TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Jun 17, 2006 3:01 pm

i noticed this post made it into the sticky section so i figured id go ahead and post my final conclusion on hydraulic lifters....in my opinion as well as many vw mechanics ive talked to about the topic feel that the valve train and heads are extremely tempermental and with an unknown engine adjusting per bentleys/atwell/haynes specs might not actually work for you(you never know whats really inside there unless you check the numbers yourself)...you just have to remember that years of abuse and someone elses halfassed fixes could cause you problems(and confuse your troubleshooting)...excluding tearin the engine down for a complete rebuild(so you know everthings kosher)...set your valves at where your engine sounds good and strong, balanced, and breaths well...its a noisy beast back there but youll know it when it sounds right...incorrectly adjusted lifters will affect acceleration, cold starting, power and performance, fuel economy, cylinder compressions, and vacuum. also incorrect adjustments make themselves apparent by either knocking/tapping/rattling which will be heard near the heads or a rumbly train-like(maybe faint congos) sound over the center of the engine. loud lifters arent the biggest of deals as they straighten themselves out to a degree(keeping in mind that if they dont you can trash everything). if however those sounds are loud...i mean really loud(itll make your heart sink) your gonna have to check under those covers for damaged lifters and pushrods. i would not recommend running your hydraulic lifters gapped to .006 except for a limited time(100 miles or less) to pump them back up...this should really take no longer than a half hour of driving. other than that these engines are robust beasts of burdens and will continue to drive even on three cylinders(ive done it but dont reccommend you do unless your willing to fix it later)...if your having probs dont get caught in the ole gumption trap and remember there are a lot of people willing to help