The Dodge Charger has had numerous engine configurations over the years, and one of the most important things you need to consider before opening any of them up is the firing order.
Getting the firing order incorrectly when doing engine maintenance can cause a lot of issues, which is why we’ve created this guide to help you know the proper sequence for the Dodge Charger.
We’ll also be explaining how an engine’s firing order works and why it’s important to remember when doing any sort of engine work.
What is the firing order on a Dodge Charger?
The Dodge Charger with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 has a firing order of 1-2-3-4-5-6, while the 5.7-liter V8 version has a firing order of 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.
The exact firing order of a Dodge Charger depends on the engine that it’s been fitted with, and in the case of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, this would be simply 1-2-3-4-5-6.
This firing order can also be written as A1-B2-C3-D4-E5-F6, and it starts at the “A1” cylinder at the right bank of the V6 engine as you’re facing toward the front of the Dodge Charger.
| It’s also important to mention the exact cylinder numbering of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, which is as follows: Passenger’s Side (Right Bank): 1, 3, 5 Driver’s Side (Left Bank): 2, 4, 6 |
The V6 Dodge Charger’s cylinders are simply odd and even-numbered depending on which side they are at, with those on the passenger’s side being cylinders 1, 3, and 5, and those on the driver’s side being cylinders 2, 4, and 6.
Since the 1-2-3-4-5-6 firing order and the cylinder numbering previously discussed are specifically designed for the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, this means that it applies to the SE, SXT, and GT trims of the 7th-generation Dodge Charger “LD”.
As for the bigger 5.7-liter V8 version of the Dodge Charger, it has a more specific firing order of 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, which is actually a commonly used firing order for V8 engines produced by Dodge.
Unlike the V6 engine, the 5.7-liter V8’s firing order starts at cylinder #1 at the left bank instead of the right one, which means that it has a different cylinder numbering as well.
| The cylinder numbering of the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine is as follows: Passenger’s Side (Right Bank): 2, 4, 6, 8 Driver’s Side (Left Bank): 1, 3, 5, 7 |
As you can see above, Dodge has marked all cylinders on the passenger’s side of the engine as even-numbered, while all cylinders on the driver’s side of the engine are odd-numbered.
The 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 firing order and the cylinder numbering discussed above apply to all Dodge Charger trims with the 5.7-liter HEMI V8, such as the R/T and Daytona R/T trims of the 6th generation, and the R/T trim of the 7th generation.
Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with both the firing order and the cylinder numbering of the Dodge Charger, we’ll now be showing you actual diagrams of them for your visual reference.
Dodge Charger 3.6L V6 Firing Order
The Dodge Charger’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 starts its firing order with cylinder #1 ignited (ignition stroke) at the front right side of the engine, then proceeds to fire up cylinder #2 as #1 does its exhaust stroke.
At this point, the crankshaft has already completed one rotation and the cycle repeats with cylinder #2 performing its exhaust stroke while #3 starts its ignition stroke.
This same process repeats until cylinder #6 finishes its exhaust stroke and cylinder #1 gets ignited again, completing the entire firing order and producing mechanical power.
If you would like to see a more in-depth guide to this firing order for the Dodge Charger 3.6L V6, we recommend watching the short explanation video below.
Dodge Charger 5.7L HEMI V8 Firing Order
The firing order for Dodge’s 5.7-liter V8 is a lot more unique compared to the V6, as it starts off with igniting cylinder #1 at the very front of the engine’s left bank, then goes right across towards cylinder #8 at the very rear of the right bank.
As cylinder #8 finishes its exhaust stroke, cylinder #4 on the right bank fires up, which is followed by #3 just right across it. This is the same story for the next two cylinders to fire up, which are #6 and #5.
Finally, another cross happens as cylinder #7 at the rear of the left bank fires up, then cylinder #2 at the opposite end of the right bank fires up during #7’s exhaust stroke.
It’s also worth noting that this firing order is also applicable to other Dodge V8s, such as the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 of the Dodge Charger Hellcat, one of the fastest Dodge Charger models ever made.
