Malcolm Stebbins wrote:
>
> My 91 Syncro sat for one week (while I fixed the accelerator cable)
> and when I started it up early this evening, it started giving that
> classic - no oil in the lifter - racket.  I thought the noise should
> go away after a few (5) minutes of idleing, but it didn't.
>
> Can I  drive the van a short distance with the racket?  or should it
> not be driven at all if the lifter is clicking (FWIW it's one of the
> cylinders on the right side).  I checked the oil level and all is OK.
>
> I'm at my apartment and I only have email (2400 baud) and no web
> browser, tomorrow I'll check the archives from the office.
>
> Thanks      Malcolm Stebbins

Malcolm,

My '85 Westy has the same problem: vehicle sits for a week and upon
starting up it exhibits the "typical" vanagon" lifter noise
(coincidentally on the right side of the engine). I can not say if any
damage occurs by running the engine to let the lifter fill with oil, but
I typically have to run mine at highway speeds for approximately 15
minutes before it quiets down. I have done this at least 4 or 5 times
since I bought it in March and no catastrophic damage (roadside
breakdown) has occurred. Internally, what is happening is that the
pushrod is impacting the top of the lifter because it is not filled with
oil expanding it to take care of unnecessary clearance in the valve
train. This impacting could eventually wear down the pushrod end but not
to the severity of running around full time needing a valve adjustment.
To lessen the occurrence of this I try to drive it every 3 - 4 days (my
Westy is a spare vehicle), before the lifter has a chance to drain down.
I guess the safest solution is to identify the noisy lifter and replace
it.

Gregg (Conshohocken, Pa.)
'85 Westy