The Vanagon Dictionary

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

The folding or sliding sleeping platform fitted beneath a camper pop-up roof on equipped models. It is stowed when the roof is lowered and is distinct from the lower rear bench bed.

• camper
• bed
• interior

The small electric pump that moves water from an onboard camper tank to the sink faucet when the tank-water mode is selected. It is separate from the engine's coolant-circulation pump.

• camper
• water-system
• electrical

The belt-driven pump that circulates engine coolant through the water-cooled Vanagon engine and cooling circuit. It is different from the small electric pump used to deliver water to a camper sink.

• engine
• water-cooled
• cooling

A heat exchanger that removes heat from engine oil. Air-cooled Type 2 engines use an oil cooler in the engine cooling assembly; design and mounting vary by engine. It is distinct from a Vanagon coolant radiator.

• engine
• air-cooled
• cooling

An onboard tank that stores water for a camper's sink supply. Capacity, location, filler, vent, and drain differ by conversion; it is not necessarily a potable-water-rated tank unless the specific installation is documented as such.

• camper
• water-system
• interior

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

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

Westfalia is a camper-conversion brand, not a Transporter generation. Gerry’s preserved FAQ describes Westfalia as one of several companies that converted VW Transporters and says it was generally the camper version imported and sold through Volkswagen dealers in the United States at that time. Roof, interior, and equipment depend on the specific vehicle and year.

• westfalia
• camper

Wolfsburg Editions are models with a higher level of trim, and are probably intended to stimulate sales late in the model year. In addition trim upgrades, they usually include some options without any extra charge (power mirrors, power door locks, and power windows, etc.) The true Weekender is usually also offered as a Wolfsburg Ed. (It's believed that the Westy Weekender only came as a Wolfsburg Edition.)

Vehicle Identification Number. This is a number that uniquely identifies your vehicle. It is usually located in several locations on the vehicle, the most common being under the windscreen just forward of the driver (and intended to be viewed from the outside of the bus.) You'll also find the VIN on the frame rail under the van near the front edge of the sliding door. Also see: Table for interpretting the Vanagon VIN

Adventurewagen was a Fort Bragg, California conversion builder, not a Volkswagen model or Transporter generation. In a December 1998 Gerry thread about camper conversions, a contributor describes its high-roof conversion as common on the U.S. West Coast and distinguishes that fixed high roof from pop-top layouts. A 2001 thread also identifies Adventurewagen as a maker of Vanagon high-top conversions. Roof, interior, and equipment vary by build and vehicle year.

• camper
• conversion

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

An engine that rejects heat directly to moving air rather than circulating liquid coolant. Gerry’s spark-plug reference separates bus applications by engine code and period: ED/GD/GE for 1975–1979 and CV for 1980–1983, including California models. A May 2002 Gerry discussion titled “83 Air Cooled - Production dates” concerns an owner’s September 1983 Westfalia and the difficulty of finding comparable 1983 examples; it is a period-specific production question, not a universal fitment chart.

• engine
• air-cooled