Volkswagen air-cooled engine

Last updated

Volkswagen Boxer Engine
Overview
Manufacturer Volkswagen
Production1936–2006
Layout
Configuration Flat-4 naturally aspirated petrol engine
Displacement
  • 1.0 L (985 cc)
  • 1.1 L (1,131 cc)
  • 1.2 L (1,192 cc)
  • 1.3 L (1,285 cc)
  • 1.5 L (1,493 cc)
  • 1.6 L (1,584 cc)
  • 1.7 L (1,679 cc)
  • 1.8 L (1,795 cc)
  • 2.0 L (1,971 cc)
Cylinder bore
  • 70 mm (2.76 in)
  • 75 mm (2.95 in)
  • 77 mm (3.03 in)
  • 83 mm (3.27 in)
  • 85.5 mm (3.37 in)
  • 90 mm (3.54 in)
  • 93 mm (3.66 in)
    94 mm (3.70 in)
Piston stroke
  • 64 mm (2.52 in)
  • 69 mm (2.72 in)66 mm (2.60 in)
  • 71 mm (2.80 in)
Chronology
Successor Volkswagen Wasserboxer engine

The Volkswagen air-cooled engine is an air-cooled, gasoline-fuelled, boxer engine with four horizontally opposed cast-iron cylinders, cast aluminum alloy cylinder heads and pistons, magnesium-alloy crankcase, and forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods.

Contents

There are two distinct families/variations of the aircooled engine namely Type 1 and Type 4. The Type 3 engine is a variation of the Type 1 engine with pancake cooling arrangement.

Variations of the engine were produced by Volkswagen plants worldwide from 1936 until 2006 for use in Volkswagen's own vehicles, notably the Type 1 (Beetle), Type 2 (transporter), Type 3, and Type 4. Additionally, the engines were widely used in industrial, light aircraft and kit car applications.

Type 1: 1.0–1.6 litres

Volkswagen Type 1 Engine
Overview
Manufacturer Volkswagen
Also calledType 3 engine (when equipped with a crank mounted cooling fan)
Production1936-2006
Layout
Configuration Flat-4 naturally aspirated petrol engine
Cylinder block materialAluminum / magnesium alloy
Cylinder head materialAluminum alloy
Valvetrain Pushrod OHV
Combustion
Fuel systemMechanical / Carbureted / Digifant EFI (Mexico and U.S. Type 3 only)
Fuel typeGasoline
Oil system Wet sump
Cooling system Air-cooled
Chronology
Successor Volkswagen Type 4 engine

The Type 1 engine got its name from the Type 1 Beetle it originally came with. It evolved from the original 985 cc in the KdF wagen in 1939 to the 1600 cc dual port fuel-injected engine that came in the 2003 Mexican Beetle. The very last Type 1 engine came in the 2006 Type 2c built in Brazil. In most applications, the Type 1 engine came with an upright cooling shroud and a belt driven fan.

When equipped with crank mounted cooling fan, the Type 1 engine may be referred as Type 3 engine. These engines came only in 1500 cc and 1600 cc configurations in Volkswagen Type 3 based vehicles. The Type 1 engine was also used in Type 2 vehicles with additional engine mounting provisions. The term "universal engine case" refers to an engine case that can be used for all three applications. All Type 1 engines used lighter magnesium alloy for the engine case even though late model engines used stronger alloys for durability. The bore spacing on Type 1 engine is 112mm.

A re-design of the Type 1 engine was introduced in 1968 in the Volkswagen Type 4. It came to be known as the Type 4 engine. It was larger and powerful and shared almost nothing with the Type 1 engine other than the general architecture of the longblock.

1000

Volkswagen 1000 engine
Overview
Production1938–1942
Layout
Displacement 985  cc (60.1  cu in)
Cylinder bore 70 mm (2.76 in)
Piston stroke 64 mm (2.52 in)
Compression ratio 5.8:1
Output
Power output 18  kW (24  PS; 24  bhp) at 3,000 rpm,
22 kW (30 PS; 30 bhp)

