The Vanagon Dictionary

Water-cooled engine used in some Volkswagen models

• engine
• wasserboxer

Pump that sprays water to clean windshield

• windshield
• washer
• pump

The front-mounted heat exchanger in a water-cooled Vanagon's engine-coolant circuit. It releases heat from circulating coolant to outside air. Air-cooled Type 2 buses do not use an engine-coolant radiator.

• engine
• water-cooled
• cooling

Proportion of antifreeze to water in the cooling system

• cooling
• engine

Camping without access to external power or water sources

• camping
• off-grid

Valve that allows water to drain from the air conditioning system

• ac
• vanagon

Chrome that has been damaged by water or age, resulting in small blemishes.

• chrome
• damage

System that sprays water or cleaning fluid onto headlight glass for improved visibility.

• lighting
• safety

The pressurized tank in the water-cooled Vanagon cooling circuit that accommodates coolant expansion and provides a fill and bleed point. It is separate from the low-pressure coolant refill reservoir; the names are sometimes confused in parts listings.

• engine
• water-cooled
• cooling

Distance between the tire contact point and the air intake system of the engine

• water
• depth
• clearance

The accessible coolant container used to replenish the water-cooled Vanagon system as coolant moves between the pressurized expansion tank and the reservoir. It is not the pressurized expansion tank itself; verify the part by the vehicle's cooling-system layout.

• engine
• water-cooled
• cooling

Switch that monitors the coolant temperature in the engine and activates the auxiliary water pump

• coolant
• temperature
• switch

a device that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by converting them into nitrogen and water

• emissions
• exhaust
• catalyst

Thermal switch that monitors the temperature of the coolant pipe in Waterboxer engines

• coolant
• pipe
• thermal
• switch

Exhaust pipe located before the rear silencer in Vanagon/T25, excluding Syncro models

• exhaust
• vanagon
• waterboxer

The camper interior cabinet assembly built around the sink and its water fittings. In some Vanagon Westfalia layouts it also contains or adjoins the refrigerator, storage, and electrical controls.

• camper
• interior
• kitchen

A small radiator that transfers heat from engine coolant to air for the cabin heating system. Vanagons may have front and additional rear heat exchangers, depending on equipment and market.

• engine
• water-cooled
• heating

The 12-volt battery supply used for camper electrical loads such as interior lighting, the water pump, and controls on the documented Vanagon Westfalia. Whether a particular vehicle has a separate auxiliary battery depends on its model and later modifications.

• camper
• electrical
• battery

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