Engine Knock

Fococlimber · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 10:15 am Post subject: Engine Knock

I just started up my Van for its regular run around the neighborhood to get her juices flowing and I noticed a "knock" I am assuming it is a piston.. I am just wondering what an average cost is to fix or refurbish the engine is.. really bumming me out right now.. Crying or Very sad

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1984 Westfalia Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Edition

foodeater · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 10:24 am Post subject:

It could just be a hydraulic lifter that isn't fully pumped up. You may need to run it for 10-20 minutes for the lifter to quiet down.
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89 Bluestar-2.5 Subaru Powered-RIP
'84 Westy Tiico-daily driver-sold
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'82 Vanagon auto-RIP

BushChicken · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 10:35 am Post subject:

Kind of a long shot, but, check the water pump.

I recently ran into this on a friends van. Sounded just like a rod knock and turned out to be the water pump knocking! Never heard a water pump knock before but he was stoked!

It was alot cheaper than an engine rebuild.

joeboxer428 · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 11:50 am Post subject:

I had the same issue with mine after it had sat for a few weeks, and I added a bottle of SeaFoam to the crankcase and it quieted right up. There is a thread somewhere in TS about the use of SeaFoam... Most say to run it for 50-75 miles and then change the oil. Just a thought...
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Ahwahnee · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 12:57 pm Post subject:

As noted, if you're lucky it may just be a lifter that needs to pump up and will quiet down in a few miles. Some add a dose of Marvel Mystery Oil to the crankcase to preclude this. I tried that and it seems to help.

Zeitgeist 13 · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 1:09 pm Post subject:

I'd place money on the bled down lifter theory. Mine sits for weeks on end, and always clatters incessantly upon initial start up.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
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Fococlimber · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 3:08 pm Post subject:

just ran it around for about 20 minutes and its still knocking, sounds like its coming from the block... Crying or Very sad

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1984 Westfalia Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Edition

Zeitgeist 13 · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 3:13 pm Post subject:

If you rev it up, does the knocking sound mostly as you accelerate the engine, or when you let off the throttle?
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

Fococlimber · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 7:05 pm Post subject:

oh it speeds up when i press the throttle.... in sync with the rpms..
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1984 Westfalia Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Edition

buildyourown · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 7:16 pm Post subject:

If your van has sat, and it just started, it's the lifters.
Relax, it will settle down.
Sometimes mine quite down after 5min, sometimes it takes 20-30.

morymob · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 4:16 am Post subject:

How long since an oil change, using a heavy weight oil?

dhaavers · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 6:36 am Post subject:

Is this a polite little "tic-tic-tic" or a full bore "KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK" ...???

tic = lifters (yes, it'll go away)
KNOCK = TROUBLE (get it checked out!)
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rotorimp · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 7:20 am Post subject:

get a clean pan and change the oil--look for shiney flakes of metal

RCB · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 7:32 am Post subject:

Ahwahnee · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:23 am Post subject:

Fococlimber · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 9:22 am Post subject:

just changed the oil about a month ago myself with a heavier weight oil

it sounds like a KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

not TIC TIC TIC TIC

i will change the oil again and check for shiny flakes..
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1984 Westfalia Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Edition

tencentlife · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 10:43 am Post subject:

Check the crank endplay.
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Fococlimber · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 11:25 am Post subject:

noise gone, thanks mike!
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1984 Westfalia Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Edition

sojournforchrist · Samba Member Joined: October 03, 2010 Posts: 7

nice!
I'm interested to hear how the noise left though and what did "mike" say to help? Is that the comment about crank endplay?
I have a knock as well and hope so solve it.
Thanks
---update---
I figured out that the little noise it wasnt an engine knock thankfully! I had bought some thinner oil by accident, and put it in the van. After a couple days i realized what I did and changed it out for the right stuff. All is well and working good.
I wonder if thinner oil will mess with the timing that much?
hmmm

Californio · Samba Member Joined: May 17, 2007 Posts: 1305

As others have said, your noise is either lifters or something else. Lifters get drained of oil since the WBX has them horizontally mounted, and will make a tick tick tick noise for a long time after not running the engine for a while. You can try the various products mentioned--they work. For some theory on Vanagon lifters, go to

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/HydraulicLifters.html

If it isn't lifters, then it's something internal to the engine (expensive, not fun) or external, like a piece of sheet metal rattling around (unlikely.)

Try the lifter remedies first and don't take any long trips until you figure it out.


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