1100

Volkswagen 1100 engine
Volkswagen motor cut 1945.JPG
Cutaway 1945 1131 cc engine
Overview
Also called1100 engine
Production1945–1953
Layout
Displacement 1,131  cc (69.0  cu in)
Cylinder bore 75 mm (2.95 in)
Piston stroke 64 mm (2.52 in)
Compression ratio 5.8:1
Output
Power output 18  kW (24  PS; 24  bhp) at 3,300 rpm,
22 kW (30 PS; 30 bhp)
Specific power 15.9 kW (22 PS; 21 bhp) / L (18kW variant)
Torque output 68  N⋅m (50  lbf⋅ft) at 2,000 rpm

Like the Volkswagen Beetle produced after the war, the first Volkswagen Transporters (bus) used the Volkswagen air-cooled engine, a 1.1 litre, DIN-rated 18 kW (24 PS, 24 bhp), air-cooled four-cylinder "boxer" engine mounted in the rear. The 22-kilowatt (29 PS; 29 bhp) version became standard in 1955, while an unusual early version of the engine which developed 25 kilowatts (34 PS; 34 bhp) debuted exclusively on the Volkswagen Type 2 (T1) in 1959.

1200

Volkswagen Typ 1200 [3]
VW Boxer 1192cm3.jpg
Overview
Also called1200 Engine
Production1950–1991
Layout
Displacement 1,192  cc (72.7  cu in)
Cylinder bore 77 mm (3.03 in)
Piston stroke 64 mm (2.52 in)
Compression ratio 7.0:1 – 7.3:1
Combustion
Fuel systemCarburettor
Solex 28 PCI or Solex 28 PICT
Fuel typeCarburettor fuel
86 RON (7:1 compression ratio)
87 RON (7,3:1 compression ratio)
Output
Power output 22  kW (30  PS; 30  bhp)
25 kW (34 PS; 34 bhp)
27 kW (37 PS; 36 bhp)
30 kW (41 PS; 40 bhp)
Specific power 18.5–21.0 kW (25–29 PS; 25–28 bhp) / L
Torque output depending on engine application, around ~70–80 N·m

The 1.2-litre engine is called Type 122 and has a displacement of 1,192 cc (72.7 cu in). [3] As industrial engine, its rated power is 22.8 kW (31 PS; 31 bhp) at 3000 min−1 without a governor, the highest torque 81.4 N⋅m (60 lbf⋅ft) at 2000 min−1. With a governor set to 8% accuracy, the rated power is 21.33 kW (29 bhp; 29 PS) at 3000 min−1, the highest torque is 69.63 N⋅m (51 lbf⋅ft) at 2000 min−1. [4] For other applications, the power and torque output may vary, e.g. On the Beetle produced 41 PS (40 bhp; 30 kW) at 3900 rpm and 88 N⋅m (65 lbf⋅ft) of torque at 2400 rpm. [5]

1300

Volkswagen 1300 engine
Overview
Production1966–1995
Layout
Displacement 1,285  cc (78.4  cu in)
Cylinder bore 77 mm (3.03 in)
Piston stroke 69 mm (2.72 in)

1285 cc Single port 1966, type 1, beetle only. With Higher compression, it developed 50 bhp. It was a problematic engine, and so only used in the North American market in type 2 vehicles for model year 1966.

Type 4: 1.7–2.0 litres

From 1968 to 1983, the Type 4 engine was produced in 1.7, 1.8 and 2.0 litre variants. [6]

Other applications

Beginning in 1987, Dunn-Right Incorporated of Anderson, South Carolina, US has made a kit to perform the conversion of a VW engine to a compressor. [7]

Industrial

Volkswagen AG has offered these air-cooled boxer engines for use in industrial applications since 1950, lately under its Volkswagen Industrial Motor brand. Available in 18 kilowatts (24  PS ; 24  bhp ), 22 kilowatts (30 PS; 30 bhp), 25 kilowatts (34 PS; 34 bhp), 31 kilowatts (42 PS; 42 bhp), 33 kilowatts (45 PS; 44 bhp) and 46 kilowatts (63 PS; 62 bhp) outputs, from displacements of 1.2 litres (73 cu in) to 1.8 litres (110 cu in), these Industrial air-cooled engines were officially discontinued in 1991.[ citation needed ]

Aircraft

AeroConversions AeroVee Engine AeroConversions AeroVee Engine.jpg
AeroConversions AeroVee Engine

