Piston/Cylinder order question.

[Sierra]

This might sound like a very stupid question, but here it goes.

Do all engines (Inline) fallow the same logic of assigning sequential number of what piston reaches TDC first?

What I am asking is...

Do all engines start by 1,2,3,4. Number "1" being the piston closest to the radiator? Or different engines assigned the number "1" to the piston that is closest to the engine wall?

Am I making any sense?

I have seen contradicting information on the interwebs.

I am working with A-series engines and R16 engines both inline four cylinder engines.

Thanks in advance.

[flatcat19]

4 cylinders all go 1, 2, 3, 4 from the front. 

 

Not all 6 and 8 cylinders follow this. Bank 1 and Bank 2 can vary from brand to brand. 

 

 

On most 4 cyl. 1 and 4 will be at TDC at the same time. 2 and 3 follow suit. 

[datsunaholic]

There are extremely rare cases where #1 is not at the front, but that's not the case with Datsuns.  #1 is always on the timing cover end, opposite of the flywheel

 

One of those rare cases is with aircraft engines- #1 is usually at the propeller (gearbox) end on those, which in most (but not all) cases is the front of the aircraft.   When the engine is sitting on a stand, it seems backwards if you've worked car engines your whole life and the gearbox is on the other end...

[Sierra]

Thanks Flatcat19 and datsunaholic for your answers. This helps a lot.