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1800 type 4 problem
type3lover - March 23rd, 2007 at 07:26 PM

Hey all,
My 1800 engine in the kombi sounds like a diesel when it's hot, however it has just had a full top end rebuild inc rings, heads serviced etc. I have also tuned it and set timing etc (dual solex carbs). It drives really well with no flat spots and smooth acceleration.
I am thinking that it's a crank end float problem or an oil pump problem. I haven't checked either yet.
Oil pressure is available straight after startup and I have never seen the oil pressure light on when the engine is running.
Coincidentally, the starter sometimes cranks very slow and it feels like something is binding when cranking. Usually stopping and then starting cranking again will make it crank over well and start immediately.
The engine needs to come out but I hope to get an idea of the problem if anyone has experienced this in a type 4 motor before!
Cheers! Toby :thumb


pod - March 23rd, 2007 at 07:49 PM

if you have good oil pressure and no light coming on it shouldnt be the oil pump, i think type 4 motors sometimes have a problem with the timing gear coming loose on the cam,but hey i`m not a mechanic ,its what i have read on this forum and some others as well,only other suggestion i can think of is your lifters are wearing out:?:


type3lover - March 27th, 2007 at 11:32 AM

Thanks Pod for the reply. Oil pressure seems fine.
Anyone else got ideas?


kombikim - March 27th, 2007 at 12:04 PM

Pod could be right, that unfortunately happened to me about 4 years ago, bought a kombi with spotless reco motor with 5000km on it, which sounded like that, & turned out to be loose cam, wheel, does horrific things to valve & igntion timing,
in theory I suppose you could check by taking a valve cover off, & watching while somebody turns crank back & forward a small amount, it is possible you may hear a slight noise from cam wheel & see slack in movement of rockers


PurpleT3 - March 27th, 2007 at 12:08 PM

The oil pressure light is not a good indicator. It is set to come on at very low pressure, like around a couple of PSI. The fact that it doesn't come on doesn't mean you have good oil pressure. How do you know oil pressure is available, do you have a gauge fitted?

Did you have this problem before the top end rebuild? The starting issue could be a problem with the starter motor or solenoid.