Forged connecting rods Audi Volkswagen - 2.0L 16V TFSI - EA113 Gen.2 (21 mm pin) for forged pistons

The 2.0 TFSI EA113 Gen.2 engine

The second-generation 2.0 TFSI EA113 is an inline four-cylinder 16-valve petrol engine with direct injection and turbocharging, still using belt-driven timing. It displaces 1,984 cc (82.5 mm bore, 92.8 mm stroke) and was built mainly between 2006 and 2013. It powered some of the Volkswagen group’s most iconic sporty models , Audi A3 8P and S3, TT/TTS 8J, Golf V GTI, Golf VI R, Scirocco R, SEAT Leon Cupra, as well as the KTM X-Bow , with outputs ranging from 230 to 272 hp depending on the engine code (BHZ, BYD, BZC, CDLA, CDLB, CDLC, CDLF, CDLG, CDMA, CDZA, BWJ). This Gen.2 variant pairs a 21 mm piston pin with a 144 mm connecting-rod center-to-center.

A tuner favourite, the 2.0 TFSI EA113 readily accepts extra power. Yet as soon as boost, engine speed and torque climb sharply, the factory rod becomes the weak link of the rotating assembly: it is the first part to fail on the most heavily built engines. Fitting forged connecting rods is therefore the essential step to make an EA113 reliable for good when you want to unlock its full potential.

The forged connecting rods

Our forged connecting rods for the 2.0 TFSI EA113 Gen.2 are forged from wrought 4340 steel, the benchmark material for the most demanding engine builds. They suit every discipline , circuit and track days, drift, rally, drag, time attack, hillclimb , and work equally well in a heavily tuned street 2.0 TFSI or a full competition engine. From Stage 2 to high-power Stage 3, right through to Stage 4 and beyond, they follow the power increase without ever compromising on strength. Each set gathers 4 weight-matched rods and faithfully keeps the original 21 mm pin and 144 mm center-to-center.

Where the factory rod remains sized for very high-volume production cost, the 4340 forged rod releases a far greater mechanical margin: roughly +19% on yield strength, +8% on tensile strength and +19 to +37% on fatigue life. This reserve lets the boosted EA113 absorb cylinder-pressure peaks and inertial loads without any crack initiation. Two geometries meet the widest range of goals: the H profile and the I-HD profile by ZRP, complemented by the I profile from Wössner.

Technical specifications of the EA113 Gen.2 forged rods (21 mm pin, 144 mm center-to-center)

Tightening torque and stretch

After an initial tightening, the tension in a rod bolt drops slightly as the seating faces bed down: aiming at the low end of the range therefore means ending up below it a few minutes later. On the EA113, insufficient preload means a cap that lifts at every load reversal, a parting face that degrades through rubbing, a hammered shell whose clearance grows, and then a bearing that no longer holds oil pressure. At the other end, exceeding the range creates no extra safety: the bolt yields, keeps a permanent elongation, loses its useful tension and fatigues faster, while the bearing bore distorts and the big end goes oval, pinching the shell. The values in the table below come from the fastener manufacturer and distinguish ARP 2000 from ARP L19 in 3/8"; they apply to the Wössner rod as well as to the ZRP rods, each on its own row. Stretch checking with a dial gauge remains the reference method for guaranteeing reliable preload, with ARP assembly lubricant and the kit instructions as the governing documents.

Technical guide

Forged 4340 steel: what is it?

The rod profiles offered

	I / I-HD profile. The I-beam section offers the best compromise between light weight and stiffness: by cutting reciprocating mass it limits inertial loads at high rpm. The I-HD (Heavy Duty) version reinforces the beam to take more torque and boost, while the Wössner I profile favours a light, precise assembly. These geometries suit engines that spin high.
	H-Lite profile. The H-beam section has two broad flat flanks that excel in bending and compression. It is the profile of choice when torque and boost become very high, particularly on drag-oriented, high-load engines. It brings great structural strength at the cost of a slightly higher mass than the I profile.

How to choose your rod bolts?

On an EA113 Gen.2 the rod bolt is the first limiting factor: it caps the rpm and the cylinder pressure the bottom end will tolerate. The grade is chosen from real use and not from a generic table: torque demanded low down in rally, rpm held for a long time on circuit, very short but violent peaks in drag racing. Target power per cylinder comes next. The two grades below exist in 3/8"-38 mm on the rods offered, ZRP as well as Wössner.

ARP 2000, quoted at ~220,000 psi (~1,517 MPa) tensile strength, matches what most built EA113 Gen.2 engines ask for: up to 200 hp per cylinder in 3/8" and up to 8,500 rpm. It is the most common grade in circuit racing, track days, drift, rally, drag racing and hillclimb, and here it equips the three profiles offered, I, I-HD and H. No storage constraint to plan for.

L19 rises to ~260,000 psi (~1,793 MPa) and allows up to 250 hp per cylinder in 3/8" as well as 10,000 rpm. It is the grade for heavily boosted EA113 engines, with high cylinder pressure or rpm held high, and for every big power level in drag racing, drift, rally and circuit. It is offered here on the ZRP rods, in H as well as I-HD profile. Its sensitivity to corrosion and to hydrogen embrittlement calls for oiled storage and fitting, away from moisture.

Measuring bolt stretch

See the ARP stretch gauge

The brands offered

	Wössner. A German manufacturer renowned for its high-precision components, Wössner offers here an I-profile forged-steel rod, weighed and matched, paired with ARP 2000 hardware. A sound choice for those seeking a light, precise assembly from a recognised European maker.
	ZRP. Designed by Alex Drakos in Athens (Greece), ZRP rods are machined from 4340 steel with high precision and delivered weight-matched to ±1 g. Available here in H and I-HD profiles with ARP 2000 or ARP L19 bolts, they stand out in circuit, drift, rally and drag as a robust solution.

Glossary

1) Small end 2) Small-end diameter 3) Rod beam 4) Rod bolt 5) Big end 6) Rod nut / bolt 7) Rod cap 8) Big-end diameter 9) Center-to-center

Vehicle compatibility for the 2.0 TFSI EA113 Gen.2 engine

The table below lists the vehicles built with the Audi Volkswagen 2.0L 16V TFSI EA113 Gen.2 engine. Before ordering, check the piston pin diameter and the centre-to-centre length of your original rods. Variant concerned: 21 mm pin.

Why is it the most economical solution?

Replacing the factory rods with forged rods during a build remains the most cost-effective spend: it costs a fraction of a new engine or of a full rebuild after failure. On a heavily worked EA113, a forged rod prevents the failure that destroys block, crankshaft and cylinder head. It is a lasting mechanical insurance to unlock the engine’s potential with peace of mind.