VW & Audi 2.0T Engine (EA888 / EA113)
The 2.0-litre turbo four is the engine in most modern Volkswagens and Audis — Golf GTI, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan, A3, A4, A5, Q5 and more. Buying a used one is different from buying almost any other engine, because the model year tells you very little. What decides fitment is the engine ID code. Get that wrong and nothing lines up.
Our VW and Audi engines start at $770, matched to your engine ID code before dispatch.
Used VW engines Used Audi enginesFirst: which 2.0T do you actually have?
There are two different engine families sharing the same 2.0-litre turbo description, and they are not interchangeable.
| EA113 2.0T FSI | EA888 2.0 TSI | |
|---|---|---|
| Roughly | From around 2005 | 2007 onward |
| Cam drive | Belt and roller chain | Chain only |
| Compression | 10.5:1 | 9.6:1 |
| Fuel pressure | 30–110 bar | Up to 150 or 190 bar |
| Balance shafts | No | Yes, chain driven |
| Turbo | BorgWarner K03 / K04 | BorgWarner K03 or IHI |
Both are 1,984 cc with the same 82.5 mm bore and 92.8 mm stroke, and both use a cast iron block. That is exactly why people get them confused — and why the engine ID code matters more than the displacement.
The timing chain tensioner failure
This is the one that writes off EA888 engines, and it is the single biggest reason people end up on this page.
The early EA888 used a plastic timing chain tensioner. When it fails, the chain goes slack and can jump teeth. On an interference engine, that means pistons meeting valves. The engine does not limp — it stops.
The warning sign is a rattle from the chain end of the engine on a cold start, lasting a second or two before oil pressure takes up the slack. It is easy to dismiss. On this engine, do not dismiss it.
VW later moved to a revised, more durable tensioner. If you are buying a used engine from the affected period, the only question that matters is whether the updated tensioner has been fitted. Ask, and ask for proof.
Oil consumption on the early engines
The other well-known fault on the earlier EA888 engines is oil consumption, traced to the piston rings and valve stem seals. At its worst it is measured in litres, not top-ups. Later revisions changed the pistons and the problem largely went away.
When you are buying used, ask what the donor car’s oil consumption was. A seller who cannot answer that has not checked.
The later engines: what to expect instead
The third-generation EA888, broadly from 2012 onward, addressed both the tensioner and the oil consumption. It is the generation to buy. It brings its own maintenance list rather than its own catastrophe:
- Carbon build-up on the intake valves. Direct injection means no fuel washes over the back of the valves. Deposits build up and show as a rough cold idle and lost throttle response. Treat walnut blasting as a periodic service item, not a fault.
- PCV valve. A common failure across the family and an inexpensive one.
- Water pump and thermostat housing. The plastic housing is a known wear item on all generations.
- Boost control valves. The diverter valve and related solenoids cause sudden power loss when they fail.
Which generation to buy
| Generation | Approx. years | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| EA113 2.0T FSI | From ~2005 | Different family — match it exactly, do not substitute an EA888 |
| EA888 Gen 1 & 2 | ~2008–2012 | Only with a documented tensioner update and a straight answer on oil use. Price accordingly. |
| EA888 Gen 3 | ~2012 onward | The one to buy. Tensioner and oil consumption addressed. |
An important caveat: the changeover between generations varied by model and by market, so a model year alone will not tell you which one you have. Confirm from the engine ID code and build date, never from the year in a listing.
How to identify your engine
On US-market VW and Audi vehicles, two things identify the engine:
- The 5th digit of the VIN — this is the engine position on VW Group cars, not the 8th digit as on most domestic vehicles.
- The engine ID code — a three or four letter code such as CPMA, CTWB or CEJA. This is the definitive answer. Our listings carry it wherever the donor engine was stamped.
The code is stamped on the block and also appears on the service book and under the bonnet sticker on many cars.
Not sure what you have? Text your VIN to +1 (361) 470-5276. We will give you the engine ID code, the generation and every unit that interchanges with it — free.
