I've wondered the same thing. Having ripped apart and re-built a bunch of 914/912e motor, I was a little shocked to see no windage tray in the vanagon.

My understanding of the function of the tray though went beyond just oil "sloshing" around, but was more to prevent the upper surface of the oil from forming "fans" of oil that followed the crank throws.

These fans not only slowed the crank (if ever so slightly) but also created tiny foam bubbles in the oil, which essentially dropped the oil pressure/viscosity at the bearings. Why VW would eliminate it, one may never know.

Developing business and guiding change since 1996,

G. Matthew Bulley Bulley-Hewlett Corporate Communications Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com Alliance: www.ntara.com Phone: +1.919.658.1278

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Stan Wilder Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 3:03 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Windage Tray 2000cc Air Cooled

I read your post On Longevity, Displacement, Efficiency and Technology in Conversions with great interest. I'm certainly not knowledgeable enough to contradict any thing you delivered to the archives. However I do have a serious question. You briefly mention *add a windage tray*. I've noted that the Porsche type IV uses a windage tray but I assumed it was basically because the sports cars are driven hard in corners and maneuvers. Assuming that they would be splashing oil into the cylinders. I have considered securing a windage tray to install in my 2000 cc type IV engine in the future if and when I split the case again. If having a windage tray in a big Westfalia vehicle has any advantages I'd be interested in knowing why and what the advantages of having one installed are.

Stan Wilder 83 Air Cooled Westfalia