Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 13:01:23 -0400
Reply-To: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Loud clanking sound from exhaust - pushrod unseated?
In-Reply-To: <b3a1e7ad04072709435c689067@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
I would check by pulling the valve covers off. I have had a couple of
episodes lately where the lock nut for valve adjustment has come off or
one of the two nuts that hold the rocker arm in place will come off and
on either of these occasions you get some serious racket. The van will
still run but most of the time there is a loss of performance as well.
The nicest part about this kind of problem is that usually you can just
put the nut back on and tighten it up and the problem goes away.
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
http://www.vanagain.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Craig Oda
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 12:43 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Loud clanking sound from exhaust - pushrod unseated?
I'm trying to plan out my weekend and upcoming camping trips and am
trying to get a feel for how much time I'll have to spend to get my van
back on the road.
I have a loud clanking sound from my engine. It's not the tick from
lifters. It is considerably louder. There definitely seems like metal
is rattling around. It appeared to sound like a nut was rattling in
the exhaust. (I don't think there is one, but it sounded like this).
The problem occurred 30 miles from home last weeknd and I drove home on
the freeway with the loud rattling sound. No power loss and no
drivability problems. However, the sound is really loud.
Joel Walker was kind enough to suggest that one of the pushrods might
have come unseated from the lifter. This situation is possible since I
just changed two lifters about a month ago and had the pushrods out.
Also, I adjusted the exhaust valve on cylinder 3 considerably. I had a
problem with air in the lifter and the valve was about 5 turns too
tight. So, I loosened it up so that it was barely touching, then
tightened it down about 1 1/2 turns. I wonder if air was still in the
lifter and somehow the pushrod became unseated.
I may not have time to take out the pushrods until the weekend. If a
pushrod is unseated, what else should I inspect for damage.
Also, do other people suspect a pushrod? The problem began while I was
driving on the freeway. I continued driving for another 30 miles, so I
don't think it's a valve clanking around in the exhaust. I took off the
u-pipe for the exhaust and there's no metal in there.
My friend wants to drive up to Lake Shasta in a couple of weeks and I'm
planning the trip, assuming I'll be able to go. However, I obviously
won't go unless I resolve this engine problem this weekend.
