Ghosts?? Why yes, I have thought that. Not very long, mind you, but I thought of it.
OK, so everyone thinks it's a leaky valve, or at least a valve with debris in it. Perhaps debris would explain it's intermittent retraction qualities better than assuming an actual failure of a component.
Now I'd like to ask for some advice. Anyone have a link to a description of how you remove these parts?
Will oil spray out under pressure when I remove a valve or does that only happen when the pump motor is running? Should I drain the tank? I have a small car's oil drain pan I can put below the manifold, but is that enough? Should I get a huge pan?