The air-cooled opposed four-cylinder Beetle engines have been used for other purposes as well. Limbach Flugmotoren has since 1970 produced more than 6,000 aircraft engines based on the Beetle engine. [8] [9] [10] [11] Sauer has since 1987 produced certified engines for small airplanes and motorgliders, [12] and is now also producing engines for the ultralight community in Europe. [13] [14]

This type of VW engine deployment started separately in Europe and in the US. In Europe this started in France soon after the Second World War using the engine in the Volkswagen Kübelwagen that were abandoned by the thousands in the country side [15] and peaked with the JPX engine. [16] In the US this started in the 1960s when VW Beetle started to be imported. [15] A number of companies still produce aero engines that are Volkswagen Beetle engine derivatives: Limbach, Sauer, Hapi, Revmaster, Great Plains Type 1 Front Drive, Hummel, the AeroConversions AeroVee Engine, and others. Kit planes or plans built experimental aircraft were specifically designed to utilize these engines. The VW air-cooled engine does not require an expensive and often complex gear reduction unit to utilize a propeller at efficient cruise RPM[ clarification needed ]. With its relative low cost and parts availability, many experimental aircraft are designed around the VW engines. [17] [18]

Formula V Air Racing uses aircraft designed to get maximum performance out of a VW powered aircraft resulting in race speeds above 160 mph. [19]

Some aircraft that use the VW engine are:

Volkswagen air-cooled engine installed in an Evans VP-1 Volksplane Volkswagen engine Volksplane.JPG
Volkswagen air-cooled engine installed in an Evans VP-1 Volksplane

Half VW

Half Volkswagen engine mounted in a Hummel Bird Hummelbird Amateur Built C-FPKY 05 half VW engine.JPG
Half Volkswagen engine mounted in a Hummel Bird

For aircraft use, a number of experimenters, who were seeking a small, two-cylinder, four-stroke engine, began cutting Type 1 VW engine blocks in half, creating a two-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine. The resulting engine produces 30 to 38 hp (22 to 28 kW). Plans and kits have been made available for these conversions. [20] [21]

One such conversion is the Carr Twin, designed by Dave Carr, introduced in January 1975, in the Experimental Aircraft Association's Sport Aviation magazine. The design won the John Livingston Award for its outstanding contribution to low cost flying and also was awarded the Stan Dzik Memorial Award for outstanding design. [21]

Other examples include the Total Engine Concepts MM CB-40 and Better Half VW.

Some aircraft that use the Half VW engine are:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen Type 2</span> Volkswagen panel van


The Volkswagen Transporter, initially the Type 2, is a range of light commercial vehicles, built as vans, pickups, and cab-and-chassis variants, introduced in 1950 by the German automaker Volkswagen as their second mass-production light motor vehicle series, and inspired by an idea and request from then-Netherlands-VW-importer Ben Pon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen Passat</span> Car model series

The Volkswagen Passat is a nameplate of large family cars (D-segment) manufactured and marketed by the German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen since 1973 and also marketed variously as the Dasher, Santana, Quantum, Magotan, Corsar and Carat — in saloon, estate, and hatchback body styles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen K70</span> Motor vehicle

The Volkswagen K70 is a four-door, front engine, front wheel drive sedan developed by NSU and marketed from 1970–1975 by Volkswagen after its 1969 acquisition of NSU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen LT</span> Light commercial panel van produced by Volkswagen

The Volkswagen LT is the largest light commercial panel van produced by Volkswagen from 1975 to 2006, before being replaced by the Crafter. Two generations were produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen Type 2 (T3)</span> Third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter

The Volkswagen Type 2 (T3) was the third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter. It was marketed under various nameplates worldwide – including the Transporter or Caravelle in Europe, Type 25 (T25) in the UK, Microbus and Kombi in South Africa/Brazil/Australia, Kampeerauto in Netherlands, Combi in France and Vanagon in North and South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multi-valve</span> Type of car engine

A multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing, and with more smaller valves may be able to operate at higher revolutions per minute (RPM) than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamborghini V10</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Lamborghini V10 is a ninety degree (90°) V10 petrol engine which was developed for the Lamborghini Gallardo automobile, first sold in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen G60 engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Volkswagen G60 and G40 were inline–four-cylinder automobile petrol engines, which used a specific method of forced induction by way of a scroll-type supercharger. The G60 engine was formerly manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen Group and was installed in a limited number of their 'hot hatch' cars from their Volkswagen Passenger Cars marque from August 1988 to July 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen Golf Mk1</span> First generation of Golf compact car

