An VW experts here? Air cooled 2.0L engine Q. Nasty Ticking noise.

[spudboy]

Anyone here got any experience with VW Kombi engines?

It is a 2.0L air cooled 1982 model, with fuel injection. It runs/idles quite nicely, but there is a savage “ticking” noise at all revs. I first thought the valves needed adjusting, as it sounds just like very bad tappet noise, but this model has hydraulic tappets. It has the correct amount of oil in it, so I am at a loss as to what is making the noise.

I have checked the points, which seem OK (there was a gap at least) and set the timing as best I could, although it’s pretty hard to see the TDC mark on a type II engine. Thought it might have been some amazing pinging situation or something, but that didn't help.

Seems to be coming more from one side of the engine than the other, so am thinking perhaps a broken piston ring, or maybe a hydraulic valve mechanism that's sticking/broken (I have no idea how hydraulic valves work BTW....)

Any useful ideas?

Not sure if it is safe to drive it the 30Kms to a VW workshop. Don't want to do any (more) damage.

Thanks
David

[101RRS]

Isn't that why they are called "Dacka Dacks" after the strange noise they make.

Garry

[spudboy]

Sure is, but this is more than that. I have a Karmann Ghia too, so am used to the VW air-cooled noise.

I have been reading this: Hydraulic Lifters (http://www.ratwell.com/technical/HydraulicLifters.html)

Seems like oil changes are very important on these engines. My Kombi has spent most of the last 2 years laid up in a garage (it only has 108,000 genuine KMs on it). Maybe the first thing to do is to get some fresh oil into it, and see if that improves things.

I'm more thinking that it's the hydraulic valve lifters that might be the issue.

[Slunnie]

Kharman Ghia! Very nice!

I also thought that ticking noise was normal. Mind you Stan Pobjoy extractors fixed that noise in mine. :cool:

[mike 90 RR]

My Kombi has spent most of the last 2 years laid up in a garage

If the car has been laid up for a few years ... Then, yea ... It's the ol' collapsed lifter gag

Just start it and go for a 3 miniute drive ... Leave it in 2cnd gear and run it at 2000 rpm ..... Shut the motor down and let it rest for 5 miniutes ... Start it and drive it again

The noise should start to disappear as it pumps up again ...

(You may have to do it a couple of times to get it pumped up)

Mike

[spudboy]

Mike - I have started and stopped it a few times, and gone for a short run around the farm (it is not registered ATM). I'll do that a couple more times tomorrow and see if that improves things.

I read on a VW forum this remedy:
- Add ATF to the oil
- Go for a short run
- Drain oil and refill with new

Any idea if this is a smart idea? I would be guessing that the ATF is thinner than engine oil and might clean out some of the gunk in the valve lifters. Seems an easy thing to try (as i am going to change the oil anyway) but don't want to damage anything.

[mike 90 RR]

Any idea if this is a smart idea?

Not really .... ;)

Thin / cheap Black & Gold oil would do a wash out also .... (at least the bottle "claims" it's engine oil)

I take it that it is a single TAP TAP TAP noise in tune with the revs

Basically when you turn the motor off ... Some of the lifters are in a compressed state (Valves open) .... The oil in these lifters have bled out, and can be a pain to re-pump up and bleed the air out of them

Most times ... a couple of warmed motor runs at 2500 RPM brings em back up
Trick is to drive it for 3 or so minutes with rests between

I have a Ford in the shed ... and the above is what I do if it hasn't been used for a long time



But sometimes they just won't pump up, and replacement is the only choice

Mike

[PAT303]

I think that if one of them is stuck like that you may as well spend your time replacing it. Pat

[big guy]

Spudboy

How many cars have you got?

Still have that prime merc you recently bought with the funny smell?

I have owned 5 Kombis in the past but none with Hydraulic lifters.
Didn't even know they had them.

My valves were at times a bit sticky if not used much and a good drive did clear them.

A company I used to use for advise is/was intervolks on Main North Road.

Not sure if still there though.
Hope u get it sorted.

[Rangier Rover]

Sounds like a Sticky lifter ,Gudgeon pin or a bent push rod ?

If either of the above it'll be fine to drive. I doubt it will be a big end as would make a sharp knock in the crank area.

