What Engine Does My Car Have? VIN Decoder Guide

Knowing the engine type of your car is important for a variety of reasons.
It can help you determine the correct spark plugs, oil filter, and other
maintenance items. It can also be helpful when troubleshooting engine
problems.

One of the easiest ways to find out the engine type of your car is to
decode the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN is a 17-character
code that uniquely identifies your vehicle. It can be found on the driver’s
side door jamb, under the hood, or on the vehicle registration card.

Decoding the VIN

The VIN is divided into several sections, each of which contains specific
information about the vehicle. The following table shows the location of the
engine type information in the VIN:

The engine type is located in the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of the
VIN. The VDS is a six-character code that provides information about the
vehicle’s make, model, body style, and engine type.

The first character of the VDS is the make of the vehicle. The second
character is the model of the vehicle. The third character is the body style
of the vehicle. The fourth character is the engine type. The fifth and sixth
characters are used for other information, such as the transmission type and
the restraint system.

Example

Let’s say we have a VIN of 1G1FB1234567890123. The VDS of this VIN is
1FB123. The fourth character of the VDS is F. This indicates that the
engine type is a 3.5L V6 engine.

Other Ways to Find the Engine Type

In addition to decoding the VIN, there are a few other ways to find out the
engine type of your car:

• Check the owner’s manual.
• Look under the hood and locate the engine block.
• Contact the vehicle manufacturer.

Conclusion

Knowing the engine type of your car is important for a variety of reasons.
It can help you determine the correct maintenance items and troubleshoot
engine problems. You can find the engine type by decoding the VIN or using
one of the other methods described above.