The Volkswagen Golf Mk1 is the first generation of a small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen. It was noteworthy for signalling Volkswagen's shift of its major car lines from rear-wheel drive and rear-mounted air-cooled engines to front-wheel drive with front-mounted, water-cooled engines that were often transversely-mounted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rotec R2800</span>

The Rotec R2800 is a seven-cylinder 110 hp radial engine built by Rotec Aerosport Pty Ltd in Australia. The R2800 was Rotec's first engine offering when they first opened their doors in 2000. In 2005, Rotec released a more powerful variant, the Rotec R3600 adding two more cylinders for a total of nine and increasing the rated horsepower to 150. This engine and its larger cousin are frequently used on World War I aircraft, both vintage and modern reproductions. Some notable repro WW I aircraft this engine has been used in are the Fokker Triplane, Sopwith Camel and the Nieuport 17. Other experimental / homebuilt aircraft have also been fitted with the Rotec 2800, including the Kitfox Model 7; a popular kit aircraft with over 5,000 examples of all variants completed. It is unknown how many Kitfox aircraft are equipped with the Rotec 2800 engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preceptor N3 Pup</span> American kit aircraft

The Preceptor N3 Pup is a family of ultralight, tube-and-fabric, high-wing, homebuilt aircraft. Kits were produced and marketed by Preceptor Aircraft, of Rutherfordton, North Carolina. The company was operating on a limited basis, actively selling plans online, but seems to have gone out of business in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Total Engine Concepts MM CB-40</span>

Total Engine Concepts MM CB-40 is a four-stroke, two-cylinder, Half VW aircraft engine.

The Airdrome Nieuport 11 is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Airdrome Aeroplanes, of Holden, Missouri. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

Sauer Flugmotorenbau or "Sauer" is a German manufacturer of aircraft engines based at Ober-Olm in Germany.

The Sauer S 1900 UL is a 4 stroke aircraft engine for homebuilt and ultralight aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volkswagen R</span> Brand for high-performance Volkswagen models

Volkswagen R is the brand used by the German auto manufacturer Volkswagen to indicate a sport or high performance model. An "R" badge is placed on the grille, front fenders and trunk of R-model vehicles to indicate the vehicle's trim level.

References

  1. ↑ "Der Käfer – Eine Dokumentation Band 2" by A. Etzold, published by Motorbuch, Stuttgart in 1985 ISBN   3-7168-1613-2
  2. ↑ "Das große Buch der Volkswagen-Typen" by Lothar Boschen, published by Motorbuch, Stuttgart in 1983 ISBN   3-87943-799-8
  3. 1 2 Die Betriebsanleitung für den Volkswagen-Industriemotor Typ 122, Typ 126A. Volkswagen AG. Wolfsburg. March 1985. Page 29
  4. ↑ Änderungen nach August 1965. Nachtrag zur Betriebsanleitung des Industriemotors. August 1966
  5. ↑ "1963 Volkswagen Beetle Technical Specifications and Dimensions". conceptcarz. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "VW Type 4 engine (1968-1983)". motor-car.net. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "Dunn-Right Incorporated". n.d. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  8. ↑ , Limbach L2400
  9. ↑ , Limbach L2000
  10. ↑ , Limbach L1700
  11. ↑ Limbach, Limbach Aero Engines
  12. ↑ Carat motorglider, Carat motorglider.
  13. ↑ Sauer Flugmotorenbau, Sauer Flugmotorenbau.
  14. ↑ Sauer in Groppo Archived 16 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine , Sauer in Groppo.
  15. 1 2 EAA Webinar John Monnett, John Monnett.
  16. ↑ JPX, JPX
  17. ↑ "In North Kitsap, Turning Old Cars into New Planes". Kitsap Sun. 29 November 2009.
  18. ↑ Great Plans Aircraft Newsletter, Issue 3, 2010.
  19. ↑ Formula V Air Racing
  20. ↑ Millholland, L. E.; Gibson, Graeme (November 2002). "The Better Half VW Engine – Engine Detail" . Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  21. 1 2 Great Plains Aircraft Supply Co., Inc. (n.d.). "0058 / Carr Twin Plans" . Retrieved 16 February 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.