.
> 
> Does anyone have recommendations for a friendly Vanagon shop in Walla
> Walla? I think it might be time to have an engine flush with ATF or Sea
> Foam. But I want the help of someone who knows the engine.