Engine types...........confused!

Discussion in 'Buying a VW Camper' started by Gobsheen, Apr 7, 2015.

  1. Me again!

    My latest area of confusion is engine sizes and types. First is type 1 vs type 4 engines. I seem to hear/read pretty consistently that type 4 engines are generally more reliable and powerful as standard......but is that true?!

    I fully understand that no bay I buy will be a rocket but I'm hoping to avoid painfully slow too! I don't want to be a boy racer but I want to be able to keep up reasonably well on the open road.

    There are loads of 1600's, quite a few 2000's, twin ports, single ports and whatever else! Question is, what are the pro's and con's of the various types? How many types/sizes are there as standard? Can someone give me the basics on what's out there and things to consider?

    I have searched but struggled to find the answers together. Maybe this would be a useful thread for others looking too?
     
  2. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    Type 4s are more powerful in standard guise but no more reliable if both are well maintained.

    In bay form, type 1s are 1600; type 4s are 1700, 1800 or 2000.

    There's also manual vs auto to consider as well as carbs vs fuel injection.
     
  3. Thanks. I've ruled out auto's due to the mpg being even worse. I'll do about 10,000 miles a year so mpg is a factor. And it'll rob some of the power too.

    I wasn't aware that some bays had fuel injection. What are the pro's and con's vs carb/twin carbs?

    I plan to service regularly and the extra power of a type 4 sounds good. How much of a difference is there between the 1700, 1800 & 2000's, in terms of power and mpg? I get the impression mpg is consistent-ish across them but not sure.
     
  4. mpg is a big concern, to be honest, you will be lucky to get over low 20's, but you know you,re not gonna buy one for there fantastic mpg figures, all I can say, is , really really do you,re homework, don't buy the first shiny one you see, keep looking on here, (and other sites} about different models. there are quite a few, my bay is a 1700, and its heavy on juice, ive just bought some new 36 dells, {carbs} and they aint cheap, now ive just had to strip my engine and the heads, have had it, so even more dosh,
     
  5. All are reliable if maintained, looked after properly - none are for speed but the Type 4's will give you a bit more on hills and better on motorways - saying that I drive mine more carefully then you need and usually stick to 55 in a 1600cc T1 or 2000cc T4 I also get more mph this way. Fuel injections are fine, I sell lots with these but if problematic you need spares which can be difficult to find - for ease and reliability I install carbs for cost and peace of mind for the customer if nothing else.
     
  6. Also, the type 4 lump is heavy when removing the engine, only know this when i had the engine out of mine, apparantly the 1600 are significantly lighter! Might not be an issue...loved my 2.0 litre type 4, sadly now for sale.
     
  7. matty

    matty Supporter

    10000 mile a year it would be cheaper to get a cheep runaround as well
    These buses are 40year old and need lots of looking after compared to newer stuff not saying they cant do it but you will be doing 3 services a year at that mileage
     
  8. It's worth adding that parts for type 4 engines are about a millionty more times expensive than parts for a type 1.
    My type 1 - 1600 is adequate - remember that not only are the engines slow & thirsty, the handling is wallowy (the nearest comparison I can come up with, is like trying to navigate a Supertanker in a village duckpond) and the brakes are made of wood.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2015

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