Three types of gasoline engines were installed on the VW Transporter T4 model.
2.0L four-cylinder engine, 2.5L five-cylinder engine, and 2.8L six-cylinder engine. Engines 2.0 and 2.5 have the same bore and stroke and are, if not “native”, but “cousins.” After 1994, a 2.8 liter VR6 engine was also installed on the T4 model. Unfortunately, our publishing house does not have detailed information on 2.5L engines, so these models will not be described.Engine Transporter T4 2.8L (VR6) is allocated in a separate chapter.With normal maintenance, gasoline engines provide mileage of at least 160-200 thousand km. mileage.If repairs are necessary, find out the cost and availability of spare parts, as well as “second hand” parts and assemblies.If difficulties arise, contact the service station specialists.Volkswagen T4 engine repair is best done in a spacious, clean garage, the presence of a workbench and a pit, as well as assistants will greatly facilitate the work (if you do not get carried away.
We do not recommend saving on spare parts. Depending on the completeness and quality of the engine repair, the post-repair run is from 40 to 90% of the original, so is it worth saving?
Saving (within reasonable limits!) is on the tool, because.
there is an excellent and inexpensive domestic-made tool, and some domestic-made sealant-gasket-type products are quite suitable. Don't throw away your old pads until you get new ones: you'll have something to compare against.
Be sure to replace all gaskets, seals, o-rings that you meet. This small thing costs a penny (albeit currency), and the time and money spent on a new repair due to loss of tightness is much more expensive. After disassembling the VW Transporter T4 engine, thoroughly clean all parts.
Remove new parts from packaging immediately before installation, so there is less chance of damage or staining them due to your own negligence. Protect disassembled components and assemblies from dust. Cover them with a clean cloth. Maintain cleanliness in the workplace, this also affects the quality of the repair. During work on the engine, it is often necessary to turn the crankshaft to one position or another.
This operation can be carried out in various ways: by lifting the front of the machine, release the drive wheel and, after engaging 5th gear, turn the crankshaft by rotating the front wheel; - putting a spanner wrench on the crankshaft pulley bolt and setting the transmission in neutral position, turn the crankshaft to the desired position;
- extravagant way: Turn on the fifth gear.

Push the car forward or backward and the crankshaft will turn. Compression Check
Compression check is one of the simplest diagnostic procedures.
It allows you to determine the cause of the difficult start of the Volkswagen Transporter T4 engine, as well as the condition of the connecting rod and piston group and the valve mechanism. Compression is checked in all cylinders in order to determine if all valves close properly and if the piston rings are not damaged or worn, and if there are any other malfunctions in the cylinders (cracks, damage to the head gasket, etc.) .
♦ Before checking, warm up the Volkswagen T4 to operating temperature.
♦ Remove the spark plugs.
♦ Open the throttle as well as the starting valve by depressing the accelerator pedal as far as it will go.
♦ Install a compression tester in the spark plug hole of the first cylinder.
♦ Have a second person turn the crankshaft with the starter until the compression gauge pointer indicates the highest compression pressure.
Record your readings. ♦ Check other cylinders in the same way. Cylinder compression should not differ by more than 20%. Low and uneven pressure in the cylinders of the T4 engine can be caused by worn piston rings, which will also manifest itself in excessive oil consumption. The pressure drop of neighboring cylinders can be explained by damage to the head gasket. In good condition of the cylinders, the compression pressure should be at least 7.5 atm. (about 0.75 MPa).