Volkswagen Engines

1.9 TDI (ALH/AHF/ASV)

1.9L TDI I4

1996–2009

Golf, Ibiza, Felicia, Polo, A4, Octavia, Leon, Toledo, A3, Arosa, Fabia, Cordoba, Alhambra, Passat, Superb, A6, Transporter, Altea, Touran, Roomster

Legendary diesel. 500k+ miles documented. Simple, efficient, nearly unkillable. ...

1.9 TDI (ALH)

1.9L TDI I4

1996–2006

Golf 1.9 TDI, Polo 1.9 TDI

The legendary ALH. 500k+ miles documented. Simple mechanical injection. Nearly u...

1.6 MPI

1.6L NA I4

2000–2015

A4, Felicia, Polo, Ibiza, Octavia, Toledo, Golf, Leon, A3, Passat, Cordoba, Altea, Exeo, Caddy, Fabia

Simple, slow, reliable. No turbo = no turbo problems. Basic transport. Polo/Golf...

EA888 Gen 4 (2.0 TSI)

2.0L TSI I4

2020–present

Kodiaq, Golf, Leon, Q5, A4, A3, Polo, Octavia, Q3, Tarraco, T-Roc, A6, Tiguan, Ateca, Karoq, Arteon, Formentor, Getz, Picanto, i10, Santa Fe, Sorento, Niro, Ioniq, XCeed, Pro Ceed, i30, Ceed, Optima, Optima/K5, i20, Golf GTI 2.0 TSI, Golf R 2.0 TSI, Passat 2.0 TSI

Latest evolution. Golf 8 GTI/R. Improved over Gen 3 in most areas.

EA888 Gen 3 (2.0 TSI)

2.0L TSI I4

2012–2020

Golf, Passat, Superb, Octavia, Kodiaq, Transporter, Leon, A3, Tiguan, Q3, Arteon, Ateca, Ateca 2.0 TSI, Golf GTI 2.0 TSI, Golf R 2.0 TSI, Passat 2.0 TSI, Polo GTI 2.0 TSI, Scirocco 2.0 TSI, T-Roc R 2.0 TSI

Same as Audi EA888 Gen 3. Dual injection, metal tensioner. Golf GTI/R engine. Pr...

1.6 8V

1.6 8V (AEH/AKL)

1996–2003

Golf IV/Bora workhorse. Cast iron block. Simple 8-valve. Oil leaks at high milea...

1.8 NA

1.8 NA (ABS/ACC/ADZ)

1991–2000

Golf

Golf III/IV, Passat B4. Simple 8V NA. Hydraulic lifters. Timing belt (interferen...

VR6 3.2

3.2L VR6

2003–2009

Touareg, Golf

Unique narrow-angle V6. Glorious sound. R32/TT 3.2. Timing chain at high mileage...

2.0 TDI CR (EA189/288)

2.0L CR Diesel I4

2008–present

Transporter, Exeo, A4, Q5, A5, Tiguan, A3, Golf, Yeti, Passat, Octavia, Superb, Alhambra, Q3, Caddy, Ibiza, A6, Leon, Q7, TT, Ateca, Touran, Karoq, T-Roc, Arteon, Tarraco, Kodiaq, Macan

Common rail successor. Smoother, more refined. Dieselgate affected EA189 but eng...

1.4 16V

1.4 16V (AHW/AKQ/APE)

1997–2005

Golf IV/Polo. Simple, reliable. Coil pack failures common. Thermostat housing cr...

1.7 SDI (AKU)

1.7 SDI (AKU)

1997–2005

Arosa

Arosa/Lupo. Indirect injection diesel — no turbo, no common rail, no DPF. Extrem...

DSG DQ250

6-speed Wet-Clutch DSG

2003–present

Wet-clutch = better heat management. GTI/R/TDI. Oil changes critical. Much more ...

EA211 1.4 TSI

1.4L TSI

2012–2020

A3, Leon, Touran, Fabia, Toledo, Octavia, Ibiza, Rapid, Polo, Golf, Golf 1.4 TSI, Passat 1.4 TSI, Tiguan 1.4 TSI

Sweet spot VW engine. ACT cylinder deactivation on some. Good balance of power a...

EA288 2.0 TDI

2.0L TDI (clean diesel)

2015–present

Ibiza, Polo, Fabia, Rapid, Ateca 2.0 TDI, Caddy 2.0 TDI, Golf 2.0 TDI, Karoq 2.0 TDI, Kodiaq 2.0 TDI, Leon 2.0 TDI, Octavia 2.0 TDI, Octavia Combi 2.0 TDI, Passat 2.0 TDI, Passat Variant 2.0 TDI, Sharan 2.0 TDI, Superb 2.0 TDI, T-Roc 2.0 TDI, Tiguan 2.0 TDI, Touareg 3.0 TDI, Touran 2.0 TDI

Post-Dieselgate clean diesel. AdBlue SCR. Reliable if DPF maintained. Strong hig...

1.6 TDI (EA288)

1.6L Diesel I4

2009–2020

Ibiza, Roomster, Fabia, Caddy, Altea, Leon, Superb, Octavia, Passat, Golf, Rapid, Yeti, Toledo, Polo, A3, Scala, Ateca, Arona, Tiguan, Touran, Kodiaq, Karoq, T-Roc

Efficient commuter diesel. DPF-equipped. Good for mixed driving. Avoid short tri...

VR6 2.8

VR6 2.8 (AAA/AES)

1991–2000

Golf, Passat, Superb, Alhambra

Golf III/Corrado VR6. Narrow-angle V6. Timing chain (double row). Head gasket st...

