Wasserboxer

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The wasserboxer is a watercooled pushrod horizontally opposed 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 (1913cc) (83bhp) (Serial # DH) water-cooled (or "Wasserboxer") engine used for the 1983 1/2 to 1985 models, which used a fuel injection system known as "Digijet" (Digital Jet-tronic)
• 1.9 L (1913cc) (59bhp) (Serial # DF) 8.6:1 compr. 34 pict carburetor
• 1.9 L (1913cc) (76bhp) (Serial # DG) 8.6:1 compr .2E3 or 2E4 carburetor
• 1.9 L (1913cc) (55bhp) (Serial # EY) 7.5:1 compr. 34 pict carburetor
• 1.9 L (1913cc) (89bhp) (Serial # GW) 8.6:1 compr. Digijet fuel injection

2.1 Litre engines:

• 2.1 L (2100cc) (95bhp) (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 (2100cc) (90bhp) (Serial # SS)9:1 compr. Wasserboxer
• 2.1 L (2100cc) (112bhp) (Serial # DJ) 10:1 compr. Digijet injection, Wasserboxer sold in european countrys not requiring catalytic converter.

The Wasserboxer featured an aluminum case, cylinder heads, and pistons, and a forged steel crankshaft.

The Wasserboxer, as with all VW boxer engines, directly drives the camshaft via a small brass gear on the crankshaft, and a large one on the camshaft that makes direct contact, so there is no timing chain or belt 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 dislike of the "sewing machine" sound of I4 engines.

The switch to water-cooling for the boxer engines was made so abruptly mid-year in 1983 because VW 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 December 23, 2005 in response to Brazil's emission laws; the powerplant used in the previous-generation T2 is an Audi-sourced inline four.) Water-cooled models can be distinguished by a second radiator grille.