hydraulic lifters

[rrohde]

Has anyone ever researched and found a different lifter--one that stays pumped up?

I rebuilt my air-cooled  Vanagon a couple thousand miles ago, and set the lifters at 1 1/2 turns.  It still clatters if only sitting for a day!  It usually quiets down fairly quick, but sometimes one of the lifters hangs up for 15 minutes or so!  And yes, I replaced the lifters and cam with new ones at rebuild.  Any suggestions?  Oh, I did disassemble each one and bled them before initial startup.

[beebrew]

I have had similar issues with hydraulic lifters in the past, mostly with air cooled engines. My 63 Corvair had one that would stick down until it got hot until I finally added Marvel Mystery Oil. My 90 Montero also has the same issue on occasion.  again I have had good results with Marvel Mystery oil. I speculate the lifter leaks down when left under compression and sticks there, thus unable to pump up as it should. Typically I do not subscribe to remedy's from a can, but I have had good luck with this one. It is inexpensive to try, hope it helps.

Guy

[dmartin]

I've rebuilt two 2.0 liter air-cooled vanagon engines over the past years, both with success and both with sometimes noisy lifters. But within seconds they're quiet again. The book I rebuilt with said to turn in the adjusting screws two full turns, not one and a half. Maybe that extra half turn is the key, allowing them to get a full pump each stroke of the lifter. Hope this helps too.... Dan in Northern Vermont

[MrLiMBO]

Engine builder Bob Donalds @ Boston Engine has had extensive work with VW Hydraulic lifters.  Apparently, Bentley had a missing paragraph in lifter section of some of the older copies of the repair manuals.  Bob has determined a procedure to properly bleed and install Hydraulic lifter in the Air/watercooled flat 4 engines.  Call him 508-358-6264 remember he is a business so his time is limited.  I don't have his eMail here at work, if I remember when I get home, I'll post it.