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Volkswagen air-cooled engine

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Volkswagen Boxer Engine
Overview
ManufacturerVolkswagen
Production1936–2006
Layout
ConfigurationFlat-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
SuccessorVolkswagen 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.

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

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Volkswagen Type 1 Engine
Overview
ManufacturerVolkswagen
Also calledType 3 engine (when equipped with a crank mounted cooling fan)
Production1936-2006
Layout
ConfigurationFlat-4 naturally aspirated petrol engine
Cylinder block materialAluminum / magnesium alloy
Cylinder head materialAluminum alloy
ValvetrainPushrod OHV
Combustion
Fuel systemMechanical / Carbureted / Digifant EFI (Mexico only)
Fuel typeGasoline
Oil systemWet sump
Cooling systemAir-cooled
Chronology
SuccessorVolkswagen 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

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Volkswagen 1000 engine
Overview
Production1938–1942
Layout
Displacement985 cc (60.1 cu in)
Cylinder bore70 mm (2.76 in)
Piston stroke64 mm (2.52 in)
Compression ratio5.8:1
Output
Power output18 kW (24 PS; 24 bhp) at 3,000 rpm,
22 kW (30 PS; 30 bhp)

1100

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Volkswagen 1100 engine
Cutaway 1945 1131 cc engine
Overview
Also called1100 engine
Production1945–1953
Layout
Displacement1,131 cc (69.0 cu in)
Cylinder bore75 mm (2.95 in)
Piston stroke64 mm (2.52 in)
Compression ratio5.8:1
Output
Power output18 kW (24 PS; 24 bhp) at 3,300 rpm,
22 kW (30 PS; 30 bhp)
Specific power15.9 kW (22 PS; 21 bhp) / L (18kW variant)
Torque output68 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

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Volkswagen Typ 1200[3]
Overview
Also called1200 Engine
Production1950–1991
Layout
Displacement1,192 cc (72.7 cu in)
Cylinder bore77 mm (3.03 in)
Piston stroke64 mm (2.52 in)
Compression ratio7.0:1 – 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 output22 kW (30 PS; 30 bhp)
25 kW (34 PS; 34 bhp)
27 kW (37 PS; 36 bhp)
30 kW (41 PS; 40 bhp)
Specific power18.5–21.0 kW (25–29 PS; 25–28 bhp) / L
Torque outputdepending 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

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Volkswagen 1300 engine
Overview
Production1966–1995
Layout
Displacement1,285 cc (78.4 cu in)
Cylinder bore77 mm (3.03 in)
Piston stroke69 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

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

Other applications

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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

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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

[edit]
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

Half VW

[edit]
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:

References

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  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. ^ a b 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". Dunn-Right Incorporated. n.d. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  8. ^ [1], Limbach L2400
  9. ^ [2], Limbach L2000
  10. ^ [3], 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Great Plains Aircraft Supply Co., Inc. (n.d.). "0058 / Carr Twin Plans". Retrieved 16 February 2022.
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