I have never played with the 2ltr but have had heaps to do with 1100,1200,1500 and 1600 twin port. I would imagine the 2ltr would get very hot around the cylinders and heads. Have you had any heads crack between the ports?. I gave up on the 1600 twin port for this reason.

Cheers Tony

[spudboy]

Too many cars - I know. But I am selling my Volvo this weekend, so the count goes down to 12!! 13 might have been unlucky.....

Last night I put in 1/2 a litre of ATF in the Kombi (before I read Mike RR's reply), and did the run at 2000rpm /off/run again thing and it has made a miraculous difference :eek:

Valve noise is about 10% of what it was when we pulled it out of storage.

So we are going to run it for a week and then change the oil to some good quality 10/30w.

Thanks for all the replies.

Regards
David

[BMKal]

Years ago I was living in Merredin and an uncle had an old beetle which had exactly the same symptoms - a very loud and savage "clicking" sound at all revs. We tried everything we could think of and could not find the fault.

Went around and saw an old German bloke on the outskirts of town who had a yard full of dak daks, and he told us that it was more than likely a broken crankshaft.

Not believing him, but also not being able to come up with any alternatives, we pulled the engine out and stripped it down. Sure enough, the crankshaft was broken completely in half, with the break being diagonal through the shaft. If I hadn't seen it for myself, I'd still find it difficult to believe. Apparently it was a common occurrence with some of the earlier VW engines, and it was not uncommon for them to run on for many more km's in this condition (according to the old German bloke who told us what to look for).

The engine was still running fine in this condition, still had normal power etc but just this loud clicking noise as the only sign that something was wrong.

We never repaired it - a quick phone call to a wreckers in Perth at the time had a complete replacement up overnight on the bus, and we had the old banger back on the road next day.

Hope you haven't come across the same problem, but don't let anyone tell you it can't happen.

[d@rk51d3]

Still have that prime merc you recently bought with the funny smell?



Deceased Estate? :angel:

[Rangier Rover]

Years ago I was living in Merredin and an uncle had an old beetle which had exactly the same symptoms - a very loud and savage "clicking" sound at all revs. We tried everything we could think of and could not find the fault.

Went around and saw an old German bloke on the outskirts of town who had a yard full of dak daks, and he told us that it was more than likely a broken crankshaft.

Not believing him, but also not being able to come up with any alternatives, we pulled the engine out and stripped it down. Sure enough, the crankshaft was broken completely in half, with the break being diagonal through the shaft. If I hadn't seen it for myself, I'd still find it difficult to believe. Apparently it was a common occurrence with some of the earlier VW engines, and it was not uncommon for them to run on for many more km's in this condition (according to the old German bloke who told us what to look for).

The engine was still running fine in this condition, still had normal power etc but just this loud clicking noise as the only sign that something was wrong.

We never repaired it - a quick phone call to a wreckers in Perth at the time had a complete replacement up overnight on the bus, and we had the old banger back on the road next day.

Hope you haven't come across the same problem, but don't let anyone tell you it can't happen.

We snapped the crank in a 1100 in a similar way. Used to rev the guts out of it as was in a single seat buggy. Also have stripped the dowels off the fly wheel:angel: It made some interesting sounds wile at 5000 RPM:eek:

[lewy]

not sure what they have,but not a manifold gasket or rusted out manifold.

[spudboy]

Deceased Estate? :angel:

Yep - how'd you guess???

Big Guy (Frank) lent me his Ozone machine and I ran that for an hour or so in the cabin, and that helped quite a bit. The smell still faintly lingers however.

[spudboy]

Well, it is now 5 days later, and we just changed the oil and filter after the ATF treatment. New oil has made it even quieter in the valve department.

Old oil was disgusting, but it had been sitting for 2 years, so to be expected.

Runs as sweet as a Singer sewing machine now, and my daughter is very happy to be back on the road again.

Love that German engineering :D

[d@rk51d3]

Yep - how'd you guess???

Big Guy (Frank) lent me his Ozone machine and I ran that for an hour or so in the cabin, and that helped quite a bit. The smell still faintly lingers however.

Just a weird hunch. ;)

[big guy]

Good to hear.

I had many good times in my Kombies.

Oh, they were the days.