Which vehicles use the 2.0T
| Volkswagen | Audi |
|---|---|
| Golf GTI (Mk5, Mk6, Mk7) | A3 (8P) |
| Golf R (Mk6) | A4 (B7, B8) |
| Jetta | A5 |
| Passat (B6, B8) | A6 (C6) |
| Tiguan | Q3, Q5 |
| Scirocco | TT (8J), S3 (8P) |
The same family also appears in Škoda, SEAT and the Porsche Macan. Browse what we hold: used Volkswagen engines · used Audi engines.
Used vs remanufactured 2.0T
When used makes sense
A later-generation used engine with a known history is the best value on this platform by a wide margin. The Gen 3 engines do not carry the faults that made the early ones notorious, and a used unit keeps original factory tolerances at roughly a third of the cost of a rebuild.
When remanufactured makes sense
If you are committed to an early car and want the piston rings and tensioner addressed in one go, a rebuild does that. Check what the rebuilder actually replaced — a reman that reuses the original plastic tensioner has not fixed the thing most likely to kill it.
Used VW and Audi engine prices
Our VW and Audi engines start at $770, with 2.0T units priced by generation and mileage. Every listing shows the mileage read off the donor odometer rather than an estimate, and we send photos of the actual unit before it ships.
Live prices are on the VW and Audi collection pages.
What is included
Engines ship as tested assemblies. You transfer your own intake, sensors, accessories and flywheel or flexplate from the old engine. Each listing states what is attached to that specific unit.
On this engine, budget for the water pump and thermostat housing while it is out — the plastic housing is a known wear item and it is far cheaper to do with the engine on the bench.
Shipping and warranty
Every engine is compression tested and photographed on the pallet before dispatch. Preparation takes 3 to 5 business days, then 2 to 4 days in transit on insured freight. Shipping is free to any address in all 50 states, residential included.
Standard warranty is 6 months, extendable to 3 years, with 7-day returns and free return shipping. Full terms: engine warranty policy · shipping policy · returns.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between EA113 and EA888?
They share the same 1,984 cc displacement, bore and stroke, but they are different engine families. The EA113 drives its camshafts with a belt and a roller chain and runs 10.5:1 compression. The EA888 is chain-only, runs 9.6:1, adds chain-driven balance shafts and uses much higher fuel pressure. They do not interchange.
Which 2.0T years should I avoid?
The early EA888 engines, roughly 2008 to 2012, carried the plastic timing chain tensioner and the oil consumption issue. They are still buyable if the updated tensioner has been documented and the oil consumption answered, but they should be priced to reflect that. Generation three, broadly 2012 onward, is the safer buy.
What does the timing chain rattle mean?
A rattle from the chain end of the engine for a second or two on a cold start is the classic sign of a worn or failing tensioner. On this engine the chain can jump teeth and the pistons will meet the valves, so it is not something to monitor — it is something to fix.
Can I use the model year to find the right engine?
No. The changeover between generations varied by model and by market, so two cars of the same year can have different engines. Use the engine ID code, a three or four letter code such as CPMA or CEJA, or send us your VIN and we will identify it for you.
Where is the engine code in a VW or Audi VIN?
The 5th digit, not the 8th as on most domestic vehicles. That alone narrows it down, but the stamped engine ID code on the block is the definitive answer and is what we match against.
Why do these engines get carbon build-up?
Direct injection sprays fuel straight into the cylinder, so no fuel washes across the back of the intake valves the way it does on a port-injected engine. Deposits accumulate, and the symptoms are a rough cold idle and reduced throttle response. Walnut blasting is the normal remedy and should be treated as routine maintenance.
Does the 2.0T need special oil?
Yes. Use oil meeting the VW specification for your engine and change it on a conventional interval rather than a long-life one. Oil quality and change frequency are the biggest factors in how long the chain components and piston rings last on this family.
How much is a used VW or Audi 2.0T engine?
Our VW and Audi engines start at $770, with 2.0T units priced by generation and mileage. A remanufactured unit typically costs several times that before labour. Live pricing is on the VW and Audi collection pages.
Send us your VIN and we will tell you the engine ID code, which generation you have and exactly what fits.
Call +1 (361) 470-5276 Text your VINMore buying guides: all used engine guides · Honda 1.5L turbo · Ford 3.5L EcoBoost