re. Lifter Tapping - type 44

[Swann, Benjamin R. (BSWANN)]

  [Hello,I have a 86TQ Avant with 225,000 on it.I am begining to have valve

  noise just about everytime I start out.I have driving this car for = 
  100,000 miles and over the years as the oil would near the 3000 mile = 
  mark I would start to get noise after letting it sit over night.Usually = 
  changing the oil would take car of it for awhile.But as the miles have = 
  creeped up it has been getting worse.]

John,

It may well be lifters, but VW/Audi moters of this era are sensitive to low
viscocity oil.  I have found that 2 out of 3 times(either my car or by
recommending to someone else), increasing the viscosity of the oil helps
reduce and even eliminate the tapping.  

Non-synth. should be 20W50 in summer, 10W40 in winter.  I run Castrol 5W50
year round with no tapping problems in all my cars I've had and have no
tapping problems, with exception of the level getting on the low side on the
5000 turbo quats - they seem to be sensitive and want the level topped off.

If that doesn't help, or you already are running reasonably high visc, then
you likely need new lifters.  Mileage would indicate that as well.

Let us know what works, or doesn't, even if you debunk my recommendation.

Regards,

Ben
'87 5KCSTQW X2  - Pearl & Charcoal
'85 4KCSQ - back to square 1 as target car for Project GTQ:
http://www.homestead.com/ben_swann/myaudi.html