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clatter, unearthly

folks: this "problem" keeps coming up and i've yet to discover what causes it. it's an unearthly clatter from the engine of our '81 vanagon after it has been parked for a few days. after the engine runs for a little while, the clatter fades away, as if it never happened. there seems to be no loss of power while the racket runs its course. it sounds like a broken valve or a valve-lifter that's not getting oil or some other metal-on-metal activity. it sounds like a death rattle. several years ago i had another '81 -- and it did the same thing under the same circumstances. anybody have a similar experience?

Reply to
Art McGinn
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the hydraulic lifters are bleeding out while it sits, and therefore they7 make the valve clearance grow huge. Once you start the engine, the oil pressure pumps them back up and everything is fine. You don't need to worry about it, but it would be nice if you could take the lifters out and clean them. Requires disassembly, they are made of a couple of parts. If you do take them out (with a magnet, no need to tear down engine. ) make sure you mark them really well or do them one by one, to make SURE they go in the same hole they came out of.

Reply to
Jan Andersson

jan: that's a relief to know. many thanks for your explanation. art

Jan Anderss>> folks: this "problem" keeps coming up and i've yet to discover what

Reply to
Art McGinn

I've got a new factory long block with hydraulic lifters that will do the came thing on #1 exhaust if the motor stops in a certain position, the rest are fine.

Fatus Mikus

Reply to
Michael Rogers

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