Ford 2.9L (177 cu in) firing order — diagram & guide

As one of the most popular V6 engines made by Ford in the 80s and 90s, the 2.9-liter Cologne is often misplaced with the similar 2.8-liter engine. While the differences may be slight, it still triggers the big question – what’s the Ford 2.8L (177 cu in) firing order?

Some say it’s the same as the 2.8-liter engine’s sequence, while others state otherwise, so we’ll try to get to the bottom of it in this guide. We’ll also discuss the cylinder numbering scheme and give you a few pointers on keeping this engine running smoothly, so let’s dig in.

Ford 2.9L firing order

We wanted to give you what you came for right away so we can discuss some key facts about this engine and its firing sequence. So, the Ford 2.9L firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6, and this firing sequence was also used in the 2.8-liter engine.

While it was pretty similar, things are not exactly the same for these two engines, so we’ll break down some crucial maintenance points.

First, the 2.9-liter engine has a different merging of the exhaust ports with the manifold pipes, and it’s also different that the 2.9 uses a chain to drive the camshaft instead of old-school gears in the 2.8 one.

Plus, the cylinder h read design and exhaust valves are differently designed for this particular engine, which improved its efficiency but it also makes the upkeep different from the 2.8.

Ford 2.9L Cosworth firing order

Besides the regular 2.9 V6, Ford also developed a more capable and rev-friendly Cosworth version as a high-performance version of this engine. The Ford 2.9L Cosworth firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6 as well, and there are no differences in that regard so you can rest assured.

However, there are some notable differences in the tensioners as well as the intake system, but the key change was a reinforced engine block. Along with a DOHC system (dual overhead cam) which is different from the standard single cam used in a regular 2.9, these changes made the engine perform a lot better.

Plus, there were now two valves for both inlet and outlet purposes each, which wasn’t the case with a regular version of the engine that used a single valve for both purposes. With this in mind, make sure to differentiate between the two even though the firing order is the same.

Ford 2.9L cylinder diagram

In all the versions of the 2.9-liter engine, Ford used the same cylinder numbering scheme. The cylinder order goes 1 to 3 on the passenger’s side and 4 to 6 on the driver’s side, looking from the front of the engine towards the rear.

This sequential order makes it much easier to work on the engine and maintain it, so you can combine the firing order we’ve mentioned with the precise location of each cylinder to replace plugs and coils.

Ford 2.9L vehicle applications

Since the 2.9-liter Cosworth V6 was only used in the 1991′ Ford Scorpio Cosworth, we’ll only list the vehicles that used the standard 2.9-liter engine:

• Ford Bronco II
• Ford Ranger
• Ford Sierra XR
• Ford Transit
• Ford Granada

Along with these vehicles, the engine was also used in Merkur Scorpio and Panther Kallista.

Our take

The 2.9-liter Cologne V6 isn’t the most widely-known version of this famous Ford engine, but either way ended up being used in a wide variety of models.

So, we hope to have cleared your doubts about its firing order and have given at least some insight into how the engine works with the accent on its cylinder numbering.