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Wasserboxer

 
Wikipedia: Wasserboxer
Volkswagen wasserboxer
Wasserboxer.jpg 1;913 cc DH wasserboxer
Manufacturer Volkswagen Group
Production August 1982–July 1992[1]
Predecessor Volkswagen air cooled engine
Configuration flat-4 petrol engine
Displacement 1,914 cc (116.8 cu in),
2,109 cc (128.7 cu in)
Cylinder bore 94.0 mm (3.70 in)[1]
Block alloy Cast aluminium alloy
Head alloy Cast aluminium alloy
Valvetrain pushrod OHV
Fuel type Petrol/gasoline
Oil system Wet sump
Cooling system Watercooled

The Volkswagen wasserboxer is a four cylinder horizontally opposed pushrod overhead valve (OHV) petrol engine developed by Volkswagen. The engine is watercooled, and takes its name from the German: "wasserboxer"; which when translated into English, means "water-boxer" - or water-cooled boxer - with boxer being an alternative name for a horizontally opposed engine. It was available in two displacements - either a 1.9 litre[1] or a 2.1 litre;[1] the 2.1 litre being a longer stroke version of the 1.9 litre, both variants sharing the same cylinder bore.[1] This engine was unique to the Volkswagen Type 2 (T3) (Transporter T3 / Caravelle / Vanagon / T25), having never been used in any other vehicle.[1]

Contents

Design detail

The Wasserboxer featured a cast aluminium alloy cylinder block, cylinder heads, and pistons; and a forged steel flatplane crankshaft with three main bearings.[1]

The Wasserboxer, as with all Volkswagen boxer engines, directly drives the three-bearing camshaft via a small steel gear on the crankshaft, and a large aluminium one on the camshaft, so there is no timing belt or timing chain. The entire mechanism is internal to the engine, so there should be no concerns regarding wear or replacements, as long as the engine oil is changed regularly. The overhead poppet valves each feature two concentric valve springs, and are operated by pushrods and adjustable rocker arms.[1]

It also featured "Heron", or "bowl-in-piston" type combustion chambers - where the combustion takes place within the piston area, and not in a recess machined in the cylinder head.[1]

The cylinder banks contain cast iron cylinder liners inserted into a water jacket, with a "rubber lip" style head gasket, which is a very different design as compared to most vehicles. The top of the cylinder liners is pressed into a recessed cut-out in the cylinder heads, that are sealed with compressible metal rings, to prevent leakage.[1]

Some Wasserboxers were plagued by water jacket gasket failures (often erroneously referred to as head gaskets) due to several design issues. Engine failure was also a result of poorly placed sensors, corrosion in the cooling system, and many areas subjected to leaks.

This engine is representative of the fact that boxer four cylinders produce an audible low pitch "rumble", rather than a high pitch buzz/whine, when running. Some find this aspect of the engine to be pleasing, owing to the dislike[citation needed] of the "sewing machine" sound of inline-four engines.

The switch to water-cooling for the boxer engines was made mid-year in 1982, because Volkswagen could no longer make the air-cooled engines meet emissions standards. (The previous generation Volkswagen Type 2 (T2), currently produced in Brazil, has been switched to water-cooled engines since 23 December 2005 in response to Brazil's emission laws; the power plant used in the previous-generation T2 is an Audi-sourced inline four.) Water-cooled models can be distinguished by a second radiator grille.

Variants

All data from ETKA.[1]

engine
ID code
compr.
ratio
max. motive power fuel system years notes
1.9 litre engines — 1,914 cc (116.8 cu in)
DF 8.6:1 44 kW (60 PS; 59 bhp) 34 PICT-5 carburetor 08/82-07/92
DG 8.6:1 57 kW (77 PS; 76 bhp) 2E3 or 2E4 carburetor 08/82-07/92
DH 60 kW (82 PS; 80 bhp) Digijet (Digital-Jetronic) fuel injection, vane-type air flow meter 01/83-07/85
EY 7.5:1 55 bhp (41 kW; 56 PS) 34 PICT-5 carburetor [citation needed]
GW 8.6:1 66 kW (90 PS; 89 bhp) Digijet (Digital-Jetronic) fuel injection, vane-type air flow meter 08/83-07/85
SP 54 kW (73 PS; 72 bhp) 2E3 or 2E4 carburetor 08/86-07/89 Switzerland only
2.1 litre engines — 2,109 cc (128.7 cu in)
DJ 10:1 82 kW (111 PS; 110 bhp) Digijet (Digital-Jetronic) fuel injection, vane-type air flow meter 08/84-07/92 sold in European countries not requiring catalytic converter
MV 70 kW (95 PS; 94 bhp) Digifant II fuel injection, vane-type air flow meter 08/85-07/92 also used until the end of Vanagon importation into the US in 1991
SR 64 kW (87 PS; 86 bhp) Digifant II fuel injection, vane-type air flow meter 08/86-07/92 Switzerland only
SS 9:1 68 kW (92 PS; 91 bhp) Digifant II fuel injection, vane-type air flow meter 08/89-07/92

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k ETKA

External links


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