Volkswagen AG EA888 Engine Specs
Volkswagen AG
Volkswagen AG EA888 is a 2.0L (1984 cc) petrol engine with 220 HP, 350 Nm, 9.6:1 compression ratio. Fuel consumption: 8-6L/100km. Typical service life: 250,000+ km.
Description
The Volkswagen Group EA888 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection inline-four petrol engine produced since 2007, VW Group's flagship modern performance four-cylinder and the successor to the earlier EA113 2.0T FSI, used across an enormous range of Audi and Volkswagen performance models including the Audi A3/S3, A4/S4, Q3/RSQ3, and the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R, Passat, and Tiguan, among many others.
Producing around 220hp and 350Nm of torque in its common Golf GTI-level tune (with considerably more available in higher-output S3 and Golf R applications using the same basic architecture), the EA888 uses a DOHC 16-valve head, direct fuel injection, a single twin-scroll turbocharger, and has been through several major revisions since its introduction, with each generation improving thermal efficiency, reducing oil consumption issues that affected earlier iterations, and increasing available power. This makes the EA888 one of the most important and continuously refined engines in the entire VW Group lineup.
Because the EA888 spans multiple distinct generations (commonly referred to as Gen 1, 2, 3, and 3B/EVO) with meaningfully different characteristics, confirming which specific generation a used vehicle has is important, since earlier generations were more prone to certain issues - including oil consumption and timing chain tensioner problems - that were substantially addressed in later revisions. As with any modern turbocharged direct-injection engine, carbon buildup on the intake valves develops gradually over high mileage, and periodic intake cleaning is a sensible preventive measure. The turbocharger requires attentive maintenance, with quality oil and consistent, on-schedule change intervals mattering considerably to long-term reliability. Given the EA888's use across such a wide range of Audi and VW performance models, parts availability and specialist tuning knowledge are excellent, and it remains one of the most popular engines for aftermarket performance upgrades in the VW Group range.