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VW Audi Engines | Porsche engines
Engines
1960s
Germany

History

Volkswagen Type 4 engine

 Volkswagen Type 4 engine
Overview
Production 1968–1983
Chronology
Predecessor Volkswagen Type 1 engine
Successor Volkswagen Wasserboxer engine

 

In 1968, Volkswagen introduced a new vehicle, the Volkswagen Type 4. The model 411, and later the model 412, offered many new features to the Volkswagen lineup.

While the Type 4 was discontinued in 1974 when sales dropped, its engine became the power plant for Volkswagen Type 2s produced from 1972 to 1979: it continued in modified form in the later Vanagon which was air-cooled from 1980 until mid-1983.

The engine that superseded the Type 4 engine in late 1983 retained Volkswagen Type 1 architecture, yet featured water-cooled cylinder heads and cylinder jackets. The wasserboxer, Volkswagen terminology for a water-cooled, opposed-cylinder (flat or 'boxer engine') was subsequently discontinued in 1992 with the introduction of the Eurovan.

The Type 4 engine was also used on the Volkswagen version of the Porsche 914. Volkswagen versions originally came with an 80 horsepower (60 kW) fuel-injected 1.7-litre flat-4 engine based on the Volkswagen air-cooled engine. In Europe, the four-cylinder cars were sold as Volkswagen-Porsches, at Volkswagen dealerships.

Porsche discontinued the 914/6 variant in 1972 after production of 3,351 units; its place in the lineup was filled by a variant powered by a new 95 metric horsepower (70 kW; 94 bhp) 2.0-litre fuel-injected version of Volkswagen's Type 4 engine in 1973. For 1974, the 1.7-litre engine was replaced by a 76 metric horsepower (56 kW; 75 bhp) 1.8-litre, and the new Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection system was added to American units to help with emissions control. 914 production ended in 1976. The 2.0-litre engine continued to be used in the Porsche 912E, which provided an entry-level model until the Porsche 924 was introduced.

For the Volkswagen Type 2, 1972's most prominent change was a bigger engine compartment to fit the larger 1.7- to 2.0-litre engines from the Volkswagen Type 4, and a redesigned rear end which eliminated the removable rear apron. The air inlets were also enlarged to accommodate the increased cooling air needs of the larger engines.

This all-new, larger engine is commonly called the Type 4 engine as opposed to the previous Type 1 engine first introduced in the Type 1 Beetle. This engine was called "Type 4" because it was originally designed for the Type 4 (411 and 412) automobiles. There is no "Type 2 engine" or "Type 3 engine", because those vehicles did not feature new engine designs when introduced. They used the "Type 1" engine from the Beetle with minor modifications such as rear mount provisions and different cooling shroud arrangements, although the Type 3 did introduce fuel injection on the "Type 1" engine.

In the Type 2, the Volkswagen Type 4 engine was an option from 1972. This engine was standard in models destined for the US and Canada. Only with the Type 4 engine did an automatic transmission become available for the first time in 1973. Both engines displaced 1.7 litres, rated at 66 metric horsepower (49 kW; 65 bhp) with the manual transmission, and 62 metric horsepower (46 kW; 61 bhp) with the automatic. The Type 4 engine was enlarged to 1.8 litres and 68 metric horsepower (50 kW; 67 bhp) in 1974, and again to 2.0 litres and 70 metric horsepower (51 kW; 69 bhp) in 1976. As with all Transporter engines, the focus in development was not on motive power, but on low-end torque. The Type 4 engines were considerably more robust and durable than the Type 1 engines, particularly in Transporter service.

Volkswagen 1700 engine
Combustion chamber
Displacement 1,679 cc (102.5 cu in)
Compression ratio 7.8:1
Output
Power output 76 PS (56 kW) @ 5,000 rpm
Torque output 127 N·m (94 lbf·ft) @ 3,500 rpm
Volkswagen 1800 engine
Power output 50 kW (68 PS; 67 bhp)
Volkswagen 2000 engine
Power output 52 kW (71 PS; 70 bhp)

Uprated Volkswagen Type-4 engine with twin carbs

uprated-Volkswagen-Type-4-engine

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Technical

  • Technical details and specifications VW Type 4 engine (1968-1983)

    Volkswagen Transporter 1.7 L Type 4 engine

    No. of cylinders 4
    Capacity 1679 cc
    Firing order 1-4-3-2
    Compression ratio 7.3:1
    Suitable for unleaded petrol No
    Fuel system Make Solex 34 PDSIT Carb-FJ
    Ignition coil Make Bosch 0 221 102 076
    Distributor Make Bosch 021 905 205E
    Distributor Contact breaker gap 0.4mm
    Starter motor Make Bosch Type EF(L)12V 0.7PS
    Minimum starting voltage 9V
    Maximum cranking amps 119-145a
    Alternator Make Bosch AD1/14V
    Regulated voltage 13.9-14.8V

    © Motor car History

     

Service

  • Service Guide VW Type 4 engine (1968-1983)

    Volkswagen Transporter 1.7 L Type 4 engine
     

    Spark plugs Electrode gap 0.7mm
    Spark plugs Tighten 36 Nm
    Spark plugs Original equipment Bosch W8CC
    Spark plugs Make Champion N5C
    Spark plugs Make NGK B5ES
    Valve clearance -INLET 0.15 mm check cold
    Valve clearance -EXHAUST 0.15 mm check cold
    Drive belt size - alternator 9.5x965mm
    Drive belt tension - alternator 15 mm
    Engine oil grade - moderate climate 10W/30 SAE
    Engine oil change 3 litres
    Manual gearbox oil change 2 litres
    Automatic transmission oil change 3 litres

    © Motor car History

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