On 8/3/2012 11:20 AM, P.J.Berg wrote:
> On Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:02:24 +0200, Mr. K > wrote:
>
>> 4321.. wouldn't it be smoother if the order fired one side of the engine
>> then the other? like 4231 ?
>> yes, I have an inquiring mind.
>
> The firing order is 1432, so it does alternate sides.
>
> J.

It doesn't matter which cylinder you're starting with, the way VW
designed it is that two cylinders on one side are fired in succession
before the two on the other side are fired, i.e. 3 follows 4, and 1
follows 2. The cylinder being fired alternates from left to right bank
only once in the 4-cylinder cycle.

What Mr. K is asking is why doesn't it alternate sides after each time a
cylinder is fired so that the fired cylinder alternates sides twice in
the 4-cylinder cycle.

In a water-cooled car where the cylinders are inside the case you don't
want adjacent cylinders firing in succession -- thus avoiding localized
heat build-up.