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Volkswagen 2.0L (97 cu in) firing order — diagram & guide

Achieving optimal efficiency with the Volkswagen 2.0L firing order.

A man is working on a car engine in a garage.
A man in a blue jacket smiling in front of a red wall.
Filip Gromovic November 6, 2023 |

If you own a compact passenger car from one of the Volkswagen Group brands, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is one of the best options. The turbocharged version of these is especially capable in high-performance variants like the Golf GTI, so it’s a good choice for a reason.

All that high performance comes with a price of higher oil consumption so it’s important to properly maintain the engine. That’s why our team has you covered with this guide on the Volkswagen 2.0L (121 cu in) firing order and cylinder configuration of the engine.

Volkswagen 2.0L firing order

Let’s start with the most important part – the Volkswagen 2.0L firing order is 1-3-4-2 and it’s a common pattern for all the versions of the engine. The 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged engine is both present in the Golf GTI and some Audi performance models like the S3.

So, it’s a good thing you can’t go wrong with the firing order of this engine, but there are some other key points to consider as well. You’ll need to know exactly where the cylinders are positioned within the engine to make the firing order worth using, so we’ll help you do just that in hte next section.

Volkswagen 2.0L cylinder diagram

A white tesla sports car with four numbers on it.

Besides the 1-3-4-2 firing order, it’s also worth noting that the Volkswagen 2.0-liter is a straight-four engine. That means the cylinders go from 1 to 4 in a straight line looking from left to right of hte engine bay.

The first cylinder is the one on the leftmost side of the engine, while cylinder number four is the one on the right side. So, at least now you’ll know exactly what to look for when you raise the engine’s cover and spot at the cylinders.

Volkswagen 2.0L vehicle applications

Now it’s important to discuss the vehicle models powered by Volkswagen’s 2.0-liter I4 engine. This way you’ll be certain that the firing order 1-3-4-2 can be used for your vehicle and powertrain, so here’s a complete list of all the models:

  • Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GTI
  • Volkswagen Golf Mk6 GTI
  • Volkswagen Golf Mk7 GTI
  • Volkswagen Jetta GLI
  • Volkswagen Passat B7
  • Volkswagen Tiguan

Along with these, the same engine has also been used in a few other models within the Volkswagen vehicle group. So, a few Audi cars like the A3, S3, A5, and A6 have been using the same engine with the 1-3-4-2 firing order.

Our take

Overall, the 2.0-liter engine from Volkswagen is pretty reliable aside from its high oil consumption issue that can be resolved by checking the engine frequently. That should be easier with the firing order we’ve discussed in this guide, so hopefully you’ll have an easier time solving and preventing these issues.

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Next post: Volkswagen 1.6L firing order
  • Filip Gromovic
    Filip Gromovic

    Filip is a lifelong car enthusiast with over 3 years of experience writing about cars and had worked as a mechanic apprentice for over 5 years, gaining hands-on expertise in automotive mechanics. At REREV, he combines his passion for cars with his comprehensive knowledge to provide readers with a unique blend of technical insight and engaging storytelling that sets the bar high for automotive content.

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