The Vanagon Dictionary

The surface where a valve meets the cylinder head

• engine
• valve

Component that directs air and fuel into the engine's cylinders

• engine
• airflow

The valve that allows air and fuel into an engine cylinder

• engine
• valve

The valve that allows exhaust gases out of an engine cylinder

• engine
• valve

Ring that scrapes excess oil from the cylinder wall

• engine
• oil

Component that directs the high voltage from the ignition coil to the correct cylinder

• ignition
• engine

A device that sprays fuel into the engine's cylinders

• fuel
• injector
• engine

The sequence in which the spark plugs fire in a multi-cylinder engine

• ignition
• engine

A failure of the engine to ignite the fuel-air mixture in one or more cylinders

• engine
• performance

A type of nut used to secure the cylinder head to the engine block

• cap
• nut

Coil that generates the high voltage needed to create a spark in the engine's cylinders

• ignition
• electrical

The housing around the engine cooling fan that directs airflow across the cylinders and cylinder heads on an air-cooled VW engine. Type 2 shrouds differ by engine and model year; this term does not describe the liquid-coolant radiator used on water-cooled Vanagons.

• engine
• air-cooled
• cooling

Volkswagen engine with two banks of cylinders in V-formation, combined at a 72-degree angle

• engine
• w

System responsible for generating the high voltage needed to create a spark in the engine's cylinders

• ignition
• engine

A ring that fits around a piston to seal the gap between the piston and cylinder

• engine
• piston

A ring-shaped component that provides a seal between two parts, such as the cylinder head and engine block

• sealing
• ring

A rod connecting the piston to the crankshaft, allowing the piston to move freely up and down in the cylinder.

• engine
• piston
• crankshaft

Community name for Volkswagen’s water-cooled, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine family used in Vanagons. Gerry’s technical index covers 1.9 L and 2.1 L versions and year-specific service topics. A January 2004 archive thread describes an owner’s 1983 1.9 L Waterboxer running roughly when cold but normally after warming up; it records the symptom and discussion, not a universal cause or fix. Identify the engine code and model year before using parts or service information.

• engine
• water-cooled