SUDDEN KNOCKING NOISE AND OIL LOSS

[KodaChrome]

I'm having a problem with my '73 V.W. Campmobile.  

It has a rebuilt engine (Steve's Imports on S.E. 92nd) and the "new" engine only has a little under 1400 miles on it.  They bored it out to 1800 cc, so I guess it's about the same as a Porsche 914 engine.  (So I'm told.)  I bought it about three or four hundred miles ago, and it's been running just great.  The vehicle has been pretty much completely restored.

As to the problem.  I had left it out in the cold weather for a couple of nights.  (I usually keep it in the garage.)  When I finally pulled it back into the garage, there was no problem.  It's always sounded great.  But a week or so later, I started it, and it had this terrible KNOCKING noise.  Given how loud the KNOCKING was, I checked the oil, and it was a little less than a half-quart low.  Just under a quart brought it up to the full line.  I think it had 10-40 in it, and I put in some 30 weight that I happened to have.

This was a sudden drop in oil level that surprised me.  About two weeks previously (50 miles or so), I had checked the oil, and it was right at full.  At about 900 miles, right after I bought it, I had Steve's Imports do a complete 1000 mile check (after the rebuild) and adjustment.  In fact, they did a full-vehicle inspection.  As part of this, they changed the oil.  There's no oil on the garage floor nor on the driveway, either.  Where it went is a mystery to me.  I will say, when Steve's Imports did their work on the engine, there was a slow oil leak that I wasn't too worried about.  Too slow for Steve's Imports to recognize its origin.  Also, the exhaust seemed to have a little more oil in it than one would expect from a rebuilt engine.  But, it wasn't all that bad.

Adding the oil as I described above, improved the KNOCKING.  But, it's still there and bad enough that I'm concerned about driving it.  Since the KNOCKING began, I've pulled it out of the garage and back in.  So, it's got about 50 feet of mileage on it.

I might add that, since I bought it, I've been pretty religous about driving it at least once a week, which is what Steve's Imports recommended.
Any ideas as to the problem?  Your input would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[BusDriver]

Hi Neil,

I moved your post because where you had it posted is actually for Website Bugs, and Tech support :-)

Ok, as to your knocking. It sounds to me(without hearing the noise) that maybe one of your push rods came loose, or one of your rocker arms broke maybe? Heck for that matter it could even be a lifter or valve if the oil was real low. is it running on all cylinders? If you only have 1400 miles on the motor I would say take it back. When we sell an engine new it has a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty, when we sell a rebuilt one we give it a 6 month 6000 mile warranty. If this Steve's Imports is a reputable shop then there should be no problems whatsoever. But there is DEFINATLY something wrong in the case from the way you make it sound, and unless you are just beating the living poop out of it there shouldn't be. That is just an off the head diagnoses without as I said hearing it.

I know this doesn't help you but, you should never take a Volkswagen(Especially and old one) to an "Import" shop. Take it to a Volkswagen shop, I wouldn't take my Mustang to a Rice Burner shop and you shouldn't take your bus to one either. That is just an opinion but I know more than one person that has learned the hard way.

Anyway best advice I can give you is use your AAA (If you have it) and have it towed over to Steve's. If he won't or can't help you then call D&M and tell Dave I sent you, he will take care of you (and I will get to love your car).

[KodaChrome]

I'll give them a call.  The work was done with a different owner over a year ago.  I guess it wasn't driven much.

As I understand it, Steve's Imports is a family company, and they're a Volkswagen family.

Still, that's good advice, not taking it to an import shop.  I hadn't thought of the distinction.  Will avoid import shops in the future.

No AAA.  Ouch.  It's not the first time I will have towed a vehicle between Portland and Forest Grove.

By the way, this vehicle has hydrolic valves.

Thanks for the good advice.

[UGoBug]

Definetly tow it!!  I would not drive it all costs, if you value your motor and you don't know how to diagnose it yourself.  a simple $10 fix could change into a whole new motor (gross exaggeration, but you get the idea)

but first, I would give Steve's a good ear-ache and find out exactly where you stand on your warranty, if any.  Like Oldscool said.  If Steve's was the last person to have their hands on it, get their take on it.  If they are not willing to deal with it, take it to D&M like OC said.  they will take care of you.

AND its not in Forest Grove!

Just my 2 cents

[KodaChrome]

Thanks for the input.  Especially after your comments, I will have it towed.  Double-ouch!  I checked the paperwork, and the rebuild was done in 2003.  Hmmm.

It's consistent, because the previous owner said he only put about 500 miles on it.  I think that it spent the rest of the time in the shop, given all the work that's been put into it.

What does D&M stand for?

[KodaChrome]

Just found it on the site.  Sounds like it's D&M Automotive Services in Beaverton.

[Smug]

I have had my VW worked on a few times at D&M. Dave is straight forward with you and fair priced. There were a couple items I knew I could do myself but didn't have the time they fixed it right and like I said at a fair price.

Just don't roll in with EMPI parts... even if the PO put them on there.

[KodaChrome]

Smug,  Thanks for your recommendation.

Hmmm.  What are EMPI parts, and what does PO stand for?

Neil

[BusDriver]

EMPI = Every Mistake Passes Inspection

PO = Previous Owner

:thumbup:

[Smug]

EMPI is a brand of part I think it really is Engineered Motor Products, Inc.

If you have a way to tower your bus short range our shop days is this Saturday in Forest Grove. You could get an opinion on the motor. The schedule is full as far as work goes but we could give it a listen.

[KodaChrome]

Thanks for the info.  I like that: EMPI = Every Mistake Passes Inspection.

Smug, What are "shop days"?  Do they rotate; who sponsors them?  I haven't heard about them.

[Smug]

Every once in a while one of us Volksters would like some help working on our cars. To do this they start a post in the Shop Day forum. You can find this topic under the members section (Shop Day). This is the best place to post your request with details on what you want to do and when. This is were we all figure out what tools we need to bring and try to clear the date so we can make show up to help or hang out.

Some of us don't have all the fancy tools or know how to do what we would like so a shop day is a great way to draw on the collective group. We put our tools in our cars and head on over to where the car is at and we help.
In the past year we have had a few shop days that ranged from tune-ups to motor swaps.

This is a benefit of being a member. All we ask is that you plan to feed the group. Pizza seems to be a great theme as you can count heads once they are there and get a wider selection of flavors. All though I must say the best food we have had that I can remember was when Randy hosted a shop day and we had bbq ribs!

I am hosting a shop day this Saturday but as it is not any of my cars we are working on I think we are all pitching in for food.  8)
If you would like to stop by and see the chaos that is a shop day you can find my address in the members contact section.  
I say this will be chaos because we are working on three different cars each with their own needs. If it was just tune-up day we could roll a half doze cars through in a couple of hours.

If browse the shop day forum I think you will get a good idea of how it all works.