Wasserboxer

Infobox Automobile engine


name = Wasserboxer
aka =
manufacturer = Volkswagen Group
type = flat-4 petrol engine
production =
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successor =
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stroke =
displacement = 1914 cc, 2109 cc
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block = Aluminium alloy
head = Aluminium alloy
valvetrain = OHV
supercharger =
turbocharger =
fuelsystem =
fueltype = Petrol/gasoline
oilsystem = Wet sump
coolingsystem = Water cooling
power =
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oilcon = The Wasserboxer is a watercooled pushrod OHV horizontally opposed petrol engine developed by Volkswagen. This engine is unique to the Vanagon, having never been used in any other vehicle.

1.9 litre engines:
* 1.9 L (1914 cc) (83 bhp) (Serial # DH) water-cooled (or "Wasserboxer") engine used for the 1983½ to 1985 models, which used a fuel injection system known as "Digijet" (Digital Jet-tronic)
* 1.9 L (1914 cc) (59 bhp) (Serial # DF) 8.6:1 compr. 34 pict carburetor
* 1.9 L (1914 cc) (76 bhp) (Serial # DG) 8.6:1 compr .2E3 or 2E4 carburetor
* 1.9 L (1914 cc) (55 bhp) (Serial # EY) 7.5:1 compr. 34 pict carburetor
* 1.9 L (1914 cc) (89 bhp) (Serial # GW) 8.6:1 compr. Digijet fuel injection

2.1 Litre engines:
* 2.1 L (2109 cc) (95 bhp) (Serial # MV) Wasserboxer, used until the end of Vanagon importation into the US in 1991. This engine used a more advanced fuel injection system known as "Digifant II".
* 2.1 L (2109 cc) (90 bhp) (Serial # SS)9:1 compr. Wasserboxer
* 2.1 L (2109 cc) (112 bhp) (Serial # DJ) 10:1 compr. Digijet injection, Wasserboxer sold in European countries not requiring catalytic converter.

The Wasserboxer featured an aluminium cylinder block, cylinder heads, and pistons, and a forged steel crankshaft.

The Wasserboxer, as with all Volkswagen boxer engines, directly drives the camshaft via a small steel gear on the crankshaft, and a large aluminum one on the camshaft that makes direct contact, so there is no timing belt or chain to worry about. The entire mechanism is internal to the engine so there is no concern as long as the oil is changed regularly.

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

The WBX featured 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.

Some Wasserboxers were plagued by head gasket failures 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 4 cylinders produce a 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 dislikeFact|date=June 2008 of the "sewing machine" sound of straight-4 engines.

The switch to water-cooling for the boxer engines was made so abruptly mid-year in 1983 because Volkswagen could no longer make the air-cooled engines meet emissions standards. (The previous generation 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.

ee also

* list of discontinued Volkswagen Group petrol engines

References

External links

* [http://www.volkswagen.com Volkswagen.com] corporate website