VW AKW — 1.7L Engine
1.7L · 59 hp
Engine overview
Factory specifications
Values from the manufacturer documentation for this engine.
Engine (general)
| Engine code | AKW |
| Capacity | 1718 cc |
| Idle speed | 825 - 950 rpm |
| Normal | 25 - 31 bar |
| Minimum | 19 bar |
| Differential limit between cylinders | < 5 bar |
| Oil pressure | 2.0 / 2000 bar/rpm |
Engine (diesel)
| System (make and type) | Bosch EDC |
| Injection pump (make and type) | Bosch VE |
| Number of cylinders | 4 |
| Injector firing order | 1 - 3 - 4 - 2 |
| Injector pressure | 190 - 200 bar |
| Minimum | 170 bar |
| Exhaust gas analysis test method/probe (Germany only) | A / 1 |
| Oil temperature during test | 80 °C |
| Idle speed, minimum | 825 rpm |
| Idle speed, maximum | 950 rpm |
| Min. no-load governed speed | 4950 rpm |
| Max. no-load governed speed | 5150 rpm |
| Exhaust gas analysis | < 2.50 m-1 |
| Test time | 2 s |
Cooling system
| Cap pressure | 1.4 - 1.6 bar |
| Thermostat opens at | 85 - 105 °C |
| Stage 1/Fan 1 | 92 - 97 °C |
| Stage 2/Fan 2 | 99 - 105 °C |
Electrical
| Battery | 60 Ah |
| Alternator | 90 A |
Brakes
| Disc thickness, front | 12.0 mm |
| Disc thickness, front, min. | 10.0 mm |
| Disc thickness (ventilated), front | 20.0 mm |
| Disc thickness (ventilated), rear, min. | 18.0 mm |
| Drum diameter, rear | 200.0 mm |
| Drum diameter, rear, max. | 201.5 mm |
| Disc thickness, rear | 9.0 mm |
| Disc thickness, rear, min. | 7.0 mm |
Steering and wheel alignment
| Toe-in, front | 0°00' ± 10' ° |
| Camber, front | -0°30' ± 20' ° |
| Max. difference left side - right side | 30' ° |
| Castor, front | 1°26' ± 30' ° |
| Castor, front | 1°12' ± 30' ° |
| Camber, rear | -1°30' ± 30' ° |
| Max. difference left side - right side | 20' ° |
| Toe-in, rear | 0°20' ± 10' ° |
Wheels and tyres
| Tyre size | 185/60 R14 |
| Front tyre pressure | 2.1 - 2.3 bar |
| Rear tyre pressure | 2.0 - 2.6 bar |
Capacities
| Engine sump, incl. filter | 4.7 l |
| Manual transmission | 020/02A |
| Gearbox refill | 1.9 l |
| Cooling system | 6.5 l |
| Air-conditioner refrigerant | 850 - 880 g |
| Air-conditioner compressor oil | 135 ml |
Torque settings
| Cylinder head bolts — Stage 1 | 40 Nm |
| Cylinder head bolts — Stage 2 | 60 Nm |
| Cylinder head bolts — Stage 3 | 90 ° |
| Cylinder head bolts — Stage 4 | 90 ° |
| Main bearing cap | 65 Nm + 90° Nm |
| Big-end bearing cap | 30 Nm + 90° Nm |
| Flywheel | 60 Nm + 90° Nm |
| Oil plug | 30 Nm |
| Injector nozzle | 20 Nm |
| Glow plugs | 15 Nm |
| Front hub | 265 Nm |
| Rear hub | 175 Nm |
| Wheel bolts | 110 Nm |
| Crankshaft gearwheel | 90 Nm + 90° Nm |
Engine codes in the same family
The same code prefix usually means the same block with a different output, fuel or model year. Procedures are often shared — check the code on the engine plate.
Workshop procedures for this engine
Step-by-step procedures from the workshop database.
- Checking exhaust gas recirculation and air mass meter function
- Checking turbocharger
- Checking modulating piston movement sender and quantity adjuster
- Checking brake light switch and brake pedal switch
- Servicing injection pump
- Checking intake manifold pressure sender and altitude sender
- Checking fuel temperature sender
- Checking clutch pedal switch
- Checking throttle valve positioner
- Checking speedometer sender
- Removing and installing parts of exhaust gas recirculation system
- Adjusting pedal position sender
- Checking intake manifold sender
- Servicing accelerator mechanism
- Removing and installing fuel tank with its attachments, Polo Classic, Polo Estate
- Removing and installing fuel tank with its attachments, Caddy
Got a AKW problem? Ask for free.
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Get free diagnosis →Who makes these pages, and how
TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.
Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.
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The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 22 Aug 2026.