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Firing Order Variations
I'm preparing to do a tune up on my 560SEL later this week and went to confirm the firing order as I know it's different than that on Chrysler V-8s with which I am more familiar. What I discovered is that there are a couple of different cylinder numbering systems as well as firing orders out there and I'm curious if anyone knows why/how each developed.
Numbering Systems: Chrysler (and GM I discovered in my research) number the cylinders in the order in which they are encountered by a vertical plane moving from the front of the engine to the rear. Thus #1 is left front (from the perspective of the driver's seat) with #2 front right and #8 right rear. Ford and M-B use a different numbering system that I'm guessing may be somewhat of a "international standard" as I found it used in a Bosch handbook on all things automotive. The Ford/M-B system puts #1 at front right (from the perspective of the driver's seat) and continues back on the right bank before moving to #5 at front left on back to #8 at left rear. Again, I've found nothing that makes mention of when/why/or by whom these two systems were developed. Firing Order: For ease of human memory, all manufacturer's start their firing order with cylinder #1 according to their own numbering system. Chrysler and GM appear to have always used the same firing order for their V-8s: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. Mercedes appears to have always used 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2 (which translated into Chrysler/GM speak would be: 1-8-7-3-6-5-4-2). Note that this is almost the same as the Chrysler/GM order with only cylinders 7 and 4 being interchanged. Ford, who uses the same numbering system as M-B, has used two firing orders during different time periods: 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 or more recently 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8. A quick comparison shows that the more recent and, I gather, current Ford order is very similar to M-B and in fact is the same as the Chrysler/GM order once translated to the same numbering scheme. The earlier Ford firing order appears to have two pairs of cylinders swapped when compared to M-B: 3 & 5 and 4 & 7 Anyone have any insight this? jlc
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Jeff '87 560SEL 267K (177K on motor) Blue/Blue '98 Buick LeSebre 60K (wife's car) '56 Imperial Sedan 124K Past Cars: '67 Dodge Monaco 130K (Sold) '87 Chrysler 5th Ave 245K and going strong (sold) '73 Plymouth Satillite 175K (sold) '96 Chrysler LHS 80K (totaled) |
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I dont remember it offhand but the firing order (Zundfolge) is stamped on one of the valve covers.
standing in front of the car, facing the engine, #'s 1-4 are on your left side (passenger side of engine) and #'s 5-8 are on your right side (drivers side of engine). Sort of like this: REAR 4 8 3 7 2 6 1 5 FRONT
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1980 500SE/AMG Euro 1981 500SEL Euro 1982 380SEL 1983 300TD 1983 500SEC/AMG Euro 1984 500SEC 1984 300TD Euro 1986 190E 2.3-16 1986 190E 2.3 1987 300D 1997 C36 AMG 2003 C320T 4matic past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350 |
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John,
I know what the firing order is. That wasn't my question. My question is why do some manufacturers use one order and others another? Why the different cylinder numbering systems as well? jlc
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Jeff '87 560SEL 267K (177K on motor) Blue/Blue '98 Buick LeSebre 60K (wife's car) '56 Imperial Sedan 124K Past Cars: '67 Dodge Monaco 130K (Sold) '87 Chrysler 5th Ave 245K and going strong (sold) '73 Plymouth Satillite 175K (sold) '96 Chrysler LHS 80K (totaled) |
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The firing order af any engine depends on the numbering of the engine cylinders! In 1964 when MB built the M100 V-8 they "chose" their way of numbering & still use that today.
Having the right side of the motor being 1-4 with the right front #1 is 100% their choice!
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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES) ASE Master Technician Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times) 44 years foreign automotive repair 27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer) MB technical information Specialist (15 years) 190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold) 1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold) Retired Moderator |
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