EA211 1.0 TSI

1.0L TSI I3

2015–present

Ibiza, Polo, Arosa, Fabia, Citigo, Mii, Up, Octavia, Leon, Rapid, Golf, Arona, T-Roc, Karoq, Taigo, A3, Scala, Ateca, T-Cross, Kamiq, T-Roc 1.0 TSI

Downsized 3-cyl. Surprisingly peppy. Belt-driven. Good city car. Adequate for hi...

3.0 V6 TSI

3.0 V6 TSI (CGRA/DHXA)

2012–present

Touareg

Touareg, Arteon R, Cayenne base. EA839 family (shared Porsche/Audi). Supercharge...

EA211 1.2 TSI

1.2L TSI

2012–2020

Ibiza, Polo, Fabia, Roomster, Caddy, Toledo, Golf, Yeti, Fabia 1.2 TSI, Polo 1.2 TSI

Small turbo. Efficient city engine. Timing belt not chain. Reliable if belt main...

EA211 1.5 TSI Evo

1.5L Turbo I4

2017–present

Arona 1.5 TSI, Ateca 1.5 TSI, Formentor 1.5 TSI, Golf 1.5 TSI evo, Ibiza 1.5 TSI, Kamiq 1.5 TSI, Karoq 1.5 TSI, Kodiaq 1.5 TSI, Leon 1.5 TSI, Octavia 1.5 TSI, Scala 1.5 TSI, T-Roc 1.5 TSI, Tiguan 1.5 TSI, Touran 1.5 TSI

Miller cycle efficiency. Golf 8/T-Roc/Octavia. Low-RPM shudder concern (software...

2.0 8V

2.0 8V (AZJ/AQY)

1998–2004

Golf, Alhambra, Transporter, Fabia, Superb

Golf IV/Bora 2.0. Adequate power. Oil consumption at high mileage. Coil packs. I...

2.0 TDI PD (EA188)

2.0L PD Diesel I4

2003–2009

Toledo, Altea, Leon, Touran, Octavia, Golf, A3, Passat, A4, A6, Alhambra

Pump-Düse system. Strong but injector-hungry. DPF issues if city-only. Good high...

3.0 V6 TSI eHybrid

3.0 V6 TSI+motor PHEV

2020–present

Touareg

Touareg R eHybrid. EA839 V6 + electric motor. Same V6 as petrol version + PHEV c...

1.8T EA113 Passat

1.8T (ADR/APT/APU/AWT) Passat

1995–2005

Passat, Octavia, Alhambra, Superb, Exeo

Passat B5, A4 B5. Lower-output EA113 turbo. Same sludge/coil issues as GTI varia...

1.8T EA113 GTI

1.8T (AGU/AUM/AUQ/ARZ) GTI

1997–2005

Ibiza, Golf, Toledo, Octavia, Leon, Polo, Exeo, Yeti, Passat, Superb

Golf IV GTI, Bora, S3. EA113 turbo. K03/K04 turbo. Oil sludge if intervals skipp...

VR6 3.6

VR6 3.6 (BWS/BHK)

2005–2016

Touareg, Q7, Passat, Superb

Passat R36, Touareg, Eos. Largest VR6. Chain driven. Timing chain guides. Oil co...

2.3 V5

2.3 V5 (AGZ)

1997–2005

Toledo, Golf

Golf IV/Bora V5. Unique 5-cylinder derived from VR6. Coil pack failures. Mass ai...

1.2 TDI (CFWA)

1.2 TDI 3-cyl (CFWA)

2009–2014

Fabia, Roomster

Polo/Fabia/Roomster. 3-cylinder diesel. Timing belt. DPF clogs rapidly in city u...

4.2 V8

4.2 V8 (AXQ/BAR)

2002–2010

Touareg

Touareg V8. Timing chain at rear of engine. Carbon buildup. Oil consumption. Exp...

2.0 FSI

2.0 FSI (BLR/BLY/BVY)

2003–2008

Ibiza, Passat, Octavia, Leon, Toledo, Touran, Altea

Golf V, Passat B6, A4 B7. First mass-market FSI (direct injection). Cam follower...

EA189 TDI

2.0L TDI (Dieselgate)

2008–2015

Golf 2.0 TDI, Leon 1.6 TDI, Octavia 1.6 TDI, Passat 2.0 TDI, Tiguan 2.0 TDI

The Dieselgate engine. Mechanically decent but emissions cheating scandal. Resid...

EA111 1.4 TSI

1.4L TSI I4

2005–2012

Golf, Ibiza, Leon, Arosa, Cordoba, Polo, Fabia, Octavia, Touran, A3, Passat, Altea, Roomster, Alhambra, Tiguan, Rapid, Yeti, Superb

Twin-charged versions powerful but timing chain stretch + oil issues. Single-tur...

DSG DQ200

7-speed Dry-Clutch DSG

2008–present

Mechatronics failure, clutch pack overheating in traffic. Expensive repair. Fine...

2.5 TDI V6

2.5 TDI V6 (AKE/BAU)

1998–2005

Passat, Touareg, Superb

Same engine as Audi 2.5 TDI. Camshaft wear destroys engine. Timing belt critical...

V10 TDI 5.0

V10 TDI 5.0 (AYH/BLE)

2002–2010

Touareg

Touareg V10 TDI. Twin-turbo V10 diesel. Enormous torque. Timing gear failures. T...

W8 4.0

W8 4.0 (BDN)

2001–2004

Passat

Passat W8. Two VR4 blocks merged. Most complex VW ever. 4 timing chains. Ignitio...