Firing Order of Dodge Charger Per Generation
| Dodge Charger Generation | Engine | Firing Order |
| 1st Generation (1966 to 1967) | 318 ci Small Block V8 | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 (clockwise distributor rotation) |
| 361/383/426/440 ci Big Block V8 | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 (counter-clockwise distributor rotation) | |
| 2nd Generation (1968 to 1970) | 225 ci I6 (Slant-Six) | 1-5-3-6-2-4 |
| 318 ci Small Block V8 | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 (clockwise distributor rotation) | |
| 383/426/440 ci Big Block V8 | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 (counter-clockwise distributor rotation) | |
| 3rd Generation (1971 to 1974) | 225 ci I6 (Slant-Six) | 1-5-3-6-2-4 |
| 318/340/360 ci Small Block V8 | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 (clockwise distributor rotation) | |
| 383/400/426/440 ci Big Block V8 | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 (counter-clockwise distributor rotation) | |
| 4th Generation (1975 to 1978) | 318/360 ci Small Block V8 | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 (clockwise distributor rotation) |
| 400 ci Big Block V8 | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 (counter-clockwise distributor rotation) | |
| 5th Generation (1982 to 1987) | 2.2L Turbo I4 | 1-3-4-2 |
| 6th Generation (LX) (2006 to 2010) | 2.7L/3.5L V6 | 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
| 5.7L/6.1L V6 | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 | |
| 7th Generation (LD) (2011 to Present) | 3.6L V6 | 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
| 5.7L/6.2L/6.4L V8 | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 |
What is the meaning of the firing order of an engine?
Engine firing order refers to the sequence that the cylinders are ignited or “fired”. This is done either via the order in which the spark plugs operate in gasoline engines or the order in which each cylinder receives fuel in diesel engines.
Why is firing order important?
Firing order is very important when designing engines in order to reduce vibration as much as possible. Having a proper firing order also increases the longevity of the engine, gives it a distinct sound, and balances its power output.
What is cylinder numbering?
Cylinder numbering is the designated number for each of an engine’s cylinders. This will be dependent on the manufacturer’s design and whether it’s a straight engine (I4, I6, etc.) or a V engine (V6, V8, etc.).
Such numbers are simply arranged from the frontmost cylinder to the rear for straight engines, as demonstrated in the diagram below.
For V engines, cylinder numbering can be done either sequentially for each cylinder bank or depending on each cylinder’s position on the crankshaft.
What is the difference between firing order and cylinder numbering?
Firing order refers to the sequence in which the cylinders are ignited or “fired”, while cylinder numbering is determined and assigned by the manufacturer itself during the design phase.
What is the firing order of a Dodge Charger 2.7L V6?
Dodge Chargers equipped with the 2.7-liter “Magnum” V6 engine have a firing order of 1-2-3-4-5-6.
What is the firing order of a Dodge Charger 6.4L HEMI V8?
Dodge Chargers equipped with the 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine have a firing order of 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.
What is the firing order of a Dodge Charger Hellcat?
The Dodge Charger Hellcat’s supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 has a firing order of 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you have to change spark plugs according to the firing order?
You don’t need to change the spark plugs according to the firing order of the engine. However, you do need to make sure that the spark plug wires (ignition cables) are reconnected exactly as they were before.
Will a car start if the firing order is wrong?
It’s still possible to start a car with an incorrect firing order, though the engine will run poorly and have decreased performance. Sometimes, it may not even start at all.
How do you know if your firing order is wrong?
If an engine has the wrong firing order, it can run rougher than usual, have decreased performance, cause backfires through the intake or after fires through the exhaust, stall, and even not start at all as you turn on the ignition.
What causes an engine to misfire?
Some common causes of a misfiring engine include faulty spark plugs or spark plug wires, faulty ignition coils, vacuum leaks, leaking seals or gaskets, and a faulty emissions system.
Why is my car turning over but not firing?
If your car’s engine cranks or turns over but doesn’t start, it may mean that it’s not receiving fuel due to clogged fuel injectors or a bad fuel pump. It can also be caused by bad spark plugs or low compression on one or several cylinders.
